By: Liz Hurtado, National Field Manager, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: May 2, 2023
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0985
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Good afternoon. My name is Liz Hurtado, and I am a national field manager for Moms Clean Air Force and its Latino engagement program, EcoMadres. I am a mother of four living in Virginia Beach, VA. I am here today to voice my support of the proposed greenhouse gas regulations for heavy-duty vehicles and to urge EPA to finalize these rules as quickly as possible.
The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and this pollution is a major driver of both climate change and health inequities.
Climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions poses many risks to the health, safety, and well-being of US residents. Here in Virginia Beach, we are already dealing with the profound effects of climate change in our rising sea level, intensifying hurricanes, and increased flooding. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial in our effort to lessen the impacts from climate change and protect our most vulnerable.
We must slash emissions from the transportation sector and move toward zero-emission trucks to protect our air and public health. Stronger standards and cleaner trucks would have critical benefits including a reduced number of premature deaths, fewer asthma attacks, and fewer lost workdays.
Heavy-duty vehicle pollution harms everyone, but especially those who live near highways, ports, freight hubs, and other high traffic areas. As a result of housing discrimination and other unjust policies, communities of color and low-income communities make up a higher percentage of the population near our roads and highways and therefore suffer disproportionately from harmful tailpipe emissions. Strong emissions standards would put cleaner trucks on the road and deliver life-saving relief to frontline communities.
In my community, we are already seeing the effects of climate change. We should not have to face the added layer of worrying about the dirty air our children breathe. Soccer games, walks to the park, or bike rides around town should bring us joy, not a sense of worry about the potential health harms.
We cannot continue to sacrifice public health. Protecting public health means a stable climate and clean air that is safe to breathe. I am hopeful for a future in which my kids breathe clean air, so I once again urge the EPA to finalize the strongest possible clean trucks standards, consistent with the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, by the end of 2023. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.