Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that it will not strengthen the particulate matter national air quality standard:
“In the face of overwhelming scientific evidence that fine particle pollution leads to illness and death, Administrator Wheeler’s refusal to strengthen the PM2.5 air quality standard comes as an insult, both to Americans and to all that EPA stands for. In case the Administrator hasn’t noticed, we are in the depths of a pandemic - one which preys on those with respiratory illnesses, and which has shown to be even more dangerous and deadly for communities with long-term exposure to fine particle pollution. Today’s announcement is a callous refusal to fulfill EPA’s duty to protect human health and the environment, and yet another failure of leadership from the Trump Administration. The health and lives of more Americans will be needlessly put at risk because of it."
