Auto/MPG: Moms in DC to stop roll back of clean car standards
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WASHINGTON - January 24, 2018: Concerned moms from across the country are traveling to Washington, DC, this week to hold the administration, lawmakers and automakers accountable in their efforts to roll back fuel economy and emissions standards that save them money at the pump and reduce harmful air pollution.
From January 23-26, five members of Moms Clean Air Force from Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin will meet one-on-one with lawmakers, attend a public field hearing on the fuel economy and deliver their message to automaker CEOs during the press and policy days of the Washington Auto Show.
The standards are under threat of a roll back from Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And automakers lobbyists have been actively supporting these efforts. Moms Clean Air Force has been collecting signatures on a petition (Click here to see petition) to Toyota, already signed by thousands of moms, demanding that the carmaker stop its assault on clean car standards. The petition will be delivered to Toyota next month.
The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards could save families as much as $3,200 per car and $4,800 per truck (http://consumersunion.org/news/cu-car-affordability-report/) over the vehicle's lifetime when fully implemented. Cleaner, more efficient vehicles reduce air pollution and combat climate change - helping prevent harmful health impacts like asthma attacks triggered by dirty air. 25 million Americans - including more than 6 million children (http://www.aafa.org/page/asthma-facts.aspx) - suffer from asthma.
All moms are available for interviews in advance of and during their Washington visit. To schedule an interview please contact Sasha Tenenbaum at 917-887-0146 or stenenbaum@momscleanairforce.org.
WHAT: Moms meeting with policymakers, attending a public Senate field hearing and the Washington Auto Show policy keynote address to support keeping strong fuel economy and emissions standards.
Jen Lushbough from Minnesota is a mother of three. Her youngest daughter suffers from severe asthma.
Lacey Parr, from Minnesota, is also a mother of three. They left family and friends behind in Utah because of increasingly dangerous air pollution.
Stacy Holden from Wisconsin, mother of four, is a pre/post-natal yoga instructor. This family of outdoor enthusiasts is passionate about reducing their carbon footprint in all areas of their life including transportation, food and water usage.
Sheila Sweeney from Indiana is former kindergarten teacher. Many students of color in her classroom suffered from asthma and were forced to miss school for treatment. This reality check has sparked a lifelong passion for reducing dangerous air pollution.
Angela Youngblood from Michigan is a mother of 4. She opined (http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2018/01/21/youngblood-fuel-economy/109687628/) in favor of the standards in context of the Detroit auto show but is not attending DC activities.
WHEN: January 23-26. Advance interviews available.
WHERE:
Senate Energy & Natural Resources. Committee Field Hearing to Examine the Opportunities and Challenges Facing Vehicle Technologies. The Road to Tomorrow: Energy Innovation in Automotive Technologies"
Thursday, January 25, 10 AM ET, West Salon Room
Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC
Washington Auto Show Press and Policy Days https://www.washingtonautoshow.com/mobilitytalks/)
Thursday, January 25, moms will attend the EPA's keynote address from 12-12:30 PM ET in Center Salon ABC.
Please see the auto show's schedule of events for more details: https://www.washingtonautoshow.com/media/
Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC
Moms Clean Air Force is a community of more than one million moms and dads united against air pollution – including the urgent crisis of our changing climate – to protect our children’s health. We arm members with reliable information and solutions through online resources, articles, action tools and on-the-ground events.