Maryland - Moms Clean Air Force

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.

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members in Maryland

How we’re making a difference in Maryland

Maryland families join Moms Clean Air Force members across the country to urge EPA to finalize strong methane standards that protect children’s health.

On January 10, 11, and 12, 2023, more than 60 Moms Clean Air Force staff and members from 21 states and Washington, DC, spoke out at EPA’s virtual public hearing about its updated proposal to cut methane and other harmful pollutants from new and existing oil and gas operations. The updated proposal from EPA would reduce methane pollution from sources covered by the rule by 87% below 2005 levels. It would also strengthen leak detection and repair requirements, continue to require equipment not to emit methane, address high-emission incidents with a new monitoring response program, and require that abandoned wells are subject to inspections until they are closed.

At the hearing, Moms applauded the updated rule but called on EPA to make it even stronger by fully eliminating pollution from routine flaring and ensuring frontline communities have the tools they need to hold polluters accountable.

Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter Valencia offered testimony. In her comment, Elizabeth talked about the impact of air and climate pollution on communities of color:

“Black, Indigenous, and Latino communities are also disproportionately exposed to dirty air, including harmful pollution from oil and gas operations, because of where they live, learn, work, and play. Oil and gas air pollution adds to the burden of existing pollution problems in underserved, low-income communities, exacerbating inequities and putting families at increased risk of serious health issues. Climate change and air pollution poses a particular threat to children, older adults and pregnant women. As a social worker, and a human being, I find this to be unacceptable. The EPA must do all it can to wipe out disproportionate impacts experienced by environmental justice communities.”

Maryland moms and kids join Moms Clean Air Force members across the country to support strong standards for tailpipe pollution from trucks.

On April 12, 13, and 14, dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff and members from 18 states and Washington, DC, spoke out at EPA’s virtual public hearing about its proposal to clean up tailpipe pollution from heavy-duty trucks and buses. EPA’s trucks proposal is a welcome step forward but doesn’t go far enough. At the hearing, moms asked EPA to further strengthen the standards for heavy-duty vehicle pollution, to better protect children, people with asthma, older adults, and other vulnerable groups from the health harms of air pollution.

Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughters, who live in Montgomery County, offered testimony. The girls talked about their experience riding an electric bus to school:

“It’s really different on days when the electric bus picks us up. It smells great, it’s quieter & we breathe easy when we stand next to it.” –Valencia and Natalia

Read Elizabeth’s testimony HERE.

Maryland moms and kids join Moms Clean Air Force members across the country at a virtual EPA hearing to support restoring the legal foundation of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.

On February 24, 2022, Moms Clean Air Force Maryland joined dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 15 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s public hearing on its proposal to restore the appropriate and necessary finding of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. The mercury standards, finalized in 2012, are a public health necessity. They protect communities across the country from mercury and other harmful air pollution from power plants.

Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter Valencia offered testimony. In her comments, Valencia talked about how mercury pollution impacts some of her favorite animals:

“Mercury pollution hurts babies brains and causes health problems. I am interested in all animals, not just humans, though. I have learned that birds and bats have fewer babies and have health problems when they are exposed to mercury pollution. Birds can’t even sing their favorite songs when mercury makes them sick. This is not fair.”

Read Valencia’s full testimony HERE. Read Elizabeth’s HERE.

Maryland moms and kids join Moms Clean Air Force members across the country to tell EPA to finalize strong methane regulations.

Moms Clean Air Force Maryland joined 38 Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 13 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s 3-day public hearing about the proposed rule to cut methane and other harmful air pollutants from new and existing oil and gas operations in November and December 2021.

Methane is the main component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas accelerating climate change. Quickly and significantly reducing methane is one of the best levers we have to slow the rate of climate change and help clean up the air. If finalized, EPA’s proposed rule would establish the first national standards limiting methane pollution from the nation’s nearly one million existing oil and gas operations.

Moms Clean Air Force Field and Special Projects Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter Valencia offered testimony.

Maryland moms and kids join Moms Clean Air Force members across the country to tell EPA to set strong near-term standards for climate pollution from cars.

In August 2021, Moms Clean Air Force Maryland joined more than 30 Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 13 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s public hearing about strengthening near-term greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and light trucks.

Transportation is the largest source of climate pollution in the US, making up 29% of all carbon dioxide pollution. Cars and light trucks account for 58% of all transportation-related climate pollution, and 17% of total US climate pollution. The EPA’s proposal to cut climate pollution from cars in the near terms seeks to repair years of backsliding from the auto industry. Moms spoke out in favor of acting with urgency to accelerate the transition to zero-pollution vehicles.

Moms Clean Air Force Field and Special Projects Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter Valencia offered testimony.

Maryland moms call on EPA to set strong standards for methane pollution.

In June 2021, Maryland moms joined Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from across the country to participate in EPA’s listening sessions on its upcoming oil and natural gas methane rule. The listening sessions were a unique opportunity for environmental justice and frontline communities to weigh in ahead of the proposed rulemaking. Moms advocated for at least a 65% reduction in methane pollution from oil and gas operations, compared to 2012 levels, no later than 2025.

Moms Clean Air Force Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt offered testimony. Elizabeth spoke about the climate change impacts she and her family are already seeing in Maryland:

“In Maryland, where I live, we’re already experiencing the intensifying storms and increased flooding that are a result of climate change. Our urban areas are suffering from extreme heat as 90 degree days occur with increasing regularity. Our coastal communities are low lying, and high tides are becoming a frightening prospect as sea levels rise. To do our part to slow these climate impacts, we simply must cut methane emissions.”

Read Elizabeth’s full testimony HERE.

Maryland moms join members of Moms Clean Air Force across the country to tell EPA to slash climate pollution from cars.

In June 2021, Moms Clean Air Force Maryland joined more than 40 Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 16 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s first climate-related public hearing since President Biden took office. The hearing was about EPA’s proposal to restore long-standing state authority to protect residents from climate pollution from cars—something the previous administration had stripped away. EPA wants to once again give California, and any states that choose to adopt California’s standards, permission to set stricter climate pollution standards for cars and light trucks. Reinstating state authority to set tailpipe emissions standards is an important first step for reducing pollution from the transportation sector, the nation’s leading source of climate-warming carbon pollution.

Moms Clean Air Force Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her sister, Claire, offered testimony. Elizabeth spoke about air quality in Maryland, which has been improving but still has a long way to go. Montgomery County, where she lives, received a C grade for ozone pollution in the 2021 State of the Air report.

Our children deserve better than this. They are most vulnerable to the dangerous exhaust from cars and trucks—their lungs are still developing, and ozone pollution increases the risk of long-term chronic respiratory and cardiovascular ailments like asthma and heart disease.

Read more about pollution from the transportation sector in Maryland in Elizabeth’s op-ed in The Hill, published the day after the EPA hearing.

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.

Moms applaud the Maryland 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 Clean Air Force organizer Elizabeth Brandt testifies at the clean buses hearing with Chispa and Delegate Fraser Hidalgo to support electric school buses, Annapolis, March 2019.

Urging the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to electrify its transit bus fleet.

In the fall of 2020, Moms Clean Air Force DC and partner organizations released a 17-page report titled A Vision for Climate Leadership in Washington, DC: Seizing the Economic, Climate, and Public Health Benefits of Electrifying WMATA’s Transit Bus Fleet. WMATA operates the 6th largest transit bus fleet in the nation with more than 1,500 buses. Currently, only one of those buses is electric, and only 14 additional electric buses are expected to enter the fleet over the next year.

After months of conversations with Moms and our partners, the DC Council introduced a resolution calling on WMATA to electrify its bus fleet “on a schedule that meets—preferably exceeds—the deadlines in the Clean Energy DC Act.” Specifically, the resolution urges WMATA to phase out the purchase of internal combustion engine buses by 2023 and to electrify its bus fleet on the following timeline: 50% by 2030, 75% by 2035, 90% by 2040, and 100% by 2045.

In June 2021, WMATA released a sustainability plan that includes a commitment to transition its fleet to 100% electric-powered buses by 2045. While this is an important first step, we will continue to call on the Metro to immediately phase out the purchase of internal combustion buses, transition half of its fleet to electric by 2030, and prioritize the deployment of electric buses in environmental justice and low-income communities. Moms Clean Air Force members are working with government officials in DC, Maryland, and Virginia to generate support for this campaign.

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.

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.

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. Six Maryland counties received a failing grade for ground-level ozone, or 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.

There were no results found.

There were no results found.

Past Events

January 2023

On January 10, 11, and 12, more than 60 Moms Clean Air Force staff and members from 21 states and Washington, DC, spoke out at EPA’s virtual public hearing about its updated proposal to cut methane and other harmful pollutants from new and existing oil and gas operations. Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter Valencia offered testimony. Read Elizabeth’s testimony here and Valencia’s here.

November 2022

On November 2, Moms Clean Air Force coordinators Sam Schmitz and Danielle Berkowitz-Sklar attended the Crossroads Farmers’ Market in Takoma Park, Maryland, to spread the word about the importance of voting in the 2022 midterm elections.

October 2022

On October 8, EcoMadres joined Corazón Latino at the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Sandy Point State Park.

September 2022

On September 18, EcoMadres joined Corazón Latino at the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Patapsco Valley State Park.

June 2022

On June 29 and 30, Moms Clean Air Force joined our partner organizations to testify before EPA in favor of several waivers allowing California to set stronger tailpipe pollution standards for heavy-duty vehicles than federally required. Read National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt’s full testimony HERE.

April 2022

National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt joined local artist Monica Jahan Bose at Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library in DC on Earth Day for a preview of SUSTAIN—a public art experience from Storytelling with Saris—and a great conversation about climate activism. Watch the replay.

On April 20, National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt gave testimony at EPA’s virtual public hearing for the Cross State Air Pollution Rule, which will help clean up ozone pollution that knows no borders. Read her testimony HERE.

On April 16, Kids Clean Air Force Maryland members Natalia and Valencia shared their thoughts about clean air and climate change in Moms Clean Air Force’s Youth Voices Talk Climate Change program. Watch the replay.

On April 12, 13, and 14, dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff and members from 18 states and Washington, DC, spoke out at EPA’s virtual public hearing about its proposal to clean up tailpipe pollution from heavy-duty trucks and buses. Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her two daughters offered testimony. Read Elizabeth’s full testimony HERE.

February 2022

On February 28, moms and kids from DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia joined more than 200 advocates outside the Supreme Court on February 28 to defend the Clean Air Act, as the US Supreme Court convened to hear oral arguments in the landmark case, West Virginia v. EPA. Lucia Valentine, Moms Clean Air Force’s West Virginia coordinator, and her dad, Dominic, opened the rally with a few folk tunes. DC EcoMadre Daniella Ochoa and her son Martin shared their support for strong EPA action on climate and urged the Supreme Court to protect the Clean Air Act. They were joined by students, doctors, and US Congresswoman Kathy Castor, chair of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.

On February 24, Moms Clean Air Force Maryland joined dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 15 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s public hearing on its proposal to restore the appropriate and necessary finding of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter Valencia offered testimony. Read Elizabeth’s testimony HERE and Valencia’s HERE.

December 2021

On December 21, National Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter Valencia attended the signing of finalized—and ambitious—Clean Car Standards for light-duty vehicles of model years 2023–26 by Administrator Michael Regan at EPA Headquarters in DC. They were both invited to give remarks ahead of the signing ceremony. Watch the replay.

November 2021

October 2021

On October 19, Moms Clean Air Force Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt testified at the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s public hearing on the proposed reinstatement of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rulemaking.

September 2021

On September 28, Moms Clean Air Force staff and members from Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and West Virginia joined the Clean Vehicles Coalition to deliver comments on EPA’s rulemaking on near-term greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and light trucks to Administrator Michael Regan.

On September 28, Moms Clean Air Force staff, including Georgia organizer Almeta Cooper, West Virginia organizer Lucia Valentine, Program Coordinator Hailey Duncan, and Field and Special Projects Manager Elizabeth Brandt (along with her two children), joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi for a press conference on the importance of climate action at the Capitol. Watch the replay.

August 2021

On August 26, Field and Special Projects Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her daughter Valencia joined more than 30 Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 13 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s public hearing about strengthening near-term greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and light trucks. Read Elizabeth’s testimony here. Read Valencia’s testimony here.

June 2021

Maryland moms joined Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from across the country to participate in EPA’s listening sessions on its upcoming oil and natural gas methane rule. Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt offered testimony. Read Elizabeth’s testimony.

On June 2, 2021, Moms Clean Air Force Field Manager Elizabeth Brandt and her sister, Claire, joined more than 40 Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 16 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s first climate-related public hearing since President Biden took office. The hearing was about EPA’s proposal to restore long-standing state authority to protect residents from climate pollution from cars. Read Elizabeth’s testimony.

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

Moms Clean Air Force DC organizer Elizabeth 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.