Congresswoman Barragan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     

7 February 2024

Contact: Kevin McGuire, 202-538-2386 (mobile)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Nanette Barragán, Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Senator Ed Markey, Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety issued the following joint statement on the announced Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) final rule updating the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Particulate Matter (PM 2.5), also known as soot pollution. 

“Last year, we sent a letter to Administrator Regan urging the EPA to strengthen this Particulate Matter standard to reduce harmful emissions, clean up our air, and save lives. The final standard announced today is a big step forward for public health and environmental justice. It will improve air quality from coast to coast and start to address historic inequities and injustices, including cleaning up the air in communities of color, fenceline communities, and lower-income areas disproportionately burdened by pollution. By issuing this stronger soot pollution standard, the Biden Administration is taking an important step forward to clean up our air and protect public health. 

“While we celebrate the positive impact the new soot pollution standard will have on people across the country, we will continue to push for additional safeguards that will cut pollution and protect public health.”