Dina Titus Discusses Extreme Heat Deaths and FEMA Grants

Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grants

• 💡 Representative Titus inquired about the status of UASI grants, emphasizing their importance for her district in southern Nevada, Las Vegas.
• 🎯 These grants are crucial for preparing for large-scale events that could be targets of terrorist attacks or other disasters.
• 📌 Titus highlighted the impact of these grants, referencing a report showing their significance after the Harvest Festival shooting, the largest shooting in American history.
• ✅ She sought commitment to ensure these grants are distributed promptly to first responders.

Extreme Heat as a Leading Cause of Death

• 🌡️ Titus informed the committee that extreme heat is the weather condition causing the most deaths in the United States, surpassing tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes.
• ⚠️ She noted that extreme heat is less visible and harder to cover on TV, but its impact is prolonged and affects people differently.
• 📊 In southern Nevada alone, there were 520 heat-related deaths last year, with nearly 30 in Clark County already this year.

The Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act

• 🏛️ Titus is introducing a bill, the Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act, with Ranking Member Stanton.
• 🤝 This legislation aims to empower FEMA with greater authority to help communities mitigate and recover from extreme heat events.
• 📈 She expressed a desire to work with the committee to get the bill passed, recognizing that the issue of extreme heat is worsening.
• 💬 While the Stafford Act recognizes heat, Titus pointed out the difficulty in getting it formally declared and addressed due to its extended nature and varied impacts.