Blunt Rochester, Duckworth, and Congressional Environmental Justice Leaders Introduce Bill to Improve Air Quality Monitoring, Protect Frontline Communities
Press Release
Today, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced the Public Health Air Quality Act of 2022. The bill would require the EPA to implement immediate fenceline monitoring for toxic air pollutants at facilities contributing to high local cancer rates and other health threats from dangerous pollutants. Joining Blunt Rochester and Duckworth as original sponsors of the bill were Rep. Donald McEachin (D-Va.), Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) and Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) along with Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
"Our frontline and fenceline communities have, for decades, been subject to unsafe air and have suffered the long-term health consequences and complications because of it," said Rep. Blunt Rochester (D-Del.). "The first step in protecting these communities is figuring out what pollutants they are currently exposed to. Everyone deserves to breathe clean air, which is what we are fighting for with the introduction of the Public Health Air Quality Act of 2022. I'm proud to join with Senator Duckworth and House & Senate Environmental Justice leaders for this aggressive expansion of our national air quality monitoring program."
"For generations, our most toxic industries have been put next door to low-income communities and communities of color-- forcing these communities to shoulder the devastating health consequences of legacy air pollution and other environmental injustices, including alarming rates of cancer and asthma," said Senator Duckworth (D--Ill.). "As a co-founder and co-chair of the Senate's first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus, today I'm proud to introduce the Public Health Air Quality Act of 2022 alongside Congresswoman Blunt Rochester to right this wrong by helping expand and improve our national air monitoring system and protect every American's right to breathe safe air--no matter their skin color, zip code or the size of their wallet."
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