Yesterday, Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe tried to use the obscure Congressional Review Act (CRA) to get rid of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule. I am thrilled to report that his efforts came to naught. Because of tens of thousands of letters and phone calls from moms and families across the country – from people like you contacting your lawmakers to express your concern about air toxins on the health of children and everyone we love – the Senate rejected the measure in a 53-46 vote.

Before the MATS rule, coal-fired power plants could spew as much mercury, arsenic and metals as they wanted into the air. Those toxins ended up in our food and water, which is a big reason why we have advisories on how much fish we can consume without risking mercury poisoning. Power plants account for 50% of the mercury, 75% of the acid gas and up to 60% of the metals emitted into the environment. The CRA was Sen. Inhofe's sneaky way of taking back the common-sense limits on air toxins that President Obama had just signed into law in December 2011.

Now, why would Sen. Inhofe want to roll back clean air protections, some may wonder? Perhaps because many oil, gas and electric utility companies just don’t want any regulations that force them to cut into their profits to pay for emission-cutting technologies. Oil, gas and electric utility companies are among Sen. Inhofe’s top campaign contributors.

Families want and need the MATS rule, which the Environmental Protection Agency estimates will prevent 130,000 asthma attacks and 11,000 premature deaths a year. Because of moms, dads and other concerned family members across the country, five Republican senators and 48 Democratic senators were reminded of the terrible health costs of air toxins. We spoke up and 53 senators remembered to put American families first and vote down Senator Jim Inhofe’s (R-OK) Congressional Review Act resolution, S.J. Res 37.

This was a huge victory, and we did it because we joined our voices and we were heard loud and clear!