Press Release

  For Immediate Release SEP 14th, 2023 Contact: Mika Hyer, mhyer@lcv.org, 940-783-2230 Washington D.C. — In response to today’s House floor vote on H.R. 1435, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa released the following statements: “Republicans are determined to roll back electric vehicle benefits for families, harm our global competitiveness, and weaken car standards that keep our communities safe in favor of polluters and special interests,” said LCV Climate & Clean Energy Government Affairs Advocate Darien Davis. “Today’s vote forced by extremist House Republicans is disappointing but not unexpected as they continue to do everything in their power to stall progress towards a clean energy future and block states’ rights to deliver cleaner air to their residents in favor of their fossil fuel cronies. Transitioning to zero-emission vehicles will mean cleaner air for our communities and our children in historically excluded communities who suffer the most from toxic air pollution. “In addition, we stand in solidarity with UAW and underscore their demands of the Big Three to ensure the future of electric vehicles guarantees good jobs for families across the country. Stronger clean vehicles standards help boost innovation, good jobs, and local investments to keep our manufacturing at the cutting edge of transportation.” *** “With today’s vote, House Republicans have once again shown that they value the interests of Big Polluters over the health and safety of our communities,” said Chispa National Director Estefany Carrasco-Gonzalez. “The science is clear: we must transition away from traditional combustion engines to secure a safe future for the planet and breathable air for our children and comunidades, yet extreme House Republicans continue to ignore the impacts of air pollution and put our communities, especially those who have been historically excluded, at risk. Congress must take immediate action to place the needs of people over polluter interests by strengthening clean transportation policies instead of weakening them. “While it is important to embrace cleaner transportation, we cannot do so without ensuring good jobs for the workers critical to facilitating this transition. Chispa supports the UAW in their demands and stands in solidarity with autoworkers.” ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 13, 2023 LAS VEGAS — On the news that Governor Lombardo has decided to withdraw Nevada from the U.S. Climate Alliance, Chispa National Director Estefany Carrasco-Gonzalez released the following statement: “Governor Lombardo’s decision to withdraw Nevada from the U.S. Climate Alliance is putting the health of Latine families at risk. We are already experiencing the worst impacts of climate change, including the heat wave right now that’s making it unbearable to work or spend time outdoors. Climate change is worsening air and water pollution, increasing lung and heart diseases, and raising the costs of basic necessities. Our community needs a governor who will prioritize the well-being of our environment and the futures of our children and our children’s children. We have been let down by Governor Lombardo’s lack of leadership.” ### Chispa Nevada is a program of the League of Conservation Voters that builds the power of Latine communities to fight for climate justice and our democracy. Visit us at https://chispalcv.org for more information. * * *

Contact: Kyra Madunich-Arevalo, kmadunich@lcv.org, 909-767-9743 Washington D.C. – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $400 million grant competition to help school districts buy electric school buses. This work builds on the longtime clean school bus advocacy of Vice President Harris, Senators Cortez Masto and Padilla, Representatives Cardenas and Hayes, and so many others. In response to today’s announcement the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), Chispa LCV, and Chispa Arizona issued the following statements: “LCV is excited to see the Biden-Harris Administration launch greater investments to bring electric school buses to thousands more school districts across the country,” said Matthew Davis, Vice President of Federal Policy. “This historic program has already doubled the number of electric school buses hitting the road, reducing dangerous pollution in the air we breathe and making our communities healthier and cleaner for everyone, especially our kids. As we move towards the cleaner, healthier future that programs like the Clean School Bus Program make possible, we will continue to work with EPA to ensure their benefits reach the people that need them most, including low-income students, students of color, and school transportation workers that continue to breathe the dirtiest air.” “This latest funding opportunity from the EPA to deploy thousands of more electric school buses will help bring our communities healthier, cleaner air, reduce climate-changing pollution, and  save school districts money in fuel and operating costs,” said Senior Vice President of Community and Civic Engagement Sandra Pérez González: “Thousands of  electric school buses have already been deployed thanks to this historic program, which is the result of years of advocacy by parents, students, community members, elected leaders, and advocates. These added grant opportunities are crucial to ensuring that the communities that most suffer from health and climate-harming pollution, many of which are in school districts that were waitlisted in the inaugural 2022 Clean School Bus Program, are prioritized to receive the resources they need to stop preventable respiratory illnesses and other harms to public health as well as students’ academic performance and school attendance.” “Especially for our low-income, communities of color in Arizona who disproportionately suffer from preventable respiratory illnesses caused by dirty air,  these latest investments from the EPA are crucial to a cleaner, healthier future for all,” said Chispa Arizona Executive Director Vianey Olivarria. “We are excited that this historic program is expanding to deploy more electric school buses and we look forward to working with the EPA to ensure that our country’s transition to electric school buses is equitable and just.”   ###

Contact: Kyra Madunich-Arevalo, kmadunich@lcv.org Washington D.C. – In response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) releasing proposed rules to reduce emissions from heavy-duty vehicles and light- and medium-duty cars and SUVs, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa LCV issued the following statements: “This is a positive step and LCV appreciates that EPA is limiting emissions from cars, SUVs, and medium- and heavy-duty trucks, which harm public health and disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color,” said Matthew Davis, Vice President of Federal Policy. “We’re all in to ensure the final rules are even stronger – the EPA must do more to address harmful emissions from cars and trucks, the largest source of climate pollution. Federal clean energy investments are spurring the innovation we need, and stronger final rules will ensure that vehicle manufacturers go farther and faster to drive us to a zero-emissions transportation future. Now is the time to ensure that federal regulations are made as strong as the climate crisis and public health crises require.” “Chispa LCV welcomes this new proposal and more must be done to strengthen clean car standards and better regulate the deadly emissions that heavy-duty trucks emit,” said Senior Vice President of Community and Civic Engagement Sandra Pérez González. “Communities of color and low income communities living near the shipping, freight, and delivery industries’ hubs are especially burdened with the devastating effects diesel trucks have on respiratory health. In order to deliver on President Biden’s commitments, EPA must finalize stronger rules to help ensure that all communities, especially those on the frontlines of environmental injustice, have access to clean air.” # # #