SRES 562
A resolution recognizing that ozone pollution can cause lung disease, asthma attacks, cardiovascular problems, and reproductive issues.
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Bill overview
This resolution acknowledges the serious health and environmental impacts of ground-level ozone pollution, commonly known as smog. It highlights the link between smog exposure and various health problems, including lung disease, asthma, cardiovascular issues, and reproductive problems, particularly affecting children. The resolution emphasizes the significant global and U.S. mortality rates associated with smog and calls for action to reduce this pollution. It specifically urges the Environmental Protection Agency to maintain and strengthen methane reduction standards to combat smog formation.
Key provisions
- Recognizes the health risks associated with ground-level ozone pollution (smog).
- Acknowledges the link between smog and conditions like asthma, lung disease, and cardiovascular problems.
- Highlights the global and U.S. mortality rates linked to smog.
- Urges the EPA to reduce smog pollution.
- Specifically calls for robust implementation of methane reduction standards.
Who is affected
- Public health, particularly children and individuals with respiratory conditions
- Environmental health
- Residents of areas with high air pollution
- Agricultural communities (due to crop losses)
Notable changes
- The resolution emphasizes the need to maintain and strengthen methane reduction standards.
- It references the EPA’s 2024 methane standards and their projected impact.
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
S. RES. 562
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
RESOLUTION
Recognizing that ozone pollution can cause lung disease, asthma attacks, cardiovascular problems, and reproductive issues.
Whereas ozone in the stratosphere, the ozone layer
, forms naturally and protects the Earth from dangerous solar radiation;
Whereas ground-level ozone, better known as smog
, forms when air pollution reacts with sunlight;
Whereas smog, in contrast to stratospheric ozone, is dangerous to human health;
Whereas exposure to smog causes asthma attacks, lung disease, nervous system issues, cardiovascular problems, and reproductive issues;
Whereas children are particularly vulnerable to smog pollution;
Whereas, in 2021, analysts found that long-term exposure to smog contributed to 489,000 deaths globally and 14,000 deaths in the United States, with the United States death rate being higher than that of other high-income countries;
Whereas smog pollution lowers crop yields and crop losses due to smog pollution total between 79,000,000 and 121,000,000 metric tons per year;
Whereas methane pollution (the primary constituent of natural gas) reacts with other pollutants to create smog pollution;
Whereas researchers have found that methane emissions significantly affect the air quality across most of the United States, with especially pronounced effects in central States, and methane emissions can have a determining influence on the ability of a region to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone that are set by the Environmental Protection Agency;
Whereas, in 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency set methane standards that were projected to eliminate 58,000,000 tons of methane pollution over 15 years, a 79 percent reduction from business as usual; and
Whereas the Trump Administration is reconsidering the 2024 methane standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency: Now, therefore, be it
That—
the Senate recognizes that ozone pollution can cause lung disease, asthma attacks, cardiovascular problems, and reproductive issues; and
it is the sense of the Senate that the Environmental Protection Agency should act to reduce smog pollution, including by supporting robust implementation of the 2024 methane standards.