U.S. Rep. Greg Casar stages “thirst strike” to advocate for federally mandated water breaks in extreme heat

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, walks down the House steps on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., last year. On Tuesday, he launched a “thirst strike” to advocate for federal policy requiring paid water breaks for people who work outdoors in extreme heat. (Credit: Julia Nikhinson for The Texas Tribune)

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As outdoor workers in Texas battle extreme heat, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, launched a daylong “thirst strike” in Washington, D.C., as he pushes for a federal workplace standard that would mandate water breaks for people whose jobs require them to work in the heat.