Texas congressman leads thirst and hunger strike to urge heat protections for workers

A Democratic congressman from Texas is participating in a brief thirst and hunger strike Tuesday to “draw attention to the need for a federal workplace heat standard, including protections for rest and water breaks.”

A communications director for Rep. Greg Casar, whose district stretches from Austin to San Antonio, said the congressman began the strike at 10:30 a.m. and would “go as long as he’s physically able.” A release from Casar’s office said he would go with “no water, no food, and no break, until nurses require him to stop.”

“A basic thing like the right to a water break, a basic thing like being able to work and know that working is not a death sentence, is the baseline of what our democracy should be able to do,” Casar said Tuesday. He cited a law signed by Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott last month that prohibits local officials from enacting rules on businesses that supersede state regulations, which Casar said will prevent water breaks.

Casar’s office referred to the event as a vigil, and it was organized on the steps of the US Capitol. The Texas Democrat was joined by civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, and some House Democrats, including House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Maxwell Frost, briefly joined the crowd.

Casar said Tuesday that he had spoken with Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, who is “working hard to get a federal heat standard done.”

Su told CNN in a statement that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which falls under the Labor Department, is taking “key steps to protect workers in hot environments.”

“Many workers are…