Mayor joins President Biden for extreme heat policy announcement

Published on July 27, 2023

SAN ANTONIO (July 27, 2023) — Mayor Ron Nirenberg virtually joined President Biden today for an announcement of new federal actions to protect workers and communities from extreme heat. 

Biden announced the steps in a virtual conversation with the San Antonio mayor and Phoenix, Az., Mayor Kate Gallego. The trio discussed national and local strategies for dealing with extreme heat.

“San Antonio is certainly thankful for a president that’s willing to tackle this urgent crisis in an equitable fashion,” said Mayor Nirenberg. 

Biden announced that he has asked the U.S. Department of Labor to issue the first-ever Hazard Alert for heat and ramp up enforcement to protect workers from extreme heat. The alert affirms that workers have federal protections and provides details for employers on methods to protect workers. 

The president also unveiled Heat.gov, a website with information on how to cope with the heat wave and address related problems.

Since 2011, more than 400 workers have died nationwide due to environmental heat exposure and thousands have been hospitalized. 

San Antonio has made significant progress in the effort to combat climate change and adapt to the more extreme weather that the world is experiencing. That progress includes requiring Level 2 electric vehicle chargers in new single-family homes as well as multi-family complexes. Additionally, the CPS Energy board voted to end the use of coal for electric generation by 2028.