1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

Extreme heat is becoming one of the deadliest weather threats facing workers, families, and communities across the world, including here in Texas. Summer is only beginning, yet deadly heat waves are already sweeping across Europe, India, Canada, and the United States. Record-breaking temperatures are becoming more common, and experts warn that climate change and a strong El Niño pattern are making these events more severe and more dangerous. At the same time, workplace heat protections are being weakened when they should be strengthened. OSHA’s earlier heat hazard enforcement program dramatically increased workplace inspections and helped push employers to provide water, shade, and safer working conditions during extreme heat. Reducing inspection goals and weakening enforcement sends the wrong message at exactly the wrong time. Construction workers, farm workers, delivery drivers, warehouse employees, oil field workers, and many others across Texas face dangerous heat exposure every day. These are not abstract risks. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion can permanently injure or kill workers, especially when employers fail to provide basic protections. Please support stronger federal workplace heat standards, adequate OSHA funding and enforcement, and investments that help communities adapt to rising temperatures. America should lead in modern infrastructure, grid resilience, cooling technology, and climate preparedness instead of weakening protections as temperatures continue to rise. Protecting workers from extreme heat is a matter of public health, workplace safety, and economic common sense.