Media Contacts:
Arnice Cottom, APHA, 202-777-3913
Michelle Blundell, American Lung Association, 202-478-6176
Allison MacMunn, American Lung Association, 312-801-7628
Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2019 – In response to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's decision to revoke California’s waiver to set more protective vehicle standards,
and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decision to preempt the
authority of states to follow more protective cleaner cars standards, the American Lung
Association, the American Public Health Association, the American Thoracic Society, the
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Health Care Without Harm, the Asthma and
Allergy Foundation of America, the Allergy & Asthma Network, and Climate for Health issued
the following statement:
“The administration is ignoring the Clean Air Act and the rights of states to protect their
residents from motor vehicle pollution. Rolling back states’ authority to set stronger pollution
limits not only endangers Californians, but also the residents of 13 other states and the District
of Columbia, which have adopted California’s standards and driven nationwide progress in
reducing dangerous tailpipe pollution. This pollution contributes to climate change and harms
the health of Americans.
“States need to use every possible tool to address climate change. From degraded air quality
due to higher temperatures to increased risk from wildfires and other extreme weather events,
climate change poses serious threats to all Americans, especially to the most vulnerable,
including children, older adults, low-income communities and those living with chronic diseases.
The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Cleaner
vehicles and electric vehicles are key to fighting the devastating threats to the nation’s health
that climate change brings.
“The administration’s announcement jeopardizes extremely popular, commonsense cleaner
cars standards – and endangers Americans’ health. Seventy-four percent of voters support the
maintaining the current fuel efficiency standards, with majorities among Democrats and
Republicans.
“Our organizations are committed to protecting public health from climate change and to supporting states’ rights to protect their residents. Revoking states’ authority is a dramatic step in the wrong direction.”
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APHA champions the health of all people and all communities. We strengthen the public health profession. We speak out for public health issues and policies backed by science. We are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public's health. Visit us at www.apha.org.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.