By: Jayne Black, Wisconsin Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: July 8, 2025
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0124-0001
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to speak today.
My name is Jayne Black. I live in Brown County, Wisconsin. I am the Wisconsin field coordinator for Moms Clean Air Force — a national community of more than 1.5 million parents united to protect our children from the dangers of air pollution and the growing threat of climate change.
I am here today not just as an advocate, but as a mother of a daughter and son whose health is greatly impacted by air pollution. I am here for all our children whose very lives depend on clean air. I am calling for action and accountability!
Fossil fueled power plants are responsible for almost one-quarter of the climate pollution generated by the US. Moms Clean Air Force strongly opposes this proposal to roll back the Carbon Rule. Strong climate pollution standards for power plants are vital for protecting families from harmful greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming and endanger human health.
Power plants are responsible for roughly a quarter of climate pollution in the U.S., and this pollution is heating up the planet and harming our health. Approximately 60% of power generation comes from burning fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. The General health impacts from climate change are many and can include increased respiratory illnesses, like asthma, because hotter temperatures make air pollution worse and allergy season longer and more intense. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 25 million people in the United States have asthma, which is almost 8% of the overall population. This includes approximately 20 million adults (8.0%) and 4.7 million children (6.5%) and my son is one of them who struggles every day to breathe and depending on his inhaler, rescue inhaler and nebulizer machine which have horrible side effects especially for someone with anxiety and depression.
Other health impacts of climate change include heat-related illnesses, like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat is also a contributing factor to my daughter’s multiple sclerosis and can cause relapse episodes. Premature death, mental health issues, and adverse birth outcomes are just a few of the other health impacts that can be caused by power plant pollution.
The EPA must not repeal climate pollution protections for power plants. The health and well-being of our families, communities, and future generations are at stake. Not just my children, your children and your grandchildren, the consequences of putting our children’s health on the back burner will result in millions of dollars in health care costs and devastating premature deaths.
I am asking you as an advocate for all our children to protect the Carbon Rule and make safeguarding our children's health a top priority. To look away and not protect your child from sickness is a death sentence.
Thank you.