President Joe Biden, joined by Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, unveils new plan to fight heat

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego appeared virtually Thursday with President Joe Biden to announce additional action to protect communities from extreme heat.

The president called the current climate "unprecedented" and urged collaboration to protect Americans.

Here's what the Biden administration is doing:

• Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su is issuing a heat hazard alert, which clarifies that workers have protections from harmful heat conditions.

• Su will work with her team to intensify inspections of workplaces that are considered "at risk."

• The U.S. Forest Service will award over $1 billion dollars in grants for cities and towns to plant trees that he says will propel access to green spaces to help people cool off.

• The Department of Housing and Urban Development is proving "billions" to communities to make buildings more efficient and heat-resistant.

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is launching a partnership with universities to improve the nation's forecast accuracy.

"Our MAGA extremist Congress are trying to undo all this progress," Biden said. "We're not going to let that happen. We want the American people to know that help is here."

Biden urged people to follow guidance, stay indoors, avoid hot pavement, know the signs of heat exhaustion, always have water and check on loved ones.

Gallego said that while Phoenix is known for heat, this summer has been different.

ASU researcher: We're underestimating the way heat harms our health and kills us

"Phoenix is known for heat. We are often called the Valley of the Sun," she said. "But right now, this summer has been unprecedented. … We feel like we're on the front lines of climate change."

Gallego echoed Biden's calls for collaboration and touted Phoenix's first-in-nation publicly funded heat office.

"Our emergency personnel and volunteers are working diligently to keep residents safe through targeted outreach," she said.

She hinted that the city would apply for aforementioned federal funds for trees as well, and urged Congress to allow Biden to declare the heat a disaster.

Arizona's national delegation has been vocal about the issue as well, with Democratic Reps. Raúl Grijalva, Ruben Gallego and Greg Stanton calling on Congress to provide emergency Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program money to lower the cost of air conditioning for Arizonans.

Rep. Ruben Gallego said Biden's most recent steps are positive, but not enough.

"For months, Mayor Gallego and I have asked for federal officials to step in and provide assistance," he said. "I am thankful the administration is listening to our call with today’s actions. This is a meaningful step in protecting Arizonans from extreme heat. But more must be done."

Biden used the briefing as an opportunity to tout his administration's successes with climate change, including the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act and FEMA's efforts. According to Biden, those efforts opened cooling centers, delivered more than $20 billion to create an electric grid to reduce fires and allowed the government to respond to heat emergencies in real time.

He also promoted Heat.gov, a portal meant to improve society's understanding of heat risks and develop communications with Americans.

"We're looking forward to working with you to become even more effective," Kate Gallego told Biden.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Joe Biden, Kate Gallego announce new plan to combat extreme heat