In case you missed it, the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund hosted an event with climate advocates at the EPA Headquarters this afternoon to deliver public comments to EPA Administrator Michael Regan and call for the boldest and strongest clean car standards possible. Speakers included former EPA Administrator and current LCV Board Chair Carol M. Browner and President and CEO of Hip Hop Caucus and LCV Board member Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., along with several other climate advocates.

The event focused on the Biden Administration’s commitment to making clean transportation and tackling harmful vehicle pollution a top priority. The event also highlighted that clean car standards are an especially important environmental justice issue as communities of color are disproportionately affected by tailpipe pollution.

Watch the event recording here and check out more information below.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                  
September 28, 2021
Contact: Jaime Horn, Cause Campaign Partners, Jhorn@CauseCP.org, 202-308-8810

Environmental & Faith Leaders Deliver Public Comments Calling for Stronger Clean Car Standards, Thank the EPA for their Efforts to Protect Public Health

Former EPA Administrator Joins Faith & Climate Advocates to Thank the EPA for Protecting Public Health and Celebrate the End of the Public Comment Period for Stronger Clean Car Standards.

(Washington, DC) September 28 – Today environmental & faith leaders, along with climate advocates, gathered at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters to show their support for the agency to pursue strong clean car standards. The speakers celebrated the ending of the public comment period regarding the Biden administration’s willingness to swiftly act on strengthening the clean cars standards. Speakers thanked Administrator Regan for listening to the demands of the American people who are calling for the boldest and strongest clean car standards possible.

The event was hosted by the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (LCVEF) and featured the following speakers: Carol M. Browner, former EPA Administrator & Board Chair, League of Conservation Voters; Manish Bapna, President and CEO, Natural Resources Defense Council; Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President & CEO, Hip Hop Caucus; Rev. Susan Hendershot, President, Interfaith Power and Light; Ramón Cruz, President, Sierra Club and Elizabeth Brandt, Field & Special Project Manager, Moms Clean Air Force. EPA Administrator Michael Regan was on hand at the beginning of the event to acknowledge the delivery of the public comments.

“Thank you to the Biden-Harris administration and Administrator Michael Regan for making clean transportation and tackling harmful vehicle pollution a top priority. The science is telling us we need to act now to reverse the threat climate change represents for our health, environment, and economy. We need the strongest possible standards to drive the change we need in the transportation sector to reduce pollution and save consumers money at the pump. We look forward to working with Administrator Regan to go even further and set the strongest possible clean car standards. The stakes have never been higher and the opportunity has never been greater,” said Carol M. Browner, former EPA administrator and Board Chair for the League of Conservation Voters.

After the Obama administration strengthened the clean car standards, the previous administration moved to weaken them. This summer, the Biden Administration reversed that effort, moving to strengthen the standards and reduce tailpipe pollution from automobiles and light duty trucks.

“President Biden made a bold pledge to speed our transition to electric cars and trucks. Now, it’s up to the EPA to make sure that happens,” said Manish Bapna, president and CEO of NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Administrator Regan has expressed his commitment to cleaning up tailpipe pollution, and we are counting on him. With automakers racing to introduce new electric models, and the costs of climate change rising every day, it’s time to hit the accelerator on the road to a cleaner future.”

More than 200,000 public comments were received from people who support the EPA setting the strongest possible federal clean car standards to ensure we are protecting families from vehicle pollution, saving drivers money at the pump, and fighting climate change.

“It is critical for the EPA to listen to the hundreds of thousands of people urging the agency to deliver a strong clean cars rule for our health and our climate,” said Sierra Club President Ramón Cruz. “For years, Donald Trump attacked our nation’s strongest climate policy – it’s time to get it back and go further than ever before. Cars and light-duty trucks are also a major source of air pollution that predominantly harms low-income communities and communities of color. Now is the time for the EPA to move forward with a stringent standard without automaker loopholes, one that delivers real emissions reductions and cleaner air for families across the nation.”

By issuing stronger clean car standards, the agency can address key transportation related impacts and protect vulnerable communities. Low-wealth and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities experience disproportionate harm from dirty vehicle pollution, leading to increased rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

“Climate change is a public health and a civil rights issue that poses a particular threat to communities of color and low-income families, who are often hit the hardest by climate change and carbon pollution,” said Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President & CEO, Hip Hop Caucus. “It is the responsibility of our leaders in Washington to not only protect the environment, but to protect the people in harm’s way and to bring the economic benefits of clean energy and clean transportation to underserved communities. That is why we are grateful to the EPA for accepting these public comments, and for listening to those in need, to enact the strongest possible clean car standards.”

By following through with the strongest clean car standards, the EPA can deliver a massive win for the American people and all those looking to spur job creation, economic growth, family cost savings and public health protection at a time when it is most needed.

“Religious leaders from all over the country have, for years, been advocating for the strongest possible clean car standards to protect current and future generations and the most vulnerable among us,” said Rev. Susan Hendershot, President, Interfaith Power and Light. “Implementing these standards is a critical step in meeting our moral obligation to solve the climate crisis, to right some of the wrongs that have been done to environmental justice communities, and to create more positive health outcomes.”

The event was live streamed on the League of Conservation Voters Facebook page and a recording of that can be found HERE.

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