Maryland

Moms are working in Maryland to fight for clean air and a stable climate. We host events, share information about what’s going on, and create opportunities for mothers to talk to their legislators about their concerns. Please join us in Maryland, and let us know about your priorities.

17,575

members in Maryland

How we’re making a difference in Maryland

Rep. Jamie Raskin joins our 2020 Stay In and Speak Out for Climate Action.

This year, we aren’t playing around. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we aren’t holding our happy, crowded, buzzing, and bubbling annual Play-In for Climate Action in Washington, DC. Instead, we’re asking legislators across the country to join us for virtual events and conversations with their constituents to talk about air pollution, climate action and what we can do to fight the climate crisis where we live.

On September 10, Congressman Jamie Raskin joined DC field organizer Stephanie Klein, Elders Climate Action’s Sylvia Diss, and a few of our littlest activists from Maryland’s 8th District to discuss air pollution, climate change, and how the congressman is working to protect our families from these threats that impact health and well-being.

Maryland Moms join Moms Clean Air Force members from across the country to demand EPA protect our families from dangerous smog.

On August 30 and September 1, 2020, Moms Clean Air Force Maryland joined more than 50 Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 14 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s virtual public hearing on ground-level ozone, or smog. Smog is a widespread and largely preventable form of air pollution that is a powerful lung irritant and asthma trigger. In July 2020, in the midst of a global respiratory pandemic, EPA chose to keep the standards for smog the same—in spite of strong evidence showing significant health harm at levels below the current standards—and opened a public comment period that would be considered notably short even if we were not in the midst of a global respiratory pandemic. This continues a disturbing trend at EPA, led by Administrator Andrew Wheeler, of sidelining science, ignoring environmental injustice, and stifling public participation in the rulemaking process.

Moms Clean Air Force regional field manager Elizabeth Brandt, her daughter Valencia, and 2 supermoms offered testimony.

Seven-year-old Valencia with her prepared testimony for EPA’s virtual public hearing on ground-level ozone standards.

Moms Clean Air Force helps Maryland push for bold climate legislation.

In November 2019, Congressman Donald McEachin (VA-04) introduced the 100% Clean Economy Act of 2019 with Representatives Deb Haaland (NM-01), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Chellie Pingree (ME-01). This ambitious national bill aims to eliminate all climate pollution—including from transportation, electricity, buildings, and agriculture—by no later than 2050.

In the months leading up to the release of the bill, Maryland moms met with members of Congress across the state to urge them to join as co-sponsors. Moms Clean Air Force Maryland thanks Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08), John Sarbanes (MD-03), and David Trone (MD-06) for being among the over 150 original co-sponsors leading on this issue.

Click here to learn more about the bill.

Maryland Moms and Clean Air Kids meet with Representative Jamie Raskin at the July 2018 Play-In for Climate Action in Washington, DC.

We passed the Clean Energy Jobs Act.

In April 2019, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bold climate bill to move Maryland to 100% clean energy by 2040. Moms Clean Air Force was a critical voice in the fight to pass the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Act. As part of a strong coalition of partners, we participated in lobby meetings, rallies, and events to help elevate the voices of moms and families in the coalition.

Moms Organizer Liz Brandt testifies at the Clean Buses hearing with Chispa and Delegate Fraser Hidalgo to support electric school buses, Annapolis, Maryland, March 2019.

Moms & Mayors

Our Moms & Mayors program connects moms with their mayors and local leaders to improve children’s health and build resilient communities. We educate, empower and mobilize Moms in their hometowns to work with their local elected leaders to implement clean air strategies, reduce toxins in the community, and take action on climate change. We also train Moms to join boards and commissions and urge them to run for office.

Ecomadres

Launched in September 2018, the Ecomadres program brings Latina moms together to address issues of clean air, climate, and toxics that affect the health of Latino children and families. Ecomadres is a collaboration between GreenLatinos and Moms Clean Air Force.

The program provides comadres with reliable information and solutions through online resources, articles, action tools, and on-the-ground events. Our inclusive community empowers and lifts up the voices of comadres for the benefit of our families and communities. Ecomadres has a vibrant network of state-based field teams and allies across the country.

We host cafecitos around the country that provide opportunities for the communities to discuss air quality and climate change.

Community Rx

Moms Clean Air Force is committed to exposing environmental injustices in the African-American community by taking a stand against environmental discrimination, holding legislators accountable for lack of resources, educating communities on their rights and their issues, standing with impacted communities, and fighting for clean air and climate solutions to promote healthy children and healthy communities.

Through our environmental health justice program Community Rx, our goal is to advocate, educate, and amplify through partnering with impacted communities and environmental justice organizations on events and resource development. We hold Table Talks around the country, casual gatherings that organize, motivate, and activate volunteers, partner with churches to use our “Breath of Life” Bible Study, and provide information on environmental health issues in African-American communities.

Baby Power

Our Baby Power program educates and engages expectant and new moms on our issues with the message that every baby has the power to make you want to change the world.

We work for change at the local and federal level.

Along with fighting for climate action at the local and state level, our Maryland moms are a critical force in our DC federal work. With many Marylanders just a few miles from the nation’s capital, our Maryland Supermoms attend events, speak to press, and represent our million members in other parts of the country. They join legislative visits to Capitol Hill, attend and testify at public hearings, participate in on-the-ground events such as rallies and marches, and contribute their advice and unique skills to our work.

Our coasts are at risk:

With over 3,000 miles of shoreline, sea level rise poses significant risks for Maryland families. If climate pollution continues to rise unabated, Maryland may see as much as four feet of sea level rise within the next century. Maryland families and wildlife are at risk; the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, supports the life of over 3,600 species of plants and animals, as well as critical fishing industries.

Our children breathe polluted air.

Maryland has a smog problem. Half of Maryland’s counties that monitor ground level ozone received a failing grade for smog from the American Lung Association.

This pollution comes from sources both inside the state and beyond its borders. On hot, summer days, Maryland officials say that more than two thirds of the smog that Marylanders have to breathe comes from upwind pollution from coal plants in Pennsylvania and Indiana. After a request that EPA limit this pollution as part of the “good neighbor” provision of the Clean Air Act, EPA denied Maryland’s petition in September 2018, failing to protect the more than 130,000 children in Maryland with asthma.

Past Events

December 2020

On December 10, Moms Clean Air Force Senior Director Heather McTeer Toney joined Sen. Ben Cardin (MD) and Tiernan Sittenfeld, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs of the League of Conservation Voters, for a conversation on environmental policy under the Biden-Harris administration. Watch the replay.

September 2020

On September 10, Congressman Jamie Raskin joined DC field organizer Stephanie Klein, Elders Climate Action’s Sylvia Diss, and a few of our littlest activists from Maryland’s 8th District to discuss air pollution, climate change, and how the congresswoman is working to protect our families from these threats that impact health and well-being as part of our 2020 Stay In and Speak Out for Climate Action. Watch the video here.

Maryland moms and kids joined Moms Clean Air Force members across the country to testify in EPA’s virtual hearing on its proposal to retain the current National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ground-Level Ozone. Moms Clean Air Force regional field manager Elizabeth Brandt, her daughter Valencia, and 2 supermoms urged EPA to follow the science and strengthen the existing rule.

July 2019

Members of Moms Clean Air Force Maryland attended the sixth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

September 2018

Field organizer Liz Brandt tabled and spoke at a community fair in Maryland.

July 2018

Members of Moms Clean Air Force Maryland attended the fifth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

January 2018

Moms Clean Air Force members testified at a hearing focused on America’s Clean Power Plan in Annapolis.

Moms Clean Air Force members attended the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Initiative roundtable.

November 2018

Moms Clean Air Force co-sponsored a town hall focused on asthma in Langley Park, MD.

July 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Maryland members met with Senator Van Hollen’s staff and with Senator Cardin during the 2017 Play-In for Climate Action in Washington, DC.

May 2016

Trisha Dello Iacono spoke at Bold Leaders in Design Summit in Columbia. The summit brought together the building industry, with a focus on clean air and safe products. Trisha spoke about the importance of using sustainable, products that use minimal toxins as well as the importance of clean indoor air.

April 2016:

Trisha Dello Iacono spoke at an Earth Day event in Elkridge.

February 2016:

On Thursday, February 25 Moms Clean Air Force Maryland hosted Mama Summit 2016 in Annapolis | Families gathered to stand up for clean air and children’s health.