The 119th Congress began on January 3, 2025. Moms Clean Air Force is watching for bills that, if passed into law, will help protect our children from air pollution and climate change, and safeguard their health now and into the future. We’ll list those bills below as they are introduced.
Signing petitions, making phone calls and writing emails to legislators, and sharing your personal stories with your lawmakers can help advance policies that will benefit our children’s health and put us on a path to climate safety.
Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act, introduced by Senators Ben Ray Luján (NM) and Kevin Cramer (ND): This bipartisan bill would authorize funding to enhance efforts to identify and remediate abandoned oil and gas wells, which can leak the potent climate pollutant methane, contaminate groundwater, and create community safety risks. Learn More
Cleaner Air Spaces Act, introduced by Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) and Senator Michael Bennet (CO): This bill would establish a grant program to expand access to air filtration units, air monitors, and clean air centers in communities vulnerable to wildfire smoke in order to protect public health from this dangerous pollution. Learn More
Community Solar Consumer Choice Act, introduced by Representatives Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Senator Ben Ray Luján (NM): This bill expands a Department of Energy initiative that encourages community solar projects nationwide. These large-scale solar installations allow multiple subscribers to receive credit on their electricity bills for their share of the clean power produced. Community solar increases accessibility to lower-cost solar power for renters, homeowners unable to install rooftop solar, and business owners. Learn More
Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act, introduced by Representative Mike Thompson (CA-4) and Senator Jeff Merkley (OR): This bill would protect communities across the country from the hazardous health, economic, and environmental impacts of severe wildfire smoke and extreme heat events. Learn More
Bills We Supported in the 118th Congress
Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, introduced by Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Senator Cory Booker (NJ): This act, also known as the “Momnibus,” comprises 13 pieces of legislation that aim to address different aspects of Black maternal health crisis. The Momnibus includes a stand-alone bill, introduced by Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Senator Ed Markey (MA), focused on mitigating the impacts of climate change on moms and babies, the Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act, which invests in community-based programs and calls for the identification of climate risk zones for pregnant and postpartum people. Learn More
Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) and Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02). This legislation would reduce plastic production, establish ambitious recycling targets, and protect frontline and fenceline communities from the health and environmental burdens of toxic emissions from the plastics industry. The bill would shift the burden of cleanup to the corporations that produce plastics, establish a nationwide deposit return system to address beverage container waste, support reusable and refillable systems, and strengthen environmental justice protections. Learn More
Children’s Health Protection Act of 2024, introduced by Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) and John Garamendi (CA-8): This bill would codify EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection (OCHP) into law. This office would be responsible for rulemaking, policy, enforcement, and research focusing on prenatal and childhood vulnerabilities, including management of safe chemicals. It would also coordinate community-based programs to eliminate threats to children’s health where they live, learn, and play. Learn More
Cleaner Air Spaces Act, introduced by Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) and Senators Michael Bennet (CO) and Jeff Merkley (OR): This bill would establish a grant program to expand access to air filtration units, air monitors, and clean air centers in communities vulnerable to wildfire smoke in order to protect public health from this dangerous pollution. Learn More
Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act, introduced by Senator Ed Markey (MA) and Representatives Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01): This bill would establish a $36 million grant program for local community-based mental health and resilience programs. This funding is meant to build out mental wellness services for communities hit by extreme weather events, natural disasters, epidemics, and rising temperatures fueled by the climate crisis. Learn More
Cumulative Impacts Act, introduced by Representative Rashida Tlaib (MI-12): This bill would require EPA to analyze cumulative air and water pollution impacts of a new commercial project before issuing permits. Permits would be denied for any project applicant that cannot demonstrate a reasonable certainty of no harm to the community or vulnerable groups. Learn More
Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act, introduced by Representatives Raul Grijalva (AZ-03) and Barbara Lee (CA-12) and Senators Cory Booker (NJ) and Tammy Duckworth (IL): This bill aims to ensure that all families have access to clean air and clean water regardless of their socioeconomic or racial background. The bill, known as the EJ4All Act, ensures cumulative pollution impacts are considered when accounting for how policy decisions affect the health of environmental justice communities. The EJ4All Act creates more equitable access to parks and outdoor spaces to ensure underserved communities are also able to enjoy the outdoors. The EJ4All Act supports the development and deployment of equitable renewable energy technologies, ensuring a just transition for workers and communities away from fossil-fuel-dependent industries. Finally, the EJ4All Act funds research to investigate personal and childcare products containing chemicals linked to adverse health impacts and supports research to identify safer alternatives for cosmetic products marketed specifically toward women and girls of color. Learn More
Green New Deal for Health, introduced by Senator Ed Markey (MA) and Representatives Ro Khanna (CA-17), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Summer Lee (PA-12), and Maxwell Frost (FL-10): This bill is aimed at making the US health care system better able to respond to climate change by investing in sustainability and supporting patients, providers, and communities. Among other things, the bill includes investments in community mental health to address the toll of extreme weather disasters and other stressors. Learn More
Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act, introduced by Representatives Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1): This bill would ensure that EPA has the authority and resources needed to protect public health from poor indoor air quality (IAQ). The bill would update, expand, and codify the work of EPA’s Indoor Environments Division; require EPA to establish and regularly update a list of significant indoor contaminants and develop health-based, voluntary guidelines to reduce the public’s risk of exposure to these contaminants; direct EPA to develop or recognize voluntary certifications for buildings to minimize risks from indoor air pollutants; and establish a regularly updated national assessment of IAQ in schools and childcare facilities, as well as supporting the development of technical assistance, guidelines, and best practices to improve the indoor air conditions in these facilities. Learn More
Protecting Communities From Plastics Act, introduced by Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Senators Cory Booker (NJ) and Jeff Merkley (OR). This bill tackles the plastics crisis by cracking down on the plastic production process, building on key provisions from the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act to address harmful environmental justice impacts. It establishes stricter rules for petrochemical plants designed to safeguard the health of families and communities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The bill targets false solutions, including the chemical recycling of plastics, and expands the use of re-use and refill systems, with an emphasis on ensuring benefits are realized in environmental justice communities. Learn More
Resolution on Children and Extreme Weather, introduced by Representative Jennifer McClellan (VA-4). This resolution acknowledges that the physical and mental health needs of young people in a changing climate are unique. It asserts that legislation and funding for extreme weather adaptations must include considerations tailored to the needs of babies, children, and young people. Some of the adaptive measures the resolution calls for are easily accessible public emergency alerts, such as for air quality, wildfires, extreme heat, or anticipated flooding; language-accessible public information campaigns, such as for air quality, extreme heat, or disaster preparedness; training for healthcare professionals, educators, and childcare providers on the unique vulnerabilities of children to extreme weather; child-friendly cooling centers and “clean rooms” during wildfire smoke events; and adequate shade at playgrounds and school bus stops. Learn More
Resolution on Protecting Latina Maternal and Infant Health From Extreme Heat and Air Pollution, introduced by Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44): This resolution recognizes the threat of air pollution and extreme heat to maternal and infant health, particularly in Latino communities. It highlights that these communities face disproportionate exposure to environmental toxins, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and stillbirth. Learn More
Resolution Promoting Youth Mental Health and Well-Being in a Changing Climate, introduced by Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Kathy Castor (FL-11): This resolution aims to meaningfully address the increasing mental health toll of climate change on youth. It supports expanding the funding of climate education, resilience, and adaptation projects that benefit the mental health of youth; engaging in education and outreach to reduce the stigma associated with seeking treatment; reducing cost and increasing access for treatment; increasing insurance and Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for mental health care treatment; providing direct funding to school districts that need immediate resources to help children and families cope with the mental health effects of continued climate-related disasters; and addressing inequity by studying the impacts of income disparity at local levels that have been linked to higher communitywide vulnerability to climate risk. Finally, this resolution calls on Congress to take immediate, effective action on climate change, guided by the science provided in the 2021 United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, to protect the mental health of current and future youth. Learn More
Resolution to Honor Latino Conservation Week, introduced by Representative Nanette Barragán (CA-44): This resolution, first introduced in 2022, would support the designation of the third week in July as “Latino Conservation Week.” This week would be a time to recognize the important contributions of the Latino community to the outdoor economy and outdoor recreation, and the need for equal access to green spaces. Learn More
Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act, introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley (OR), Michael Bennet (CO), Dianne Feinstein (CA), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Alex Padilla (CA), John Fetterman (PA), Ron Wyden (OR), and Bernie Sanders (VT) and Representatives Anna Eshoo (CA-16) and Mike Thompson (CA-04): This bill would provide federal funding to help communities invest in programs and plans to address the environmental and public health impacts of wildfire smoke and extreme heat. It would also set aside federal funding for wildfire smoke and extreme heat research. Learn More
Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act, introduced by Senator Edward Markey (MA) and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE): This bill would provide federal funding for EPA to update and expand its tools and technologies for monitoring air quality. It would also ensure that EPA’s air monitoring tools are integrated with environmental justice mapping and screening to better measure and manage unhealthy levels of air pollution across the United States, particularly in communities on the fence line of pollution industry. Learn More
Youth Climate Leadership Act, introduced by Senators Laphonza Butler (CA) and Ed Markey (MA): This bill would establish Youth Advisory Councils at key environmental agencies to elevate youth voices in federal climate policy. The bill would also codify EPA’s National Environmental Youth Advisory Council. Learn More