Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-2nd District), Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-13th District), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-7th District), Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44th District) joined moms and women from all walks of life in the fight for climate justice for a press conference and day of action calling on Congress to get serious about protecting kids and communities by fully funding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Moms Mobilize launched in response to Trump’s proposed historic budget cuts to the EPA, which gut superfund toxic waste sites and undermine critical air and water protections. Members of Congress joined parents fiercely concerned about recent climate disasters including fires raging in the West, hurricanes flooding our communities, and diesel fumes and dirty power plants polluting our air. Together, they pledged their support for restoring critical funding to the EPA. Women, moms, parents and advocates delivered over 300,000 signatures to Congressional offices over the course of the day.

"We should be putting all of our energy toward leveraging and mobilizing our technological resources to transition to an environmentally-friendly, low carbon economy and reduce the pollution that damages our health, air, and water, and disproportionately affects low-income communities,” said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. “Sadly, by arbitrarily slashing the budget of the EPA by one third, we are moving in the wrong direction. We must dedicate necessary resources to protecting our communities, especially those that bear the brunt of our country's addiction to fossil fuel and climate change.”

“The Trump Administration has launched an all-out assault on the EPA and the communities it serves,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. “Families across the United States rely on EPA programs to prevent environmental degradation, protect public health, and mitigate the devastating effects of climate change. These safeguards are of particular importance to low-income communities and communities of color, who are more likely to live near pollution and more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. It is up to every one of us to raise our voices and speak out against proposed cuts to the EPA. After all, the long-term health of our families depends upon a healthy planet.”

“It is incumbent on mothers to lead the charge, to speak out, and to force elected officials to put the needs of our planet, our people, and especially our children above partisan posturing and politics as usual,” added Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said, “Congressional Republicans and the Trump administration have made it their mission to beat the EPA down, but we’ve made it our mission to fight back with full force. I’m proud to fight alongside Green for All and Moms Clean Air Force to ensure a safer, better, cleaner future for our kids. We know that big polluters and climate change are hurting kids across the country, especially low-income children and children of color. Fourteen percent of black children have asthma compared to eight percent of their white counterparts. Fetal death rates in Flint, Michigan, increased by 58 percent following the water crisis. Moms always know, and women always know, what side of justice is the right one. It would do big polluters and Republicans in Congress some good to hear our voices, because when it comes to our kids, we won’t be silenced.”

“Your zip code shouldn’t define the quality of the air you breath or water you drink,” said Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán. “People in my district are relying on the EPA to do its job. Whether it’s lead in our drinking water or carcinogens in our air, my district is facing an environmental public health crisis that’s a danger to people, especially our most vulnerable: our children and seniors. We need to stand up for our families and our communities, because we all deserve clean air and clean water.”

"After experiencing the fury of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and now, seeing the devastation in Puerto Rico, Congress and the Trump Administration can no longer deny our climate crisis. That’s why moms and women from all walks of life are coming together to demand that our leaders fully fund the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” said Vien Truong, CEO of Dream Corps and leader of Green For All. “We cannot wait until the next costly emergency to invest in the future and protections our families deserve. Without it, there will be more Flints, more Brandywines, more Houstons, more San Juans. We won’t let that happen. Not on our watch.”

“Simply put, Trump’s proposed budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are ruthlessly irresponsible. They would put the health of our children and the safety of our communities in serious jeopardy by gutting bedrock pollution protections that our families depend on. We can’t risk more asthma attacks, more toxic pollution, and more lead in our children’s drinking water. What’s more, recent hurricanes have reminded us how essential the agency is to the ongoing clean-up of hazardous sites in Texas, Florida and now Puerto Rico. Now is not the time to cripple an agency so critical to our children’s well-being,” said Gretchen Dahlkemper, Director of Special Projects for Moms Clean Air Force, a community of more than 1 million moms and caregivers united in the fight against dangerous air pollution.

Liz Martin Perera, Climate Policy Director, Federal Policy for Sierra Club, added, "As parents, it's our job to protect the health, safety, and well-being of our kids. It's the sacred duty of any President of this nation to do the same. The fact that the Trump administration is proposing deep cuts to the EPA--which is charged with keeping our air safe to breathe, our water safe to drink and our climate protected--is both reckless and negligent. When a President puts the profits of polluters ahead of the health and safety of American families, it's clear he's taking sides against our kids and their future. Trump preaches climate denial while Americans suffer from catastrophic extreme storms, and he undermines climate solutions our kids deserve, like 100% clean energy. Moms, dads and grandparents are standing strong against EPA cuts, and standing up for---with every fiber of our being--the right of our children to live in a democracy where political leaders will protect our children above all else."

Since it’s launch, Mom’s Mobilize has garnered support from celebrities including Ashley Judd, Ellen Pompeo, Alfre Woodard, Angie Martinez; and Ali Wong; CEOs like Bozoma Saint John, chief brand officer at Uber; advocates from Moms Clean Air Force, Climate Parents, Mothers Out Front; and thousands of moms around the country. Read their open letter here.

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