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Trump Administration Attacks State Authority to Enforce Car Emissions Standards that Reduce Air Pollution & Safeguard Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19th, 2019

CONTACT
Cara Cook
Climate Change Program Coordinator, ANHE
cara@envirn.org
(585) 469-2383

Trump Administration Attacks State Authority to Enforce Strong Car Emissions Standards that Reduce Air Pollution & Safeguard Health

[Washington, DC] (September 19th, 2019) – Today, the Trump Administration announced their decision to revoke California and other states’ authority to enforce stricter vehicle emissions standards compared to federal standards. This proposal is an attack on states’ ability to safeguard the health and well-being of millions of Americans from emissions from the transportation sector and the harms of climate change. In response to the Trump administration’s decision, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments’ (ANHE) Board member Barbara Sattler, RN, DrPH released the following statement:

“Five of the nation’s 10 worst cities for air pollution from particular matter are in California. Better controlling vehicular emissions, a major source of pollution, means less childhood asthma, less obstructive lung disease, and less carcinogens in our air. What possible reason could an agency that has the word protection in its title have for refusing to let our state protect the people’s health?

“This is a political game that is going to result in more parents sitting terrified and helpless as their children struggle for breath in emergency rooms. As nurses, we are horrified by this administration’s behavior. Nurses will continue to support state governments noble efforts to protect our public’s health.”

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The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is the only national nursing organization focused solely on the intersection of health and the environment. The mission of the Alliance is to promote healthy people and healthy environments by educating and leading the nursing profession, advancing research, incorporating evidence-based practice, and influencing policy. http://enviRN.org