Our dependence on fossil fuels isn’t just hurting the environment – it’s hurting people.
For decades, low-income and marginalized communities have borne the brunt of pollution from industrial facilities, causing high rates of asthma, cancer, and respiratory diseases. Numerous studies have found that Black Americans are more likely to live near industrial polluting facilities than white people.
Yet regulators never take into account the existing pollution in these communities when greenlighting new industrial facilities. This means putting people at an even greater risk of illness-inducing pollution.
My friend and colleague Rep. Rashida Tlaib has introduced the Cumulative Impacts Act to finally address this issue. This bill would require the EPA to analyze the cumulative impacts of pollution when making permitting decisions. The EPA would then deny permits unless the applicant can demonstrate a reasonable certainty of no harm to the community or vulnerable groups.
In solidarity,
Ro
Paid for by Ro for Congress
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