The end of this summer brought smoky sunsets and warnings for young children and people with heart and lung issues to avoid spending too much time outside. The effects of increasing and worsening wildfires — while thousands of miles away — make it harder for Mainers to breathe, for kids to play outside, and for people to enjoy Maine’s beautiful outdoors. Just down the coast, we saw the catastrophic flooding effects of Hurricane Ida. While Maine was spared, it’s easy to imagine how such an extreme weather event could happen here.

As executive director of Maine Public Health Association, improving and sustaining the health and wellbeing of all people in Maine is my central goal. Since most of Maine’s air pollution and other causes of poor air quality are blown in from other states, we cannot fix this problem with state policies alone.

Fortunately, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in climate action and public health right now — the Build Back Better Act. These landmark investments will cut climate pollution in half by 2030, improving our air quality and protecting against extreme weather events. The Build Back Better Act also invests in clean drinking water infrastructure by eliminating all lead pipes and service lines, bolsters stormwater and wastewater systems, improves indoor air quality in schools and childcare facilities, and transitions the U.S. away from air-polluting fossil fuels — all necessary investments that will improve public health for all Mainers.

Please join me in calling on our federal delegation to keep pushing for these investments in the Build Back Better Act, protecting our health and quality of life today and tomorrow.

To learn how you can prepare for extreme weather events, you can visit Maine Emergency Management’s Preparedness site (www.maine.gov/mema/maine-prepares/home-preparedness).

 

Rebecca Boulos

executive director

Maine Public Health Association

Augusta

Copy the Story Link