This Is a Health Emergency—Not Just a Policy Debate
As school nurses, we see what happens when a child can’t catch their breath—and we’re not speaking in metaphors. We witness the panic in a student’s eyes during an asthma attack. We hear the wheezing that interrupts play, learning, and laughter. We talk with families who are unsure how to manage multiple inhalers that have been prescribed, but not necessarily explained. How many of my colleagues have experienced parents coming to our offices and dropping a bag of medication on our desks, asking for help! That’s why the latest news from the American Lung Association alarms us—and why it should concern every parent, teacher, and policymaker.
What’s at Risk?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to overturn its long-standing, science-based Endangerment Finding—a foundational public health ruling that confirms greenhouse gas pollution threatens human health. At the same time, the EPA seeks to weaken clean car standards, which limit the harmful emissions that make our air unsafe to breathe.
These aren’t just technical policy changes—they are threats to the health of every child we care for.
Why This Matters to Our Students
This is not a theoretical debate. For our students, these rollbacks would have real-life consequences:
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More pollution means more illness. Climate change and pollution are already driving higher ozone levels and more frequent wildfires, both of which worsen asthma and respiratory issues in children.
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Vulnerable kids are at greatest risk. Children living near highways or in areas with poor air quality—often in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods—are disproportionately affected.
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Science is clear: dirtier air leads to more asthma attacks, more hospitalizations, and long-term damage to growing lungs and hearts.
This Is a Public Health Emergency
The American Lung Association makes it clear: these proposals would put polluters ahead of people—especially our most vulnerable.
“Repealing the Endangerment Finding and the standards to limit greenhouse gases from vehicles would impact the health of everyone in the U.S. Supported by science and the law, the Endangerment Finding has been a cornerstone of public health protection for more than 15 years.
— Harold Wimmer, President & CEO, American Lung Association
The American Lung Association: Repealing the Endangerment Finding, Rolling Back Vehicle Emissions Standards Would be Dangerous Setback for Health
What School Nurses—and Our Communities—Can Do
We can’t stand by while the air we breathe becomes more dangerous. Clean air is not a luxury—it’s a basic right. Our students deserve classrooms, schoolyards, and neighborhoods where every breath they take is safe. School nurses will continue to care for children inside our buildings—but we also have a responsibility to advocate outside of them. Now is the time to protect the air they breathe—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
Here’s how you—and your community—can take action in response to the EPA’s proposal, with current, live links and accurate comment period details:
Submit Formal Public Comments (by September 15, 2025)
Anyone can submit a written comment on the EPA’s proposal through the official comment period, which is open until September 15, 2025. The EPA reviews and considers all significant comments before making any final decisions.
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Submit your comment online:
Visit the EPA’s docket page for this proposal, EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0194, then click the “Comment” button (if available).
If the button is inactive, email your comment to: a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov (reference “EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0194” in the subject line), or see alternate instructions on the EPA’s rule page.
Participate in Public Hearings or Listening Sessions
The EPA is hosting public hearings on August 19 and 20, 2025. Hearings allow you to speak directly on the record—your input becomes part of the official proceedings. The following directions are taken directly from the EPA website:
Public hearing registration will be open through the last day of the hearing, however, we ask that you pre-register by August 12, 2025 if you intend to testify or are requesting special accommodations. To the extent possible, EPA will work to accommodate late requests. All attendees (including those who will not be presenting verbal testimony) must register. Please submit a separate registration form for each person attending the hearing. More information on how to join the hearing will be sent to the email address that you provide for registration. To register, please send an email to EPA-MobileSource-Hearings@epa.gov. – EPA’s official proposal page.
Contact Elected Representatives
Share your concerns with your local, state, and national representatives. Elected officials can echo your voice directly to the EPA and may influence the rulemaking process.
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Find your representatives:
Use House.gov and Senate.gov to locate their contact information.
Join or Organize Comment Campaigns
Advocacy groups often coordinate mass comment submissions or campaigns that highlight widespread concern. These have the power to demonstrate the scale of public opposition and draw media and government attention.
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You can find active campaigns and resources at:
Organizations like Lung.org, NRDC, and local environmental groups.
Spread Awareness
Inform others through conversations, social media, and community events to inspire broader participation. Sharing educational resources or hosting local forums can empower more voices.
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Effective advocacy tips:
For ideas, see these guides: Beyond Public Comments: Other Ways to Engage and Influence Federal Agencies,
and More than spam? Lobbying the EPA through public comment campaigns.
By participating in these ways, you help ensure that children’s health, environmental protection, and sound science remain priorities in national policy. Every individual action counts—now is the time to be heard.
