By: Melody Reis, Senior Legislative and Regulatory Policy Manager, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: May 9, 2023
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0829
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Melody Reis, and I am the Senior Legislative and Regulatory Policy Manager for Moms Clean Air Force. I am here to call on EPA to finalize the strongest possible clean cars standards this year. Strong safeguards are important to protect the health of our children and communities, and we must act swiftly.
As you’re no doubt aware, the transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, responsible for nearly 1/3 of all emissions. And light- and medium-duty vehicles, like the passenger cars and light trucks that most of us drive regularly, are responsible for the bulk of this climate pollution. There’s no denying that climate change is here—I live in the DC Metro area, and four of the five hottest years on record have occurred over the past 11 years, and this year is on track to be the warmest yet. We have the technology to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks, and the time to act is now.
In addition to their effect on climate, vehicles are also a significant source of air pollution, including nitrogen oxides—or NOx, which reacts in the atmosphere to form ground-level ozone, also known as smog.
Ozone is a dangerous pollutant that has been linked to lung damage and respiratory problems. Children, whose little lungs are still growing, are among the populations most vulnerable to the harms of ozone pollution. Unfortunately, in the American Lung Association’s latest “State of the Air” report, released last month, the DC Metro region received an F—a failing grade—based on the number of high ozone days in recent years.
High ozone days require parents, teachers, and other caregivers to ask difficult questions. We’ve all heard that kids benefit from being outdoors and breathing fresh air. But what if your air isn’t fresh? What if being outdoors means breathing polluted air that has received a failing grade from the American Lung Association? Do the benefits of outdoor play still outweigh the risks?
Cleaning up tailpipe emissions from the transportation sector would make a tremendous difference. A transition to zero-emission vehicles would put us on the road to a cleaner and healthier future. That’s good news for the millions of Americans who are already living with the effects of a changing climate and those who are breathing polluted air. And it’s especially good news for those who live near highways and truck routes—often communities of color and low-income communities—where tailpipe exhaust is inescapable.
Thank you for your time, and I once again urge you to finalize the strongest possible safeguards by the end of this year.