From Julia in Indiana: How Our Current Polluted Air Affects My Family

We in Indianapolis suffer from air pollution. I witnessed this first hand when my asthmatic child was gasping for breath in the city, yet he didn't have to use his inhaler one time on a family trip to Canada. When we arrived back in Indianapolis, panic set in as my little boy started wheezing again. He cannot attend parades or festivals in downtown Indianapolis because he says, “Mom, it is just too hard to breathe in the city. I'd rather just skip the festival.” How sad that he cannot enjoy events that give our city, state, and country its unique character because our elected officials are in the pockets of greedy corporations. Shame on you all for treating the rest of us like we don't matter while you get yours. Do you really think we're all stupid enough to believe that it will cost us more jobs to protect us from bad air? Other countries can create jobs and protect their citizens. We're supposed to be the greatest country on earth. It takes a few great leaders with guts to rise above the corporate influence. Nothing would make me happier than to hear we have a few of these individuals in our government.

From Jo Anne in California:

My friend is gone. Two weeks ago today, my friend & colleague of 20 years died of complications from an asthma attack.  She was 53 years old, had two sons and a devoted husband who is a skilled high school math teacher. While this is a personal loss for me and many others, the most significant loss will be for the many children and parents she has helped as a dedicated and effective school counselor. While I knew she had a vulnerable respiratory system and frequently had colds or flu that led to bronchitis in winter, I never knew she had asthma because it never seemed to affect her.  Yet she died suddenly and unexpectedly in otherwise excellent health, leaving her family, friends, colleagues and clients in devastating sadness. I don't know if smog affected her, but at this time of year in the Napa Valley, the air is hot and heavy with dust and other particulates from harvesting. Knowing that this loss could have been prevented by increasing requirements to prevent air pollution saddens me.  Please revisit this decision and make a strong statement in favor of preventing illness & premature death.  Thank you for hearing my story.

From Barbara in Georgia: Duh...

Clean air is important to me because I breathe…every minute of every day. So do all four of my children ... in fact they insist upon it. My grand daughter, who is 5, has also picked up this pesky habit of breathing. It is bad enough that we have water coming out of taps that one can set afire (unnatural as that is) because of fracking... but what, sirs and madams, will you be breathing if our air is so polluted it makes you sick??? Our earth is a closed system ... we cannot import air from off planet ... so why would you even consider the extension of letting polluters pollute in order to increase their profits? As was said in Wisconsin.... “Shame. Shame. Shame.”

From Joan in Wisconsin: Toxic Air and Water Affect Health

My partner has suffered from mercury poisoning.  He was exposed to toxins on the job and also because of the coal fired power plants in Wis. that emit mercury and other pollutants that contaminate our air.   He has suffered brain damage and has symptoms that resemble arthritis in his legs.  He has recovered some but the long-term effects are still undetermined.  Stop polluting our air and water.  Check the causes of so much cancer in SE Wisconsin instead of focusing on treatment.  We need to understand where these toxins are coming from.

From Aaron in Washington State: Walking with My Daughter

I'm the proud father of a (now) three-month-old daughter. Her name is Ruby, and I'm lucky to be able to care for her at home two days a week. On those days, I often take her for long walks in the neighborhood - and I don't want her breathing in dirty air in those new lungs. (If you heard her cry, you'd know they're in good shape right now!) I've been told over and over that kids “grow up fast.” We live near enough to our local schools that soon enough, she'll be walking herself through the neighborhood on the way to school. I can teach Ruby to cross the street carefully - but I can't protect her from the pollution brought on by weakened air quality standards. I want President Obama and every member of Congress to remember that a healthy economy requires clean air and healthy people, and vote to protect - not diminish - America's clean air standards.