Moms are working in Maryland to fight for clean air and a stable climate. We host events, share information about what’s going on, and create opportunities for mothers to talk to their legislators about their concerns. Please join us in Maryland, and let us know about your priorities.

What We’re Working On

Tell Governor Moore: Lead on Climate Safety

It is more important than ever for states to act on climate change. States—and their governors—can be powerful leaders in building a clean energy economy. That’s why we’re asking Governor Moore to keep stepping up to slash climate pollution, protect children’s health, and ensure environmental justice. Our future depends on it.

Take Action

Meet Your Maryland State Organizer

Samantha Schmitz

As the Project Manager for DC Events and Policy, Sam coordinates outreach in the DC area in addition to supporting other state organizers. Before working at Moms, she worked for the World Resources Institute. She was also a past intern with the Moms team. Sam earned her AB from Harvard University and studied Economics with minors focused on public health and climate change.

Pictured: Samantha Schmitz with members of Kids Clean Air Force supporting electric school buses in Maryland.

Contact Sam

Highlights

Moms join President Biden and Vice President Harris to celebrate the Inflation Reduction Act. In August 2024, Moms’ Almeta Cooper and DC-area volunteers were invited to Prince George’s County to celebrate the success of massive federal investments in local communities included in the Inflation Reduction Act. Learn how families can take advantage of these benefits.
Maryland Moms attend annual Play-In for Climate Action in Washington, DC. In July 2024, Supermom Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter joined Moms at the National Children’s Museum for a morning of purposeful play and a press conference about children’s health in our changing climate, followed by meetings with elected officials at the Capitol. Read more.
Moms hold Montgomery County Public Schools accountable for their promise to buy electric school buses In November 2023, Supermom Elizabeth Brandt joined students, parents, and environmental advocates outside the Montgomery County Board of Education for a rally in response to the school district’s decision to purchase diesel school buses instead of electric. Read more.
Moms host electric school bus webinar for districts in EPA Region 3. In August 2023, Moms Clean Air Force joined PennEnvironment and partners in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, for a webinar about EPA’s Clean School Bus Program. Watch the replay.
Moms join EPA Administrator Michael Regan and Governor Wes Moore for carbon pollution announcement. In May 2023, Moms gathered with advocates at the University of Maryland at College Park to support Administrator Regan as he announced historic proposed standards to limit carbon pollution from power plants. Read more about the rule finalized in April 2024.

Events and Resources in Maryland

Why We Care

With over 3,000 miles of shoreline, sea-level rise poses significant risks for Maryland families. If climate pollution continues unabated, Maryland may see 18 inches of sea-level rise by 2050 and as much as three and a half feet by the end of the century. Maryland families and wildlife are at risk; the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, supports the life of over 3,600 species of plants and animals, as well as critical fishing industries.

Maryland also has an ozone pollution problem. Six Maryland counties received a C, D, or F grade for ozone from the American Lung Association in 2024. This pollution comes from sources both inside the state and beyond its borders. On hot summer days, Maryland officials say that 70% of the ozone pollution that Marylanders have to breathe comes from upwind pollution from coal plants in Pennsylvania and Indiana.

May 2025

May 8
9:00 am - 11:30 am EDT

Maternal & Children’s Health in a Dangerous Climate Forum (LIVESTREAM)

Past Events

December 2024

On December 3, Moms Clean Air Force Project Manager, DC Events and Policy Sam Schmitz presented at a Town Hall with Columbia, Maryland residents to educate councilmembers on the health harms of chemical recycling. Over 50 residents and elected officials attended, and residents asked the Councilmembers to support the Zoning Regulation Amendment that would create a buffer zone between the local neighborhood and proposed facility.

November 2024

On November 14, Moms Clean Air Force volunteer Liisi Fidler represented our team at the Howard County Planning Board meeting about zoning for W.R. Grace’s proposed chemical recycling facility in Maryland. Moms members also sent 61 messages to the Plannning Board expressing concern and the need for a safe buffer between this facility and local neighborhoods.

On November 7, Moms Clean Air Force Project Manager, DC Events and Policy Sam Schmitz organized a workshop for over 20 community members from the Cedar Creek neighborhood of Columbia, Maryland to teach them how to testify at public hearings. This was in preparation for the Howard County Planning Board meeting where they continued to fight a proposed chemical recycling facility next to their homes. Moms also created a toolkit for the community to ensure they felt confident testifying on this important subject.

August 2024

On August 15, Moms Clean Air Force National Manager for Health Equity Almeta Cooper and six DC-area volunteers attended an event in Prince George’s County, Maryland to hear President Biden and Vice President Harris discuss how they’re lowering costs for Americans.

November 2023

On November 2, Moms Clean Air Force DC Field Events Coordinator Sam Schmitz joined Supermom Elizabeth Brandt to speak to an auditorium of students from Chevy Chase High School about clean air and environmental justice as part of the school’s civic engagement series.

On November 1, Moms Clean Air Force Supermom Elizabeth Brandt spoke alongside the Maryland League of Conservation Voters and Chispa to hold Montgomery County Public Schools accountable for their decision to purchase diesel school buses instead of electric school buses that would help our kids’ health and our climate.

October 2023

On October 1, EcoMadres hosted a table at the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Seneca Creek State Park.

August 2023

On August 15, Moms Clean Air Force joined PennEnvironment and our partners in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, for a webinar about EPA’s Clean School Bus Program. Our panel of national experts shared information about the innovative technology behind electric school buses, the health benefits of this technology—and ways local school districts can tap into Clean School Bus Program funds. Watch the replay.

July 2023

On July 30, EcoMadres hosted a table at the Latino Conservation Day celebration at Masonville Cove.

June 2023

On June 13 and 15, Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her sister Claire joined more than 70 Moms Clean Air Force staff and members in 22 states and Washington, DC, to testify at EPA’s virtual public hearing on proposed federal standards for carbon pollution from power plants. Read Elizabeth’s testimony here.

May 2023

On May 11, Moms Clean Air Force joined EPA Administrator Michael Regan and Maryland Governor Wes Moore for the announcement of EPA’s proposed standards for carbon pollution from power plants at the University of Maryland at College Park.

On May 9, Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt joined dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff and members in 16 states and Washington, DC, to testify at EPA’s virtual public hearing on proposed federal standards for pollution from cars and trucks. Read Elizabeth’s testimony here.

On May 9, Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt joined dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff and members in 15 states and Washington, DC, to testify at EPA’s virtual public hearing on the proposal to strengthen the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. Read Elizabeth’s testimony here.

On May 2, Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt joined dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff and members in 18 states and Washington, DC, to testify at EPA’s virtual public hearing on proposed federal standards for greenhouse gas pollution from heavy-duty trucks. Read Elizabeth’s testimony here.

On May 1–4, Moms Clean Air Force Colorado coordinator Shaina Oliver, Arizona coordinator Hazel Chandler, and National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt attended the National Tribal Forum on Air Quality in Chandler, Arizona.

April 2023

On April 20, 2023, Moms Clean Air Force was invited to Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence to celebrate Earth Day. They were joined by environmental advocates and Indigenous leaders from across the country.

March 2023

On March 9, Moms Clean Air Force showed up in force for the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing about the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. No one from the community was invited to testify at the hearing, so three Moms members from East Palestine came to put a face to the disaster. Moms Clean Air Force staff and members from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Louisiana, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, also attended. Watch our Moms in action.

On March 3, Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt joined EDF Action and Defend Our Future for an interactive workshop about submitting a public comment to a federal agency.

February 2023

In February, Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt, her daughter Valencia, and her sister Claire joined more than 60 Moms Clean Air Force staff and members across the country to testify at the EPA hearing on proposed federal standards for soot pollution. Read Elizabeth’s testimony here and Claire’s here.

January 2023

On January 10, 11, and 12, more than 60 Moms Clean Air Force staff and members from 21 states and Washington, DC, spoke out at EPA’s virtual public hearing about its updated proposal to cut methane and other harmful pollutants from new and existing oil and gas operations. Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter Valencia offered testimony. Read Elizabeth’s testimony here and Valencia’s here.

November 2022

On November 2, Moms Clean Air Force coordinators Sam Schmitz and Danielle Berkowitz-Sklar attended the Crossroads Farmers’ Market in Takoma Park, Maryland, to spread the word about the importance of voting in the 2022 midterm elections.

October 2022

On October 8, EcoMadres joined Corazón Latino at the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Sandy Point State Park.

September 2022

On September 18, EcoMadres joined Corazón Latino at the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Patapsco Valley State Park.

June 2022

On June 29 and 30, Moms Clean Air Force joined our partner organizations to testify before EPA in favor of several waivers allowing California to set stronger tailpipe pollution standards for heavy-duty vehicles than federally required. Read National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt’s full testimony HERE.

April 2022

National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt joined local artist Monica Jahan Bose at Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library in DC on Earth Day for a preview of SUSTAIN—a public art experience from Storytelling with Saris—and a great conversation about climate activism. Watch the replay.

On April 20, National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt gave testimony at EPA’s virtual public hearing for the Cross State Air Pollution Rule, which will help clean up ozone pollution that knows no borders. Read her testimony HERE.

On April 16, Kids Clean Air Force Maryland members Natalia and Valencia shared their thoughts about clean air and climate change in Moms Clean Air Force’s Youth Voices Talk Climate Change program. Watch the replay.

On April 12, 13, and 14, dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff and members from 18 states and Washington, DC, spoke out at EPA’s virtual public hearing about its proposal to clean up tailpipe pollution from heavy-duty trucks and buses. Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her two daughters offered testimony. Read Elizabeth’s full testimony HERE.

February 2022

On February 28, moms and kids from DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia joined more than 200 advocates outside the Supreme Court on February 28 to defend the Clean Air Act, as the US Supreme Court convened to hear oral arguments in the landmark case, West Virginia v. EPA. Lucia Valentine, Moms Clean Air Force’s West Virginia coordinator, and her dad, Dominic, opened the rally with a few folk tunes. DC EcoMadre Daniella Ochoa and her son Martin shared their support for strong EPA action on climate and urged the Supreme Court to protect the Clean Air Act. They were joined by students, doctors, and US Congresswoman Kathy Castor, chair of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.

On February 24, Moms Clean Air Force Maryland joined dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 15 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s public hearing on its proposal to restore the appropriate and necessary finding of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter Valencia offered testimony. Read Elizabeth’s testimony HERE and Valencia’s HERE.

December 2021

On December 21, National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter Valencia attended the signing of finalized—and ambitious—Clean Car Standards for light-duty vehicles of model years 2023–26 by Administrator Michael Regan at EPA Headquarters in DC. They were both invited to give remarks ahead of the signing ceremony. Watch the replay.

November 2021

Moms Clean Air Force Maryland joined 38 Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 13 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s 3-day public hearing about the proposed rule to cut methane and other harmful air pollutants from new and existing oil and gas operations in November and December 2021. Moms Clean Air Force Field and Special Projects Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter Valencia offered testimony.

October 2021

On October 19, Moms Clean Air Force Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt testified at the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s public hearing on the proposed reinstatement of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rulemaking.

September 2021

On September 28, Moms Clean Air Force staff and members from Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and West Virginia joined the Clean Vehicles Coalition to deliver comments on EPA’s rulemaking on near-term greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and light trucks to Administrator Michael Regan.

On September 28, Moms Clean Air Force staff, including Georgia organizer Almeta Cooper, West Virginia organizer Lucia Valentine, Program Coordinator Hailey Duncan, and Field and Special Projects Manager Elizabeth Brandt (along with her two children), joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi for a press conference on the importance of climate action at the Capitol. Watch the replay.

August 2021

On August 26, Field and Special Projects Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter Valencia joined more than 30 Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 13 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s public hearing about strengthening near-term greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and light trucks. Read Elizabeth’s testimony here. Read Valencia’s testimony here.

June 2021

Maryland moms joined Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from across the country to participate in EPA’s listening sessions on its upcoming oil and natural gas methane rule. Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt offered testimony. Read Elizabeth’s testimony.

On June 2, 2021, Moms Clean Air Force Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her sister, Claire, joined more than 40 Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 16 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s first climate-related public hearing since President Biden took office. The hearing was about EPA’s proposal to restore long-standing state authority to protect residents from climate pollution from cars. Read Elizabeth’s testimony.

December 2020

On December 10, Moms Clean Air Force Senior Director Heather McTeer Toney joined Sen. Ben Cardin (MD) and Tiernan Sittenfeld, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs of the League of Conservation Voters, for a conversation on environmental policy under the Biden-Harris administration. Watch the replay.

September 2020

On September 10, Congressman Jamie Raskin joined DC field organizer Stephanie Klein, Elders Climate Action’s Sylvia Diss, and a few of our littlest activists from Maryland’s 8th District to discuss air pollution, climate change, and how the congresswoman is working to protect our families from these threats that impact health and well-being as part of our 2020 Stay In and Speak Out for Climate Action. Watch the video here.

Maryland moms and kids joined Moms Clean Air Force members across the country to testify in EPA’s virtual hearing on its proposal to retain the current National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ground-Level Ozone. Moms Clean Air Force regional field manager Elizabeth Brandt, her daughter Valencia, and 2 supermoms urged EPA to follow the science and strengthen the existing rule.

July 2019

Members of Moms Clean Air Force Maryland attended the sixth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

September 2018

Moms Clean Air Force DC organizer Elizabeth Brandt tabled and spoke at a community fair in Maryland.

July 2018

Members of Moms Clean Air Force Maryland attended the fifth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

January 2018

Moms Clean Air Force members testified at a hearing focused on America’s Clean Power Plan in Annapolis.

Moms Clean Air Force members attended the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Initiative roundtable.

November 2018

Moms Clean Air Force co-sponsored a town hall focused on asthma in Langley Park, MD.

July 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Maryland members met with Senator Van Hollen’s staff and with Senator Cardin during the 2017 Play-In for Climate Action in Washington, DC.

May 2016

Trisha Dello Iacono spoke at Bold Leaders in Design Summit in Columbia. The summit brought together the building industry, with a focus on clean air and safe products. Trisha spoke about the importance of using sustainable, products that use minimal toxins as well as the importance of clean indoor air.

April 2016:

Trisha Dello Iacono spoke at an Earth Day event in Elkridge.

February 2016:

On Thursday, February 25 Moms Clean Air Force Maryland hosted Mama Summit 2016 in Annapolis | Families gathered to stand up for clean air and children’s health.