Young People Take to the Hill to Defeat Dirty Air Act

Mary Tharin passes out flyers opposing the Dirty Air Act.

Today, as Senators step out to get lunch, local Washingtonians walk along Constitution Avenue, and visitors tour our nation’s capitol, we will ask them to get involved and help us stop Senator Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK) “Dirty Air Act.”

We need a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill now, more than ever.  BP’s oil spill in the Gulf is a clear sign that the effects of our addiction to fossil fuels are imminent.  The consequences of both acquiring fossil fuels and burning fossil fuels are endangering U.S. citizens.

Murkowski’s resolution prevents the EPA from regulating carbon emissions, and therefore all of Murkowski’s Big Oil Allies, under the Clean Air Act.  The “Dirty Air Act” denies the EPA’s endangerment and cause or contribute findings of greenhouse gas emissions, thereby rejecting a strong scientific consensus that carbon pollution is harmful to the environment and existing and future generations.

Not only does Murkowski’s bill deny the effects of carbon pollution on the environment and humans, but it also perpetuates our addiction to foreign oil.  The U.S. spends over $1 billion a day on foreign oil and this Big Oil Bailout increases our dependence on oil by 450 million barrels.

Why does Murkowski promote the Big Oil Bailout?  So far in 2010, she has received $203,000 in campaign contributions from Big Oil, the third highest in the senate.

We need to end our dependence on oil—that tethers us to dangerous and unstable regimes, sends $100 million per day to Iran, supports terrorist organizations, kills American citizens and threatens the livelihoods of many, and jeopardizes the environment and future generations.  The U.S. needs a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill, not another Big Oil Bailout led by a Senator more concerned with the interests of the biggest polluters than the American people.

On June 10th, the Dirty Air Act will finally come up for a vote, and we will find out which side our senators are on. Until then, we will be on Capitol Hill passing out flyers to raise awareness and remind citizens to hold their representatives accountable.