By: Sarah McBride, Senior Communications Specialist, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: August 21, 2025
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0194
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Thank you for this opportunity to testify. My name is Sarah McBride and I am Moms Clean Air Force’s senior communications specialist. I am here today to oppose efforts to undermine the Clean Car and Clean Trucks Standards as well as the Endangerment Finding.
As you know, the Endangerment Finding is the foundation of EPA’s legal responsibility to protect us from the surplus of greenhouse gas emissions that is causing climate change and endangering our health. Much of this climate pollution comes from the transportation sector.
This legal responsibility has been repeatedly upheld by the courts because the science is clear—burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases that warm our climate and make extreme weather events like intense heatwaves and super-strength hurricanes more likely.
I live in St. Petersburg, Florida, where hurricanes and heat waves are a part of life. But last year, record-breaking heat and back-to-back supercharged hurricanes left people here rattled.
I’ve only lived here for a little over 2 years, but even longtime Floridians say they can tell that temperatures are rising. Last year, I had to pick up one of those people when they nearly passed out walking their dog. The temperature was breaking records.
A few months after that happened, Hurricanes Helene and Milton clobbered St. Petersburg, one after the other. Both were strong storms that were “supercharged” by the changing climate. Yes, there have always been hurricanes in Florida. But not like this.
I still see the impacts of these hurricanes every day. Our baseball stadium is still missing a roof and evidence of the widespread flooding is all over the city, even a year later.
I was very fortunate that I was able to evacuate. Many people don’t have that option - a terrifying prospect when I remember how county officials were telling people who decided not to evacuate to write their names on their arms so their bodies could be identified later. This weighs heavily on my mind as we are in the midst of another hurricane season.
This is why I’m asking you to uphold the Endangerment Finding and the Clean Car and Clean Trucks Standards. EPA must continue its vital work to protect families like mine from the intensifying impacts of global warming. My community’s safety, health, and economic wellbeing depend on it.