Mercury is a deadly neurotoxin. It’s currently allowed to spew, unfettered, from the smokestacks of power plants, our nation’s top source of mercury pollution. Unbelievable-- but true.
EPA’s proposed standards to address this mercury, along with dozens of other power plant pollutants, would prevent 11,000 premature deaths, 130,000 asthma attacks, and 4,700 heart attacks annually. But these needed health protections are under attack in Congress. Senator Inhofe’s S. J. Res. 37 would block the EPA’s ability to regulate mercury – and prevent it from ever limiting mercury in the future.
As this resolution nears a vote in the Senate, we need to make sure the Senate rejects Inhofe’s dangerous joint resolution, or CRA. Neurotoxic poisons do not belong in our air. Tell Washington to listen to their mothers!
Mamas, we need to make some noise. Here's how you can help:
- Take action with Moms Clean Air Force here.
- Write your Senators about this issue. Find your senator here, and use some or all of this sample text:
Subject: Protect Our Communities from Toxic Air Pollution
Pediatricians and scientists will tell you that mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that harms the developing hearts, lungs and brains of fetuses, infants and toddlers.
In other words, mercury does not belong in our air. Thankfully, the EPA drafted a groundbreaking new rule—known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards—to limit air pollution from coal-fired power plants.
Unfortunately your colleague, Sen. James Inhofe, wants to destroy that rule. He has filed a Congressional Review Act that would halt that vital EPA safeguard.
Sen. Inhofe’s CRA is dangerous and extremist. Mercury pollution—and other air pollution from power plants—endangers the health of our children and our communities.
I urge you to oppose Sen. Inhofe’s CRA and show your commitment to clean air and healthy families.
- Post a message about this on Facebook (sample language below)
Tell Sen. Inhofe dangerous neurotoxins like MERCURY do not belong in our air and in the bodies of our children. LIKE and SHARE if you want to protect children's health! http://action.momscleanairforce.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1711&ea.campaign.id=14997
If you could prevent 11,000 premature deaths, 130,000 asthma attacks, and 4,700 heart attacks annually, would you? Of course!! So why does Sen. Inhofe want to block the EPA from doing that?
Mercury does not belong in our air and in our children. Enough is enough!
SHARE THIS http://action.momscleanairforce.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1711&ea.campaign.id=14997
- Tweet about this (sample tweets below)
Lifesaving #Mercury and Air Toxics Standards will save our country up to $90 billion/yr! Defend #MATS http://ow.ly/b31hy #Inhofe #CleanAir
Tell your Senators to oppose @jiminhofe's campaign to block #lifesaving clean air safeguards: http://ow.ly/b0se6 #CleanAir4Kids
130,000 #asthma attacks/yr could be avoided. Tell your Senators to oppose @jiminhofe's attack on #MATS! http://ow.ly/b0se6 #CleanAir4Kids
No child should be born already damaged by #mercury poisoning. Take action against @jiminhofe's attack on #MATS! http://ow.ly/b0se6
- Call your Senator! Sample Phone Messaging Language:
“Sen. ______, my family wants clean air. Please do not sign Sen. Inhofe’s dangerous CRA, S.J.R. 37. Please protect our children from poisonous mercury.”
Thanks for your support in the fight for clean air. It will take a lot of naptime activism-- but every voice matters in this issue. We can't let our children suffer from unregulated air pollution and known toxins. Please share this widely and let me know if you were able to take action.
image: MSNBC and the AP
