FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2022
Contact:
Jessica Mengistab
732-336-1606
Jessica@envirn.org
Alliances of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Climate Action Campaign Lead 100+ Public Health Professionals in Applauding the Inflation Reduction Act; Urge Additional Solutions for Pollution
Washington, D.C. – Following President Biden’s ceremony at the White House on September 14th celebrating the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Climate Action Campaign led public health officials, researchers, and academics on a letter to President Biden and Congress, thanking them for passing the Inflation Reduction Act and urging continued climate action and the adoption of solutions for pollution to meet critical climate pollution reduction goals.
More than 100 experts joined in applauding this law and its historic investments in climate, public health, clean energy, communities, and jobs.
“This law, which is the nation’s largest investment ever to address the climate crisis, will safeguard public health by accelerating the deployment of clean energy, reducing climate pollution, and cleaning our air,” they wrote.
The signers also emphasized that while the law is an important first step, it cannot be the end of climate action.
“We also need the Biden Administration to implement strong solutions for pollution across federal agencies that will help protect our health and get us the rest of the way to the President’s commitment to cut climate pollution in half by 2030,” they wrote.
The letter coincides with President Biden’s celebration of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act at the White House with climate activists, advocates, and leaders.
The full letter can be found below:
Dear President Biden and Congress,
As public health professionals, researchers, and academics, we are writing to thank you for passing the Inflation Reduction Act into law. This law, which is the nation’s largest investment ever to address the climate crisis, will safeguard public health by accelerating the deployment of clean energy, reducing climate pollution, and cleaning our air.
Passing the Inflation Reduction Act took a monumental effort, and we are thankful for your resilience in the face of pressure and challenges. Because of this law, we are closer to creating a safe and healthy climate for all.
We welcome the positive steps this law takes and recognize that the transition away from dirty energy sources starts with clean energy. Tax credits that accelerate the manufacture and deployment of solar and wind resources, included in the Low-Income Solar and Wind Investment Tax Credit and subsidies for residential solar energy, are exciting policies that will increase access to clean and healthy energy sources.
The inclusion of a methane reduction fee that could reach $1,500 a ton for some operators by 2026 has the potential to decrease health impacts from climate change by incentivizing a reduction in methane pollution. Methane, a supercharged climate pollutant with a global warming potential some 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, is responsible for at least 25 percent of the world’s warming. Methane is also a contributor to the formation of ground-level ozone, a dangerous air pollutant associated with a host of medical conditions including respiratory and cardiac diseases, preterm birth, and premature death. According to the American Lung Association, over 40 percent of Americans live in areas with dangerous levels of ozone.
We also appreciate the support for electrification in homes, buildings, and the transportation sector. Incentivizing the switch to electric heat pumps, induction stoves, and other electric appliances will lower exposures to unhealthy levels of pollutants including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide, which have been linked to decreased lung function, increased respiratory symptoms, and premature mortality. Because of numerous age-related biological factors, children have been found to be at particular risk of respiratory diseases from gas stoves. It is estimated that this law will help one million low- and moderate-income households to go electric and reap the health benefits of reducing methane gas in household appliances. Additionally, expanding public transportation and converting 60,000 diesel school buses to electric will be of value to low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, which have been historically overburdened by pollution and climate change.
Despite our gratitude, we would like to impress on you, Mr. President, and esteemed Members of Congress, that this law is only the start. Moving forward, we must eliminate our nation’s dependence on fossil fuels, which are the driving force behind climate change, and they place our health, well-being, and lives in jeopardy. And continued reliance on fossil fuel infrastructure will prolong harm on overburdened frontline communities. We also need the Biden administration to implement strong solutions for pollution across federal agencies that will help protect our health and get us the rest of the way to the president’s commitment to cut climate pollution in half by 2030.
Our climate can’t wait. We thank you for getting this law across the finish line and look forward to partnering on the work ahead.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Valentine
Ms. Lauren Murdock
Mrs. Dagmar Fabian
Melanie Schimpf, R.N.
David Johnson, MD
Jessica Mengistab, R.N.
Susan Zipp
William Weppner, M.D.
Shannon Staton-Growcock
Ms. Margaret ‘Croner
Ms. Nikki Nafziger
Shirley Davis
Ebuka Ogwudire
Cynthia Mahoney, MD
Alliance Robin Cooper, MD
Robin Bruce
Kenneth Oja, PhD, RN
Ms. Carol Gordon
Cory D. Carroll, MD
Ms. Linda Luke
Edward Maibach, PhD
Linda Walden, M.D.
Gina Friel, DNP, CRNP-PC
Health Ethan Sims, MD,
Mr. Dennis Trembly
Ms Dianne Douglas
Mr. Douglas Sedon
Edward Zamrini, MD
Mr. Dave Fronske
Colin Nackerman
Elizabeth Del Buono, MD
Lisa Patel, MD
Mr. Roger Schmidt
Miss Denise Lytle
Monica Regan
Mr. Pablo Bobe
Mr. Jeffery Wyatt
Ms. Carol Collins
Ms. Sarah Stewart
Mrs. Rosemary Seifert-Graf
Dr. Mark Glasser
Carol Kochta
Joan Schiller, MD
Ms. Evalee Mickey
Ms. Letitia Noel
John Alder
Jesse Gore
Mrs. Elisabeth Richter
Alan Peterson, MD
Jerry Frankel, MD
Mr. Marco Pardi
Robert Reed
Robert Ritchie
Margaret Craven, M.D.
Carla Campbell
Steve Lucas
Mrs. Barbara Fite
Kristin OlsonGarewal, MD
David Corbin, Phd
Nicholas D Snow, MD,
Todd L Sack, MD, FACP
Ms. Joanne Hesselink
Lisa Romero, MPH, PA-C
Nikita Habermehl, DO
Cassana Littler, MD, FAAP
Mackenzie Kemp, RN
Allison Post, MD
AGibran Mancus, PhD, MSN-Ed, RN
Ronda Seifert, RN BSN, IBCLC
Emily Little, RN
Mr. Steve Schueth
Mr. Arthur Schurr
Mx. Sandra Cobb
Ruth Wootten
Peggy Detmers
Ms. Terry Tedesco
Christina Williams
Paula Gutlove D.M.D
Ms Felicity Hohenshelt
Ms Susan Linden
Mrs Lynn Costa
Bruce Hlodnicki, MD
G. Thomas Kraus, MD
Mr. Jeffrey Bains
Patricia Podboy
Marian Swinker, MD
Ms.Tami mccready
Cathy Baker MD
Elizabeth Gingrich, MD
Mr. Bret Polish
Susan Babbitt
Dr. Leah Rosenthal
Ms. Marilyn Gearhart
Ms. Sarah Sercombe
K. Danowski
Mr. Harold Watson
Ms. Stacie Charlebois
Andrea Yarger
Anne Berry, MD, MPH
Ms. Joyce Frohn
Daniel Rosenfeld
Blanche Korfmacher
Joanna Hatfield, MD
Amanda Millstein, MD
Lora Colten, R.N.
Hayley Guilkey, MD
Ms. Naomi Klass
