Gina M. Raimondo Secretary of Commerce | Ballotpedia
Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves commended the efforts of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in tackling the challenges posed by extreme heat events during a press event held on April 23, 2024. Graves expressed gratitude towards Dr. Spinrad and the entire NOAA team for their contributions to the event and highlighted the importance of NOAA's work in building a climate-ready nation.
Graves emphasized the increasing impact of extreme heat waves on millions of Americans, attributing their intensity, frequency, and duration to climate change. He underscored the financial toll of these events, stating that frequent extreme heat events cost the United States billions of dollars each year.
Acknowledging NOAA's mission to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, Graves announced the expansion of NOAA's HeatRisk tool through the National Weather Service. He highlighted the collaboration between NOAA and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in developing an experimental product to assist vulnerable populations in dealing with extreme heat hazards.
Graves credited the dedicated civil servants at NOAA for their crucial role in advancing efforts to protect Americans from the dangers of extreme heat. He concluded by expressing pride and gratitude on behalf of the Department of Commerce for the impactful work being done to address the growing threat of extreme heat in the country.
The press event concluded with Deputy Secretary Graves handing over the floor to CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen, marking a collaborative effort between federal agencies to provide essential support and resources for communities facing the challenges of extreme heat events.
