During this Thanksgiving season, we renew our appreciation for our beautiful state. Again we resolve to do what we can to keep our environment clean.

Earlier this month, voters rejected misleading ads that tried to convince Americans that the Environmental Protection Agency’s clean air standard would affect jobs. Instead, we affirmed the importance of clean air and clean energy priorities.

The voters have spoken. Now our elected officials in Washington, D.C., must move forward by finalizing rules under the Clean Air Act being proposed by the EPA.

The agency is working for life-saving protections under the Clean Air Act against mercury, soot, smog and industrial carbon pollution. The Carbon Pollution Standard would set a cap on the amount of carbon a newly constructed power plant could emit.

The Soot Pollution Standard would reduce emissions of soot ash from smokestacks that cause asthma and other respiratory illnesses. The Mercury and Air Toxics Pollution Standard would set a limit on the amount of mercury, arsenic, selenium and other toxic chemicals that could be released from smokestacks.

If approved by Congress, these EPA clean air standards would improve public health and would lead to fewer heart attacks and asthma attacks; cleaner, healthier air; and fewer premature deaths associated with poor air quality.

We urge Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Reps. Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud to work swiftly in the lame-duck session to finalize the Environmental Protection Agency rules under the Clean Air Act.

Sarah and Robert Fesler

Dresden