Help Save the EPA!

*Check out Green for All's real-time health impacts tracker on the cost of delaying EPA's new baseline standards for power plant emissions.

Between today and tomorrow morning, we need as many people as possible to call U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow and U.S. Senator Carl Levin and urge them to VOTE NO on all of the following Amendments that would prohibit the EPA from regulating limits on carbon dioxide and other dangerous pollutants emissions.

These severe attacks will result in more children in hospitals attached to respirators, and more seniors' lives will be put at risk from heat waves and severe weather.

Three votes on EPA Amendments are to take place tomorrow, Wednesday, March 30, 2011.

1) Under lobbying pressure from the coal industry and oil refineries, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), has proposed an Amendment in the Small Business bill (S.493) to ban the EPA from regulating Green House Gas emissions.

In essence, his bill would overturn the scientifically-based endangerment finding and the 2007 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that greenhouse gases should be regulated under the Clean Air Act.

Language of the proposed Amendment (S.AMDT.244):

"To prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating any regulation concerning, taking action relating to, or taking into consideration the emission of a greenhouse gas to address climate change."

2) Senator John D. Rockefeller amendment (S.AMDT 215) would establish a 2 year delay in establishing green house gas regulations implemented by the EPA, which would also be part of the Small Business bill (S.493) - HIGHEST PRIORITY

Language of the Amendment (S.AMDT. 215):

SEC. 602. SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN EPA ACTION.

(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), notwithstanding any provision of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.), until the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may not take any action under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) with respect to any stationary source permitting requirement or any requirement under section 111 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 7411) relating to carbon dioxide or methane.

(b) Exceptions.--Subsections (a) and (c) shall not apply to--

(1) any action under part A of title II of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521 et seq.) relating to the vehicle emissions standards;

(2) any action relating to the preparation of a report or the enforcement of a reporting requirement; or

(3) any action relating to the provision of technical support at the request of a State.

(c) Treatment.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no action taken by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency before the end of the 2-year period described in subsection (a) (including any action taken before the date of enactment of this Act) shall be considered to make carbon dioxide or methane a pollutant subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) for any source other than a new motor vehicle or new motor vehicle engine, as described in section 202(a) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 7521(a)).

3) Senator Max Baucus introduced an Amendment to the Small Business bill (S. 493) that would exempt industrial and agriculture sources from greenhouse gas regulation under state permitting programs.

PLEASE NOTE: IT IS EXPECTED THAT THERE WILL BE SEVERAL AMENDMENTS THAT RELATE TO EPA. SOME MAY SUPPORT EPA AND MANY WILL ELIMINATE EPA'S REGULATING AUTHORITY.

These are very dangerous amendments that will undoubtedly adversely impact urban and rural communities. It is imperative that we make at least 100 calls to both offices.

Please circulate widely.

Contact information

Senator Debbie Stabenow

Washington office: (202) 224-4822

Contact: Matt Vankuiken

Senator Carl Levin

Washington office: (202) 224-6221

Contact: Alice Yates or Dia Kirby

Sample phone script

• Hello, my name is ________________, and I’m from [CITY].

• [Give a brief description of yourself: I am a doctor/nurse/business owner/teacher/mother/ father/grandmother/grandfather/person with asthma/parent of a child with asthma/etc.]

• I’m calling to urge Senator ________________ to vote NO on any measure that limits the EPA’s ability to do its job of protecting the public health.

• The EPA has the important job of protecting the public – especially our children – from dangerous pollution.

• That’s why the American Lung Association and other health groups are calling on Congress to protect the EPA.

• I urge Senator ________________ to oppose any efforts to weaken the EPA.

• Any delay or attempt to limit the EPA’s ability to do its job is a step in the wrong direction.

• Thank you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kimberly Hill, Government Relations, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice at (313) 833-3935.