Democrats Defend Clean Air Act

Apr 6, 2011

Democrats and leading organizations have united to oppose efforts to dismantle the Clean Air Act. The EPA has found that implementing the Clean Air Act’s public health protections “creates American jobs and bolsters the global competitiveness of American industry, even as it lowers healthcare costs and protects American families from birth defects, illnesses, and premature death.”

Documents

Letters from Members

Letter from Scientists: "The EPA must be allowed to fulfill its responsibilities and take action to regulate global warming emissions under the Clean Air Act. This science-based law has prevented 400,000 premature deaths and hundreds of millions of cases of respiratory and cardiovascular disease during the 40 years since it was first passed—all without diminishing economic growth."
Letter from Members of the National Academy of Sciences: "We are deeply disturbed by the recent escalation of political assaults on scientists in general and on climate scientists in particular. All citizens should understand some basic scientific facts."
Letter from Former Senior Military Officers: "America’s dependence on oil constitutes a clear and present danger to the security and welfare of the United States. As former senior military officers, we are concerned about Congressional efforts to undermine the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulatory authority that is critical to reducing our dependence on oil."
Letter from Health and Medical Professionals: "Please fulfill the promise of clean, healthy air for all Americans to breathe. Support full implementation of the Clean Air Act and resist any efforts to weaken, delay or block progress toward a healthier future for all Americans."
Letter from the American Public Health Association: "Cimate change is a public health issue and is one of the greatest threats to human health. Scientists from across the globe have stated in the strongest possible terms that the climate is changing and that human activity is to blame."
Letter from Environmental Organizations: "This reckless legislation puts America’s health, prosperity, and national security at risk by gutting the Clean Air Act, overturning a decision of the Supreme Court, and dismantling the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to address life-threatening carbon dioxide and other pollution."
Letter from Blue Green Alliance: "... would like to express ouropposition to H.R. 910, the Energy Tax Prevention Act, which would block the Environmental Protection Agency’s duty, as declared by the Supreme Court in its decision in Massachusetts vs. EPA, to update vital clean air standards to begin addressing climate change."

Letter from Consumers Union: "We need to move forward on the progress made by the Clean Air Act, which has accomplished so much in improving our quality of life."
Letter from Health Organizations: "This legislation would block the EPA from setting sensible safeguards to protect public health from the effects of air pollution."
Letter from Air Resources Board: "I urge you to protect the health and security of Americans by retaining the existing system in the Clean Air Act for establishing motor vehicle emission standards."
Letter from Small Business Majority: "We urge you to help small businesses succeed by opposing this bill and continuing to support the EPA and its responsible enforcement of the Clean Air Act so that small businesses, and the millions of workers they employ, can keep taking advantage of its numerous benefits."
Letter from the American Lung Association: "A recent bipartisan survey... indicates the overwhelming view of voters: 69 percent think the EPA should update Clean Air Act standards with stricter limits on air pollution; 64 percent feel that Congress should not stop the EPA from updating carbon dioxide emission standards; 69 percent believe that EPA scientists, rather than Congress, should set pollution standards."
Letter from Various Organizations: "This reckless legislation putsAmerica’s health, prosperity, and national security at risk by gutting the Clean Air Act, overturning adecision of the Supreme Court, repealing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) science-basedendangerment finding, and dismantling EPA’s ability to address life-threatening carbon dioxide andother pollution."

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