By Jen Clanahan
President Trump finalized the rollback of the Obama-era clean car standards yesterday, March 31. It is the second part of a reversal that also includes a provision that forbids states from determining their own standards, as Colorado had done this past year.
Knock Knock
Who’s there?
Annie
Annie who?
Annie one understand why Trump is encouraging air pollution in a time of respiratory pandemic? *
(*Inspired by my daughter’s joke book.)
Parents around the state are wondering if this was a cruel April Fool’s joke, come early. The clean car standard not only saves Colorado families money on fuel but also means cleaner air for our kids. Air pollution damages everyone’s health, but kids are particularly susceptible to the effects, like respiratory problems and developmental concerns.
The timing of the rollback couldn’t be worse as Americans are fighting a respiratory-related pandemic.
Now is not the time! Concerned parents are doing everything they can to keep their kids healthy, including learning how to homeschool. We are going to great lengths to keep our kids safe and the Trump Administration is working against us by increasing air pollution? One in 12 Colorado kids already suffers from asthma. The last thing we need is the Trump Administration undermining the state’s ability to protect our kids in the time of a pandemic that affects their health now and also is detrimental to their future by exacerbating climate change.
This is a lose/lose for our kids.
Jen Clanahan is “head mom” at Colorado Moms Know Best.