During a visit to Phoenix amid scorching temperatures surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the need to adjust federal assistance programs to better address summer cooling needs for low-income households. Becerra highlighted a shift in climate challenges, noting that extreme heat, wildfires, and their health impacts are becoming more prevalent alongside traditional cold weather concerns like snowstorms and hurricanes.
Becerra urged Congress to allocate additional funding to enhance measures combating extreme heat, underscoring the urgency by pointing to rising fatalities attributed to heat exposure, a consequence of climate change that he described as a public health crisis.
Last year, Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, recorded a record 645 heat-related deaths, with 66 confirmed this year as of August 3rd, and an additional 447 under investigation. Many victims had air conditioning, yet financial constraints often prevented its use due to power outages or inability to cover electricity costs, highlighting disparities in energy access among fixed-income groups.
Federal data revealed significant disparities in funding allocation across states, with Arizona receiving nearly $31 million out of $3.6 billion earmarked for utility assistance this year, while California received over $227 million, the highest nationwide.
Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, stressed the need for increased funding to address summer cooling needs, noting that the majority of current assistance is directed towards winter heating. Wolfe’s organization proposed $6 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, with an additional $1 billion contingency, though current congressional proposals hover around $4 billion to $4.1 billion pending final approval later this year.
While acknowledging administrative limitations in increasing funding without congressional approval, Wolfe emphasized the ongoing effort to secure additional resources to mitigate the growing impact of extreme heat on vulnerable communities.
