Providing Congressional Disapproval of the Rule Submitted By the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to ``California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Engine Emission Warranty and Maintenance Provisions; Advanced Clean Trucks; Zero Emission Airport Shuttle; Zero-Emission Power Train Certification; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision''

Floor Speech

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Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak for the families who cannot afford to breathe dirty air for another day. I rise for the parents who have rushed their child to the emergency room because the smog outside triggered another asthma attack. I rise for the young people who have the right to a future free from polluted air, climate disasters, and preventable health crises.

House Republicans are trying to overturn EPA's approval of California's clean air waivers, a move that would strip California's ability to protect its people from dangerous air pollution.

This isn't just about California. Over one dozen States voluntarily follow California's standards. If we overturn these waivers, then families from New York to Oregon will feel it, too, in their lungs.

States are not forced to adopt California's standards, but many choose to because of the harm air pollution causes their communities.

If these measures pass, then more pollution will fill our air, more kids will miss school because they are sick, more seniors will land in the hospital, more families will lose loved ones far too soon to preventable deaths, and billions of dollars will be spent on health expenses that could be avoided.

Communities like the ones I represent, low-income neighborhoods near freeways, ports, and warehouses and working-class communities of color, are already, indeed, breathing some of the dirtiest air in our country.

Thousands of people in California and around the country wrote in support of these clean air protections that Republicans want to rip away.

Jane Flynn, from the L.A. area, wrote EPA in support of the clean truck rule. She said: ``Living in southern California, I see how truck pollution impacts our families: asthma, heart disease, respiratory problems. These aren't just numbers. They are our children, our parents, and our neighbors. Please allow California to enforce stronger clean air protections.''

Tia Triplett from Los Angeles wrote to EPA that heavy truck pollution threatens the health of her community, and she urges stronger protections.

House Republicans want to silence these voices.

Our constituents don't need more diesel trucks idling near our homes, pumping smog into our lungs. They need cleaner trucks, cleaner cars, and cleaner air.

Mr. Speaker, we should build a future where children can play outside without an inhaler in their backpacks or around their necks, a future with fewer hospital visits, not more. We should stand with communities fighting for their right to breathe, not keep them polluted.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand with our communities and protect their right to clean air. Vote ``no.''

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