Walz v. Vance On Extreme Weather

September 26, 2024

The Contrast: Hurricanes And Tropical Storms

Governor Walz has a track record of supporting communities impacted by hurricanes, vowing to continue reconstruction efforts from Hurricane Maria and deploying Minnesota resources to assist with recovery efforts. Vance, however, canceled public campaign events due to Hurricane Helene, but fundraised in areas expected to be impacted by the storm. Vance’s Project 2025 calls for the dismantling of the National Weather Service, which tracks hurricanes and storms, putting more lives at risk of extreme weather.

Walz Supported Communities Impacted By Hurricanes

In September 2024, Walz recognized the anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Walz said that Harris pledged to continue supporting reconstruction efforts on the island. In the face of destructive hurricanes, Vance’s Project 2025 agenda threatened the National Weather Service, a life-saving resource that tracks hurricanes and tropical storms.
In September 2022, Walz deployed eight Minnesota members of the Minnesota All Hazards Incident Management Team (MN-AHIMT) to DeSoto County, Florida, to assist with Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.
In September 2021, Walz deployed 22 Minnesota firefighters from nine fire departments to Louisiana to assist local first responders as local communities continue to recover from Hurricane Ida.
In October 2020, Walz and governors from thirteen other states sent a bipartisan letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the United States House and Senate Armed Services Committees urging them to ensure that states’ National Guard units have the aircraft needed to support missions, including during floods, hurricanes, and other emergencies.
In September 2019, Walz authorized 15 ambulances and 36 first responders to travel to North Carolina to assist the state in the wake of Hurricane Dorian.
In August 2019, Walz authorized a team of 13 Minnesota emergency management professionals to go to Florida and assist with impacts from Hurricane Dorian.
In September 2017, Walz voted in favor of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 601, the Hurricane Supplemental, Debt Limit, Continuing Appropriations, and Flood Insurance Package, which assisted communities impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
While serving in Congress, Walz cosponsored a House Resolution to pledge support and aid to Hurricane Sandy victims.

While Vance Canceled Public Events And Attended A Fundraiser Ahead Of Hurricane Helene, His Project 2025 Agenda Would Dismantle The National Weather Service, Putting More Lives At Risk

In September 2024, Vance canceled public campaign events in Georgia due to the severe weather expected from Hurricane Helene. A Trump-Vance campaign spokesperson cited safety as the main concern.
The same day, Vance headlined a Florida fundraiser in a county that was under a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene.
Trump and Vance’s dangerous Project 2025 agenda includes plans to dismantle the National Weather Service – one of our most dependable resources for tracking weather, including hurricanes and tropical storms– putting more lives at risk.

The Contrast: Sea Level Rise And Flooding

Governor Walz has a record of assisting Americans impacted by flooding – declaring peacetime emergencies to support emergency flood operations and signing an executive order to provide financial assistance to veterans during extreme flooding. Governor Walz also invested in combatting flooding impacts, including issuing $24 million in flood hazard mitigation grants and investing $100 million to upgrade infrastructure to be more resistant to flooding. While serving in the House, Walz voted in favor of the National Flood Insurance Program. In contrast, Vance repeatedly voted against legislation that would extend the National Flood Insurance Program, and while visiting North Carolina in the wake of historic and destructive flooding, Vance failed to acknowledge the flood’s impact.

As Governor, Walz Assisted Those Impacted By Flooding

In a September 2024 press release, Walz encouraged Minnesotans impacted by the summer’s severe flooding to apply for federal assistance.
In July 2024, Walz declared a peacetime emergency, authorizing the Minnesota National Guard to be available to provide support for emergency flood operations as areas across the state experience extreme flood conditions.
In July 2024, Walz signed an executive order to activate Minnesota’s State Soldiers Assistance Program Disaster Relief Grants and provide financial assistance to veterans following severe storms and flooding.
In June 2024, Walz traveled to the cities of Cook and Biwabik in Northeastern Minnesota to survey damage caused by severe flooding.
In June 2024, Walz declared a peacetime emergency, authorizing the Minnesota National Guard to be available to provide support for emergency flood operations as areas across the state experience extreme flood conditions.
In July 2023, Walz announced that President Joe Biden approved his request for a major disaster declaration for 23 counties across Minnesota and one tribal nation impacted by severe storms and flooding in April.
In May 2022, Walz authorized Minnesota Army National Guard helicopter support for the State of North Dakota’s flood response.
In May 2022, Walz traveled to northwest Minnesota to meet with farmers and survey the impact of severe flooding on the spring planting season.
In April 2022, Walz declared a peacetime emergency and authorized the Minnesota National Guard to provide support for emergency flood operations, including personnel, equipment, and resources in northwestern Minnesota.

As Governor, Walz Invested To Combat Flooding Impacts

In January 2023, Walz announced Minnesota’s 2023 Infrastructure Plan, which included $24 million in flood hazard mitigation grants to local governments.
In 2023, Walz’s administration invested $100 million in the resilient communities grant program to help communities upgrade aging infrastructure with climate-smart design, combat flooding and the heat island effect, and create local jobs.
In January 2022, Walz announced Minnesota’s 2022 Local Jobs and Projects Plan, which included $20 million in flood hazard mitigation grants to local governments.

In Congress, Walz Supported The National Flood Insurance Program

In 2014, Walz voted in favor of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, which delayed flood insurance premium increases and required FEMA to provide communities with the data used in the mapping process.
In 2013, Walz voted against an amendment that prohibited the use of funds to implement, carry out, administer, or enforce certain rate increases in the National Flood Insurance Program.
In 2010, Walz voted in favor of the Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act of 2010 which extended the authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program through 2015, increased the coverage amounts for certain properties, and increased the limitations on premium increases for certain properties.
In 2017, under President Trump, Walz joined a majority of Democrats in voting against The 21st Century Flood Reform Act, which reauthorized the National Flood Insurance Program for five years, required NFIP communities to identify repeatedly flooding properties, and required FEMA to provide premium credits in communities that protect natural areas.
- Democratic Rep. David Scott opposed the legislation due to a provision that required policy holders to pay for assistance they receive when their states create affordability programs.
- Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters stated she opposed the bill because its provisions would make flood insurance more expensive, and cited the disproportionate impact on lower and middle-class and minority communities. Rep. Waters also cited provisions that enabled businesses to opt out of the requirement to purchase flood insurance even if they are in a high-risk zone, and provisions that would kick out certain low-value homes by prohibiting coverage for homes with claims that exceed three times the replacement value. Rep. Waters also noted the bill did not fund flood maps.

Vance Repeatedly Voted Against Legislation That Would Have Extended The National Flood Insurance Program

In 2024, Vance voted against the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, which included an extension to the National Flood Insurance Program through September 2024.
In 2023, Vance was one of only nine Senators who voted against the Continuing Appropriations Act, which included an extension to the National Flood Insurance Program through September 2023.
During a Senate hearing, Vance criticized the NFIP’s method of mapping flood risks, questioning whether the NFIP was attributing flooded homes outside of mapped flood-risk areas to climate change, or if it was inaccurately identifying which homes are most susceptible to floods and ignoring high-risk areas.
- Vance also claimed that several homes were left uninsured after being hit with floods due to inaccurate maps.

In A Visit To North Carolina In The Wake Of Historic Flooding, Vance Failed To Acknowledge The Floods Or Their Impact

In September 2024, North Carolina experienced a “1,000-year rain event” that left portions of the state under feet of water. In Wilmington, fire crews rescued 29 adults and two children from high waters.
The day after the flooding, Vance made a campaign stop in North Carolina and made no mention of the destructive flooding in his remarks.

The Contrast: Infrastructure Climate Resiliency And Preparedness

As a congressman and as governor, Walz has taken action to tackle extreme weather impacts, recognizing that extreme weather is worsened by climate change. As governor, Walz signed legislation to strengthen Minnesota’s disaster assistance response. In the House, Walz cosponsored legislation to address extreme weather impacts on wildlife and supported a bill that strengthened homeowners’ insurance, protecting Americans from financial hardship in the aftermath of extreme weather disasters. As a senator, Vance opposed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invested nearly $1 billion to protect communities from extreme weather. Vance also claimed that Kamala Harris’ energy policies made Americans more vulnerable to extreme weather when, in fact, clean energy can increase grid resilience in the face of extreme weather. Vance has also blamed the Biden-Harris administration for increased homeowners’ insurance rates – which have seen increases largely due to climate change.

Walz Has Acted To Tackle Extreme Weather Impacts Fuelled By Climate Change

In a June 2024 press release, Walz recognized that extreme weather events were exacerbated by climate change.
In 2023, Walz signed legislation to provide $1 million to establish a program to protect homes from extreme weather and save money on homeowner insurance premiums.
In 2019, Walz issued an executive order that recognizes communities, farms, and industry face more frequent extreme weather events driven by climate change that threaten the infrastructure Minnesotans rely on.

In 2023, Walz signed a bill into law strengthening Minnesota’s emergency management and disaster assistance response.
In 2017, Walz cosponsored the Safeguarding America’s Future and Environment (SAFE) Act, which directed the President to establish a National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy Joint Implementation Working Group to address the effects of extreme weather and climate change on fish, wildlife, and plants.
In the House, Walz voted in favor of the Homeowners’ Defense Act of 2007, which aimed to strengthen the homeowners’ insurance market in the event of a natural disaster, and provided federal support for state-sponsored insurance programs.

Vance Opposed The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Which Has Invested Nearly $1 Billion To Help Communities Protect Against Extreme Weather

Vance argued that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was too focused on clean energy, and claimed that it would result in “spending a bunch of money in China,” and said it was “not going to make our economy any more environmentally efficient.”
- The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invested nearly $1 billion in awards for 656 projects across the country to help communities protect against extreme weather like flooding, extreme heat, and storms.

Vance Bizarrely Claimed That Kamala Harris’ Energy Policies Would Make Americans More Vulnerable To Extreme Weather

Vance wrote on Twitter claiming that Kamala Harris’ renewable energy policies require energy sources that are more reliant on electricity to heat homes, leaving Americans more vulnerable to extreme weather.
- In reality, renewables can supply energy at the point of use, which can enhance resilience when the grid is stressed from severe weather events and can increase stability.
- Make no mistake – climate change causes blackouts. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s 2023 “State of Reliability” report found that fossil fuel generation is facing severe reliability challenges due to extreme weather.

Vance Criticized California’s Property Insurance Market And Blamed The Biden-Harris Administration For An Increase In Homeowners’ Insurance Rates

Vance criticized California’s method of regulating its property insurance market, saying it had regulated the market “such that it can’t function properly.”
Vance claimed that we couldn’t “credibly argue” that climate risk is what is driving California’s property insurance market and questioned why auto insurance would go up in response to climate risk.
Vance signed onto a letter from Florida’s CFO To Donald Trump blaming the Biden-Harris administration for the “nation’s insurance crisis” and claimed homeowners’ insurance rates had increased 37 percent nationally.
- The letter recommended the Biden-Harris administration to pressure European reinsurers to abandon ESG initiatives, calling ESG a “globalist weapon” and claimed ESG initiatives raise rates.
- The letter claimed “progressive elites” were “using ‘climate change’” as an “excuse for more control.”
  - As of July 2023, 15 home insurers had withdrawn from Florida’s market since the start of 2022, citing extreme weather conditions as a reason for leaving. Over 400,000 Florida homeowners lost their insurance coverage in 2022.

The Contrast: Extreme Heat And Drought

In the fight against extreme heat and drought, Governor Walz has invested $100 million to combat the heat island effect in Minnesota and announced a $10 million drought relief package to support farmers in the state. On the other hand, Vance was invested in and served on the board of a tech startup where workers were subject to grueling working conditions, being exposed to temperatures as high as 128 degrees. Vance also opposed the clean energy plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, both of which make historic investments in protecting Americans from extreme heat and drought.

Walz Worked To Mitigate The Impacts Of Extreme Heat And Drought

In 2023, Walz invested $100 million in the Resilient Communities grant program in Minnesota to help communities upgrade aging infrastructure with climate-smart design, combat flooding and the heat island effect, and create local jobs.

In November 2021, Walz extended an executive order to waive trucking regulations to transport livestock feed and support Minnesota farmers and livestock producers through the extreme and prolonged drought.
In September 2021, Walz announced a $10 million drought relief package to support Minnesota farmers and livestock producers impacted by severe drought conditions during the 2021 growing season.
In July 2021, Walz requested USDA assistance to aid Minnesota farmers experiencing drought.
In July 2021, Walz visited farms in Polk County to survey the drought and discuss its impact with farmers.
In October 2020, Walz announced a Federal Disaster Declaration to help Minnesota farmers recover from severe drought.

Vance Opposed The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law And Clean Energy Plan, Which Invested In Efforts To Combat Extreme Heat And Drought

Vance opposed the clean energy plan, falsely claiming that it did nothing for the environment. In reality, the clean energy plan invested $4 billion in drought mitigation projects and $1.5 billion in urban and community forestry to address heat vulnerability in urban communities.
Vance criticized the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, claiming it was “too focused” on clean energy. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $8.3 billion over five years in reclamation water infrastructure projects to advance drought resilience. The law also invests nearly $1 billion to help communities protect against disasters and natural hazards, including extreme heat.

Vance Served On The Board Of A Tech Startup Where Workers Alleged Grueling Work Conditions And Exposure To Extreme Heat

Former employees of AppHarvest, a tech startup Vance invested in and served as a board member for, alleged grueling work conditions, including exposure to extreme heat. One former AppHarvest employee said they worked in 128-degree heat.

Vance Held Campaign Rallies In Extreme Temperatures, Endangering Rallygoers

In September 2024, as temperatures were above 105 degrees in Mesa, Arizona, 14 people were treated for heat-related illnesses, and one person was hospitalized while waiting to enter an event where Vance was speaking. Vance did not address the extreme heat in his remarks.

The Contrast: Wildfires

Throughout his time as governor, Walz has utilized Minnesota National Guard resources to fight wildfires in Minnesota, as well as in Louisiana, Canada, Washington, and Oregon. Meanwhile, Vance has praised Donald Trump’s actions on wildfires, which include threatening to withhold funding to fight wildfires and repeated attempts to slash wildfire science funding.

Walz Supported Efforts To Combat Wildfires

In September 2023, Walz authorized the Minnesota National Guard to provide emergency aviation support in fighting the severe wildfires causing destruction in Louisiana.
In July 2023, Walz announced that Minnesota sent a crew of 17 wildland firefighters to Manitoba, Canada.
In August 2021, Walz authorized Minnesota National Guard support for wildfire response in Northern Minnesota.
In August 2021, Walz authorized a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter and 10 Minnesota National Guard soldiers to support the State of Washington’s wildfire response.
In September 2020, Walz announced that 29 Minnesota firefighters and nine fire trucks traveled to Salem, Oregon, to help protect structures threatened by wildfires across the state.

Vance Praised Donald Trump’s Actions On Wildfires, Despite Trump’s Reckless Attempts To Withhold And Slash Funding To Fight Wildfires

Vance praised Donald Trump’s actions on wildfires, including legislation Trump signed to improve wildfire suppression and forest management.

As president, Trump threatened to withhold funding to fight wildfires in California, and his administration repeatedly sought to slash federal funding for wildfire science. Trump also denied that climate change played a role in the deadly 2023 Maui wildfires.