Contact: Sasha Tenenbaum, stenenbaum@momscleanairforce.org, 917-887-0146
Washington, DC – Yesterday President Biden kept his promise to Americans and signed the Executive Order on Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis to recommit the United States to the Paris Climate Accord and help restore many of the environmental protections the previous administration gutted, including the Clean Car Standards, protections from oil and gas methane pollution, and the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.
In response to this action, Moms Clean Air Force issued the following quotes from our policy experts:
Oil and Gas Methane Rule:
“After the Trump administration’s rollback of federal methane rules, President Biden’s Executive Order is an important step toward righting the ship and recommitting to protecting the health of families and communities across the nation. Oil and gas operations are leaking, venting, and flaring climate-warming methane and other harmful air pollutants that can impact the health of families like mine that live, learn, and play nearby. Fortunately, we already have the tools and technology to cut methane pollution from oil and gas operations 65% by 2025, compared to 2012 levels. Moms across the nation urge the Biden administration to move quickly to enact federal methane rules to protect public health and the climate.” – Patrice Tomcik, Project Manager who lives with fracked gas wells in her community.
Clean Car Standards:
“For years, Moms Clean Air Force members have organized, written letters, signed petitions, talked with lawmakers, and spoken at public hearings to oppose the Trump administration’s rollback to the Clean Car Standards. We knew that weakening these standards would result in dirtier air, sicker children, and more climate pollution. President Biden’s action on Day One to fix this rollback is a step in the right direction to make good on his promise to protect our children’s health and future from climate change. – Molly Rauch, Public Health Policy Director
Mercury and Air Toxics Standards:
“For the past decade, the million-plus members of Moms Clean Air Force have been fighting for strong protections from mercury pollution, which can damage the developing brains of babies. Last May, when the Trump administration finalized its attack on the lifesaving Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, despite broad and bipartisan opposition, Moms were deeply concerned. President Biden’s call for immediate review of Trump’s attack on our Mercury and Air Toxics Standards is a step in the right direction for mothers and babies across the country. As a mom to four young children, I am encouraged to see that protecting babies from mercury pollution is one of President Biden’s Day One priorities.” – Trisha Dello Iacono, National Field Manager
Paris Climate Accord:
“For the last four years, moms across the country have been fighting an unprecedented series of environmental regulatory rollbacks that dragged us backward as a nation and threatened our right to clean air and a healthy climate. Yesterday, Moms across the country breathed a collective sigh of relief when President Biden signed an Executive Order re-committing the United States to the Paris Climate Agreement. We applaud this move – just one of many steps the new administration has already taken to help get us to climate safety. We look forward to working with the new administration to develop the strongest possible policies that will protect our children.” – Dominique Browning, Co-Founder and Associate Vice President