FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2026
Contact: Ashley Sullivan, ashley.sulivan@weact.org, 1 (917) 837-1183
WASHINGTON – Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its proposal to delay criteria pollutant standards for cars, trucks, and SUVs. Environmental justice groups in the Clean Air for the Long Haul coalition condemn this latest effort to weaken standards strengthened in 2024, which were projected to provide $13 billion dollars in annual health benefits by reducing toxic particulate matter (soot pollution), nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds emitted from vehicles.
In response, the Clean Air for the Long Haul issued the following joint statement:
“At a time when more than 4 in 10 people in the U.S breathe unhealthy air, the Trump administration continues its onslaught of weakening critical clean air protections, putting polluters over communities’ health and well-being. This burden falls hardest on low-income and communities of color who often live near major transportation hubs, exposing them to harmful pollutants and causing higher rates of respiratory issues, heart disease, cancer, and early death. Delaying stronger tailpipe emissions standards only deepens existing health harms and environmental injustices. We will oppose this and other rollbacks of urgent, science-based safeguards our communities deserve, and continue to demand that EPA fulfill its mission under the law to protect our health and environments.”
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Clean Air For The Long Haul, a nationwide coalition of environmental justice groups, coordinates federal rulemaking campaigns, centering overburdened communities, to reduce air pollution from power plants, cars, and trucks. The coalition seeks to catalyze the environmental justice movement through federal emissions reductions targeting United States power and transportation sectors. Coalition member organizations include: Duwamish River Community Coalition, Green Door Initiative, GreenLatinos, PODER Austin, Rise4EJ, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, West End Revitalization Association, and Wisconsin/Michigan Green Muslims.