Statement by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on the Supreme Court Ruling Blocking Federal Air Pollution Standards for Power Plants

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra issued the following statement in response to today’s Supreme Court decision in the case of West Virginia v. EPA.

 “This Court action takes us backwards at a time when we badly need to be making progress. Power plant emissions fuel climate change, makes our air less breathable, and represents one of the defining quality-of-life risks of our generation. Power plant pollution harms the most vulnerable among us, including children, older Americans, and those with pre-existing conditions. And, this harmful pollution disproportionally impacts people of color and low-income communities. We know that addressing pollution has had numerous public health benefits – like improving the quality of the air we breathe, preventing hundreds of thousands of premature deaths, helping the millions of people who suffer from asthma, and reducing the millions of lost school and work days due to illness.

 “The Biden-Harris administration will leave no stone unturned to protect public health and tackle the climate crisis. I echo the President’s calls on Congress for additional action to combat climate change and the public health risks it poses to the air we breathe, water we drink, and communities we live in. As the President said, we will continue using every existing federal authorities to protect public health and support a clean energy future and the health benefits that come along with it.”