Representative Grijalva voted to pass the Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act that would establish a federal standard for heat stress protections for workers exposed to excessive heat.

This bill was named after a farmworker, Asuncion Valdivia who died of a heat stroke after picking grapes for ten hours in 105-degree temperatures at the age of 53.

The act will serve to protect workers in non-climate-controlled conditions to be able to work safely and comfortably.

“Passage of the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act through the Education and Labor Committee is a vital step forward for labor protections to safeguard indoor and outdoor workers from heat stress and extreme temperatures,” said Rep. Raúl Grijalva.

“This summer, we’ve witnessed workers collapsing and fatalities associated with extreme heat in Arizona and across the country amidst record breaking temperatures.

“Climate change is going to make scorching temperatures more frequent and work conditions more strenuous.

“It’s critical that we establish a federal OSHA standard for heat stress to protect our workers. We need to put this legislation on the House floor for a vote without delay.”
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Source: KYMA/CBS 13/KECY – July 27, 2022
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