Tell Congress: Commit to keeping the Clean Air Act in place

For 50 years, the Clean Air Act has driven dramatic improvements in air quality across the country. The law requires the federal government to place limits on harmful air pollution, including the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. The Clean Air Act remains the best tool we have to ensure healthy air for all.

But right now, polluting industries are driving efforts to weaken the Clean Air Act by stripping the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to address climate change. Our “State of the Air” 2020 report shows that climate change is already threatening Americans’ health. There is no reason why Congress should block or weaken EPA’s authority to protect our health from climate change.

Tell Congress today — Commit to keeping the Clean Air Act fully intact and oppose any attempts to weaken it.

Recipients

  • Your Senators
  • Your Representative

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Message

Commit to keeping the Clean Air Act fully intact

Dear [Decision Maker],

I write to urge you to oppose any efforts to block, weaken or delay the Clean Air Act and the authority it gives EPA to address climate change.

The year 2020 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Air Act a bipartisan law that helps ensure that I and my family can breathe easy. Millions of Americans are breathing cleaner, healthier air than they would have if not for this landmark legislation. Since its enactment, the Clean Air Act has reduced pollution from major categories of pollutants by 73%, preventing hundreds of thousands of premature deaths and millions of asthma attacks. EPA estimated that the benefits exceed the costs by a ratio of 30 to 1. (Please refer to: https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/benefits-and-costs-clean-air-act-1990-2020-second-prospective-study)

However, climate change is undoing some of that progress toward cleaner air. That is why I am deeply concerned about efforts underway to weaken the Clean Air Act's authority over greenhouse gases.

By blocking or eliminating the authority granted to EPA under the Clean Air Act to regulate emissions like carbon including as a trade-off to allow for a carbon pricing system Congress would be taking away a key safeguard for public health. We need all the tools in our toolbox to solve the devastating risks that climate change poses to health.





I urge you to oppose any attempts to undermine, weaken, or delay the Clean Air Act, especially with regard to greenhouse gas emissions, and to commit to leaving this lifesaving law fully in place.

Sincerely.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]