Each month, we highlight a new Supermom of the Month, a member who has gone above and beyond to advocate for clean air and children’s health.
This month, we are celebrating New Mexico State Representative Reena Szczepanski (HD-47). Rep. Szczepanski, who serves as the House Majority Whip, was nominated by New Mexico Field Organizer Giovanna Rossi.
Rep. Szczepanski is a mom and policymaker who has been a long-time champion for environmental issues in the New Mexico House. This year, she sponsored a bill directing the Department of Health to establish a statewide Public Health and Climate Program to assist local communities in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies related to climate disruption and extreme weather. The program would help communities draft action plans for climate and health resiliency, provide expertise to assist local community resiliency planning, and facilitate meaningful engagement in places suffering the most from extreme weather events.
TELL CONGRESS: SUPPORT MENTAL WELLNESS RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITIES HIT BY CLIMATE DISASTER
Rep. Szczepanski’s bill didn’t pass this session, but this effort shows her dedication to finding climate solutions, cultivating resiliency, and bolstering New Mexico’s communities in the face of disruption.
We asked Rep. Szczepanski a few questions about her motivation and activism:
What role do you think moms and caregivers can play in addressing environmental challenges?
As mothers and caregivers, we have a deep connection to what’s at stake. When we talk about climate change, we’re talking about fighting for the health of our children and for a planet that can sustain their future.
Moms and caregivers are educating policymakers and the public; as organizers, we are building power for change; as lawmakers, we must center the next generation in our work. We bring urgency and commitment to this work, just as we do for anything that impacts our children and families.
How do you see the connection between air quality and public health? Have you experienced any personal victories in advocating for cleaner air or a healthier environment?
In New Mexico, our communities are already experiencing the health impacts of wildfires and extreme heat.
We are fighting for progress in many ways. In 2019, I was proud to work on the Energy Transition Act, legislation that set our state on a path to achieve zero-carbon utilities by 2045. We have clamped down on methane emissions with stronger regulations and enforcement, increased our electric vehicle infrastructure, and in 2021, passed the Local Government Air Quality Regulations Act, enabling local governments to establish air quality standards that exceed federal standards.
While we push forward to address climate change and improve air quality, we also need to take steps to protect our families from current environmental challenges. I’m sponsoring legislation to create a statewide Public Health and Climate Program that will explicitly work to address the effects of extreme weather, air quality, and climate change on the health of our communities. Our vision is to have dedicated public health staff who can help the state develop solutions, understand current and future risks, and assist local communities as they navigate their specific challenges. This division would be accompanied by a health and resiliency fund to support community adaptation planning and measures such as setting up cooling centers and emergency shelters and acquiring air filters, emergency supplies, face masks, and air quality monitors.
How do you balance your advocacy work with being a busy mom?
It’s never easy, but it’s always worth it. We have an unpaid volunteer legislature in New Mexico, meaning working mothers and caregivers who serve in our legislature (of which there are many) hold down full-time jobs in addition to their year-round legislative work and caregiver responsibilities. That is a systemic barrier to participating in public service that many of our leaders have had to manage. There is a movement toward legislative modernization that would increase staffing and create legislative pay so that the legislature can reflect the incredible diversity of the communities we serve, and so that we can dedicate more time to public service.
Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-47) recently shared some advice about how she sees this balance. It’s helped me remember that even when things are tough, we are moving forward. She says: “The elusive ‘work-life balance’ is the kind of active balance that it takes to ride a bike, it’s not an equilibrium. Sometimes you pedal uphill and it’s really hard, sometimes you coast downhill and it’s easier, and sometimes you’re taking a break for water. Bottom line, you’re staying on the bike, rolling over bumps, and moving closer to your destination.”
TELL CONGRESS: SUPPORT MENTAL WELLNESS RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITIES HIT BY CLIMATE DISASTER