17 Jan 2010
- Urgent Action Needed: Oppose Weakening of the Clean Air Act
Urgent Action Needed: Oppose Weakening of the Clean Air Act
and delaying action on Global Warming
The Clean Air Act over the past 40 years has provided effective means of limiting dangerous air pollutants and has saved countless lives. Now, the Clean Air Act and with it the EPA Endangerment Finding are under attack. To protect our nation’s health and the world we need your help!
This past December, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its finding under the Clean Air Act that greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere endanger both the public health and the environment for current and future generations. This action was a result of the Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA (2007) that greenhouse gases are air pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act. This landmark decision offered a critical tool for the EPA to begin to take action to limit greenhouse gas emission from motor vehicles as well large emitters like coal fired power plants.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is about to introduce an amendment to stop the EPA from taking science based protective action to limit these greenhouse gases. She is trying to have this amendment attached to a must-pass bill to lift the debt ceiling. If adopted, this amendment would remove the EPA’s enforcement funding and power so that big polluters like the coal and oil industries can ignore the Clean Air Act.
Your senators must hear from you. The stakes are high and the pressure by these powerful lobbies to stop global warming action is intense. Every vote counts – please email and call your senators today and urge them to vote NO on this dangerous amendment.
