Today, dozens of Moms’ staff and members from states across the country are calling in to give inspired testimony at EPA’s virtual public hearing on its proposed roll back of the 2024 update to the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS), which limit mercury and other hazardous air pollution from coal plants. It’s another way we’re raising our voices this #MomsSummerofAction.
Tell EPA: Moms Strongly Oppose Rolling Back Mercury and Air Toxics Standards
Mercury is a potent neurotoxin; no amount of mercury exposure is safe. We know this. And the rule works. We know this too. Since the original MATS were finalized in 2012, mercury emissions have decreased by 86%! The sensible and critical 2024 update was set to close a loophole for lignite coal plants, which are particularly polluting, and to improve protections against other heavy metals and additional air pollutants.
Why would anyone want to repeal these additional protections? Why would anyone want to risk the health and safety of people and families? These are questions that come up repeatedly in Moms’ impassioned testimonies—along with an overarching sense that parents, pregnant people, and children should not have to worry about exposure to heavy metals in the air they breathe and the food they eat. Here are a few of today’s most powerful and relatable testimonies:
Giovanna Rossi, New Mexico
“When I was pregnant, I remember vividly being told by my doctor to avoid eating fish—something I had always considered a healthy source of protein. Why? Because of mercury contamination. I was stunned. I had to completely change my eating habits out of fear that something in our food supply—something invisible and avoidable only with strict limits—could harm the developing brain of my baby.
“That moment crystallized for me the connection between environmental policy and personal decisions women are forced to make during pregnancy. It’s not fair. Expecting moms shouldn’t have to worry that eating fish could permanently affect their child’s ability to learn, grow, and thrive. And yet, this is the reality for many families—especially those in communities that rely on fish as a staple food or cultural tradition.”
Read Giovanna’s full testimony here.
Pita Juarez, Arizona
“When I think about my one-year-old nephew and how dangerous mercury and other toxins from coal-fired power plants are to his developing brain, it makes me furious. He is simply living his life, yet he can’t escape an environment polluted by corporations that prioritize profit over his future.
“We know these toxins can lead to developmental delays, learning disabilities, behavioral issues, and even serious cardiovascular problems, including increased risk of heart attacks. Public health, especially when it comes to children, should be a basic human right. No child or parent should have to worry about that.”
Read Pita’s full testimony here.
Kiya Stanford, Georgia
“Mercury is a dangerous and deadly neurotoxin that permanently damages babies’ brains. Additional health harms linked to mercury exposure include cardiovascular problems, including increased risk of heart attacks. The recent updates to MATS also protect communities from a range of hazardous air toxics, including heavy metals that have been linked to congenital birth defects.
“It is extremely important to me, as someone who lives with a congenital heart disease, to advocate against any pollutant and policy that can contribute to replicating what my family went through to ensure that I grew up happy and healthy despite my medical conditions. There is no clear answer to what contributed to my congenital disease, but since modern science clearly tells us the risks associated with mercury and the toxins that MATS addresses, we must do all that we can now to prevent children from the health risks associated with this exposure.”
Read Kiya’s full testimony here.
Candi Hurst, West Virginia
“When I was living in the mid-Ohio Valley and also while I was a student in Morgantown, I lived near polluting facilities. I saw communities that were already struggling disproportionately with health problems and economic burdens be exposed to toxins that would worsen or add to those problems. We know that several of those plants have now asked for and been granted exemptions from updated air pollution rules. This is particularly troublesome because residents of these counties are additionally exposed to air and water pollution because of petrochemical facilities in the area.
“It makes my heart heavy to know the families living near these plants are not going to be afforded the protections that are their rights. Parents should be able to know with confidence that the air their children breathe and the water they play in is monitored and as clean as possible. They should be able to depend on their elected officials to keep them safe.”
Read Candi’s full testimony here.
Tell EPA: Moms Strongly Oppose Rolling Back Mercury and Air Toxics Standards