Bill > HR4497

This bill proposes to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act by expanding the legal definition of a "major disaster" to explicitly include extreme heat as a qualifying event. Currently, the Stafford Act provides federal assistance for various types of natural disasters, and this amendment would allow extreme heat events to be recognized as a major disaster, potentially making affected communities eligible for federal emergency support and resources. The bill, known as the "Extreme Heat Emergency Act of 2025," would make a small but significant change to existing law by adding the phrase "extreme heat" to the list of disaster types before the word "drought" in the statute's definition section. This modification could help local and state governments access federal aid more easily during severe heat waves, which are becoming increasingly frequent and dangerous due to climate change.

Business and Industry, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4497/all-info