Media Contact: Jennifer Hadayia
[email protected] | 713.539.1894
HOUSTON – May 1, the Environmental Protection Agency officially terminated a $3M Community Change grant to Air Alliance Houston, that was funded through the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress in August 2022, citing that it “will not accomplish the EPA funding priorities for achieving program goals.”
Jennifer Hadayia, Executive Director of Air Alliance Houston had this to say:
“We have been told by the new Administration that clean air is a priority for all Americans. Contrary to what the EPA is now saying, the cancellation of these grants will reverse the EPA’s goals; Moreover, this grant loss means that community members already overburdened by air pollution will not receive the critical resources needed to make change."
Our project, called AirMail Gulf Coast, would have supported a regional effort involving four community-based partners across 10 Texas counties, to better notify and inform communities in regards to permitting, rules, regulations, and other key environmental decisions that directly affect their health.
Hadayia also said:
“Our goal was to change how these decisions are made, so there is meaningful input from the communities who live day-to-day with air pollution.”
The terminations of EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice-focused grants could not come at a more concerning time. In March, incoming EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced plans to review 31 different pollution rules for possible weakening or elimination. Shortly after, polluting industries were allowed to literally request exemptions from pollution limits via a simple email. On the same day as the grant terminations were issued, the U.S. Senate took steps to eliminate protections from several known air toxics.
AAH will continue to lead the work to slow and stop air pollution in greater Houston, as they have already made plans to dispute the grant termination.
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About Air Alliance Houston
Air Alliance Houston is a non-profit organization working to reduce the public health impacts of air pollution and advance environmental justice through applied research, education, and advocacy. For more information and resources, please visit www.airalliancehouston.org.