As summer heat bears down on us, we ask you to email your members of Congress in support of the bills introduced by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep Alma Adams (D-NC) that would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to implement a national heat stress standard.

The bills -- fittingly called the "Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act" -- were named after a 53-year-old farm worker who died in July 2004. He collapsed from heat stroke after working a 10-hour day picking grapes in the 100-degree sun. No ambulance responded because employees were unable to provide the vineyard's location. Asuncion died in the car as his son tried frantically to reach a hospital. 

In recent years, record-high temperatures have been seen across the country. The summer of 2020 set new heat records throughout the nation for both high temperatures and number of days at extreme high temperatures -- including the hottest temperature on the planet in more than a century. We must protect the hard working people who put food on our tables.

These extreme temperatures can make thousands of farm workers and other workers seriously ill. Some could even suffer heat stroke and die. 

These lifesaving bills would bring the protections we won for California farm workers to all US farm workers. The legislators who are co-sponsoring this bill recognize that heat illness can be prevented by access to training, water, shade, rest breaks and emergency procedures. But many employers won't provide these basic needs voluntarily, so federal legislation is needed. 

Take action and send your email today asking your US Congress members to support these vital bills.