Houston, July 13 (RHC)-- In the U.S. state of Texas, 1 million people in the Houston area remain without power and water after Hurricane Beryl slammed into the region Monday and amid a protracted heat wave.    Hospitals report a surge in patients with heat-related conditions and are unable to swiftly discharge patients if they do not have electricity at home to stay cool.

Extreme heat has killed at least 28 people in the U.S. over the past week, most of those in California, where wildfires have burned five times the average area this year, according to state officials. Las Vegas recently reported a new record high of 120 degrees and is on a record-breaking streak of at least six straight days of temperatures topping 115 degrees.

Last week, the Biden administration proposed a new rule that would require employers to provide regular rest breaks and water to workers during high temperatures.  The rule, which is facing opposition from industry and Republicans, could offer relief to some 500,000 agricultural workers and over 4 million construction workers nationwide, many of whom are immigrants.