Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raul Ruiz (36th District of California)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán, and Congressman Troy Carter sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the Agency to keep the current fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air quality standards in place. The letter calls on the EPA to abandon any efforts, judicial or administrative, to roll back the PM2.5 standards and to safeguard the health of millions of Americans, particularly in overburdened and environmental justice communities.
PM2.5, also known as soot, causes serious health problems and tens of thousands of premature deaths each year, especially harming children, seniors, and vulnerable communities.
“Maintaining strong, science-based air quality protections is one of the most effective tools we have to safeguard the public’s health,” said Congressman Raul Ruiz. “Safe air is not a partisan issue, it is a basic right. We urge EPA to uphold these standards so all communities, including our most vulnerable, can breathe clean air.”
“Clean and breathable air is essential to Americans’ lives and health,” said Congresswoman Barragán. “Strong National Ambient Air Quality Standards keep the amount of pollutants in the air down so that Americans can continue to live in healthy environments. But Trump and Zeldin want to weaken these standards — and put the lungs of Americans across the country at risk and further harm the communities that are already experiencing the consequences of exposure to polluted air. To preserve our air quality, and the health and lives of our communities, we must stop Trump and Zeldin from their selfish plan to lower air quality standards for their corporate friends.”
“Clean air is a matter of life and death, especially for communities in my district that have been overburdened by pollution for far too long. Rolling back the PM2.5 standards would be a direct attack on public health and environmental justice. The science is clear: stronger soot protections save lives, reduce hospitalizations, and protect our children and seniors. I urge the EPA to do its job, follow the science, and uphold these vital standards so every American—regardless of ZIP code—can breathe clean, healthy air,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02).
The letter is supported by Earthjustice Action, EcoMadres, Moms Clean Air Force, Climate Action Campaign, WE ACT for Environmental Justice; League of Conservation Voters, and, GreenLatinos:
“When the Trump Administration’s EPA abandoned its defense of federal protections against soot pollution, it sent a clear message that it values corporate interests far above the health and safety of hardworking families and vulnerable communities,” said Earthjustice Action Senior Legislative Representative Liz Ruben. “In service of Trump’s deregulatory fever dream, his EPA has once again disregarded scientific evidence, tossed aside community concerns, and turned its back on the possibility of a brighter, healthier future for those who have long faced the disparate impacts of pollution. We thank Representatives Ruiz, Barragan, and Carter for their leadership on this issue and join them in demanding EPA Administrator Zeldin uphold the existing science- and health-based soot pollution standards.”
“Soot is a killer. It’s outrageous that Lee Zeldin’s EPA has moved to abandon protecting people from this incredibly dangerous pollutant. Soot—a.k.a. particle pollution—is a major contributor to chronic diseases like asthma, heart disease, and cancers. It also raises the risk of premature births and low birth weight, putting babies in danger of long-term health harms. This is exactly the opposite of making America healthy, and families and communities around the country will pay the price.” — Dominique Browning, Director and Co-founder, Moms Clean Air Force
“Soot is making our communities sick, with Latino families often bearing the heaviest burden. It’s unacceptable for EPA to back away from protections against this deadly pollutant. Particle pollution triggers asthma, heart disease, cancer, and even premature births. As a mom, I refuse to accept dirty air as our children’s future. EcoMadres will keep fighting to protect our kids and demand the clean air every family deserves.” — Isabel Gonzalez Whitaker, Director of EcoMadres
“We know that communities of color and low-wealth neighborhoods already face higher exposure to tailpipe pollution such as PM2.5, which drives higher rates of asthma, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses for Latinos, who also have greater barriers to access to healthcare. We thank Congressmen Ruiz and Congresswoman Barragan for standing up for our communities by urging the EPA to maintain the current fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). — Juan Roberto Madrid, GreenLatinos Sustainable Communities Program Manager
“Thank you, Representatives Ruiz, Barragán, Carter and all the letter signers for urging the EPA not to reconsider its 2024 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Particulate matter causes and exacerbates respiratory conditions and cardiovascular disease, and can lead to premature death, especially for vulnerable communities like children, the elderly and communities overburdened by pollution. We join these members of Congress in calling on the Trump EPA and Administrator Zeldin to stop sacrificing our health and our lives in favor of polluter profits” — Lizzy Duncan, Government Affairs Advocate, Healthy Communities, League of Conservation Voters
“The EPA continues to double down on a deregulatory agenda that harms everyone, but especially environmental justice communities. Soot pollution places a heavy burden on our communities. African Americans are nearly three times more likely to be hospitalized or die from asthma than their white counterparts while about 19 million low-income and 80 million people of color live in places with failing grades for soot and smog pollution. Yet, the EPA’s own data shows that the current standard saves lives, prevents asthma attacks, reduces ER visits, and cuts costs. After 55 years, the Agency must live up to its mandate under the Clean Air Act and protect our health, our communities, and our right to clean air. Until it does, we will keep fighting for the dignity and justice every community deserves.” — Anastasia Gordon, Director of Federal Policy at WE ACT for Environmental Justice
“The Trump EPA’s decision to abandon protections against soot pollution – one of the deadliest air contaminants – is utterly outrageous, gravely dangerous, and scientifically indefensible,” said Margie Alt, director of the Climate Action Campaign. “We’re grateful for the leaders in Congress who are standing against this attack and we echo their call for EPA to get back to the important work of protecting public health.”
Background on the PM2.5 standard:
The 2024 PM2.5 standard, strengthened from 12 µg/m³ to 9 µg/m³, is backed by extensive scientific review and is projected to prevent thousands of premature deaths, reduce hospitalizations, and provide $46 billion in annual economic benefits by 2032. Rolling back these standards would endanger public health, reverse decades of progress, and disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, including those already struggling with high rates of asthma and other respiratory conditions.