Statement on Presidential Memorandum to EPA to Review Lifting of Ban on California Clean Car Standard

WASHINGTON, January 26, 2009: All people have the right to clean air. Action announced by the White House today means that Americans may soon be able to breathe easier, said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation's leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

We congratulate President Obama on issuing a Presidential Memorandum to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review the agency's denial of the State of California's request to enact more stringent standards for polluting car emissions under California's Clean Cars Law (AB 1493). If those standards were implemented they would reduce car pollutants by more than one-quarter once fully phased-in by 2016.

The change would not only have an impact in California, but in thirteen other states and the District of Columbia that have already adopted the California standard and are awaiting waivers to enact those standards. This change is critical to the health of Hispanic communities as half of the U.S. Hispanic population lives in states seeking to adopt the stricter California Clean Car emission standard. Research has shown that cleaning our air reduces respiratory disease, cancer incidence, and heart attack.

The Alliance is committed to securing the right of all communities to clean air. Teams of community residents under our Health and Environment Action Network (HEAN), using cutting edge mobile monitors, have shown higher pollution rates near heavily trafficked highways and bridges in Hispanic communities, endangering health and well-being. The Alliance will be a major presence in the upcoming EPA public comment process to implement more stringent car emission standards and invites concerned residents to join us on our action network.