Biden looks to provide relief from extreme heat as record high temperatures persist across the US

By CHRIS MEGERIAN, MATTHEW DALY and DREW COSTLEY
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — With heat waves spreading across the United States, President Joe Biden has announced new steps to protect workers, improve weather forecasts and make drinking water more accessible. These actions come as as nearly 40% of the U.S. population faces heat advisories. High temperatures have already scorched the Southwest this month, and more heat is expected in the Midwest and the Northeast in the coming days. Biden directed the Labor Department to increase inspections of potentially dangerous workplaces such as farms and construction sites and called for heightened enforcement of heat safety violations. The department will issue a hazard alert notifying employers and employees about ways to stay protected from extreme heat.