Duckworth Joins Casten, IL Democratic Delegation in Support of EPA’s Endangerment Finding

Duckworth Joins Casten, IL Democratic Delegation in Support of EPA's Endangerment Finding

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and all Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin in support of EPA's Endangerment Finding, which is foundational to EPA regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

"We are writing to express our deep concern over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (US EPA) proposal to eliminate the Endangerment Finding and what that will mean for the health and safety of our constituents in Illinois," the lawmakers wrote. "While coastal hurricanes and western wildfires may draw more national attention, climate change is increasing the number and severity of extreme weather events in the Midwest as well. In 2024 alone, Illinois experienced twelve extreme weather events which caused $1 billion or more in damages in Illinois and neighboring states, with a toll of at least 129 lives."

In its landmark 2007 decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, the Supreme Court ruled that GHGs are air pollutants subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act. The Court further held that the Clean Air Act requires EPA to curb pollutants that it determines endanger public health and welfare by contributing to climate change.

In 2009, EPA conducted a thorough examination of the scientific evidence and found that GHGs endanger the public health and welfare of Americans, basing this finding on the overwhelming scientific consensus reached by decades of peer-reviewed research. The 2009 rule also included the determination that GHG emissions from motor vehicles "contribute" to the dangerous buildup of climate pollution in the atmosphere. The two findings - endangerment and contribution - provided the legal mandate for the EPA to issue GHG emission standards for vehicles in 2010 under the Clean Air Act.

In July 2025, Administrator Zeldin released the agency's proposal to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which would end EPA's ability to regulate GHG emissions.

In addition to Duckworth and Casten, the letter was signed by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14).

Full text of the letter can be found below and on the Senator's website.

Dear Administrator Zeldin:

We are writing to express our deep concern over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (US EPA) proposal to eliminate the Endangerment Finding and what that will mean for the health and safety of our constituents in Illinois.

The Endangerment Finding, promulgated in 2009 under the Clean Air Act, requires the US EPA to protect people from the pollution that causes climate change and its impacts. This administration's denial of the overwhelming scientific consensus, reached through decades of peer-reviewed research, does not change the facts: pollution from fossil fuels is trapping more of the sun's energy in the atmosphere, heating our planet, increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather disasters, and thereby endangering every American - especially the most vulnerable among us.

While coastal hurricanes and western wildfires may draw more national attention, climate change is increasing the number and severity of extreme weather events in the Midwest as well. In 2024 alone, Illinois experienced twelve extreme weather events which caused $1 billion or more in damages in Illinois and neighboring states, with a toll of at least 129 lives.

Climate change is increasing the number and severity of extreme heat events, with the Chicago area far exceeding the average number of 90-degree days this year. Extreme heat is the number-one weather-related killer, a fact we well know after the 1995 heat wave, which caused 500 deaths in Chicago alone and hundreds more across the Midwest. As we learned then, extreme heat disproportionately harms vulnerable individuals, including children, the elderly, low-income households, those with pre-existing medical conditions, outdoor workers, and communities of color.

Climate change is making Illinois wetter, contributing to extreme rainfall and dangerous flooding. This summer, in both July and August, Chicago and other parts of Illinois experienced flash flooding, which damaged infrastructure, including roads and houses.

Changing temperatures and weather patterns impact agriculture, which is so vital to Illinois' economy. Heat, water stress, and extreme weather events are greatly damaging to crops; changing temperatures can have negative impacts on weed and pest distribution; and changing precipitation patterns and higher temperatures can have negative impacts on soil health.

Finally, climate change has negative impacts on Lake Michigan, among our most precious natural resources. Warmer temperatures, less ice cover, and extreme weather events are damaging the lake ecosystem, making algal blooms more likely, and worsening erosion, beach loss, and shoreline damage.

Rescinding the Endangerment Finding is part of the administration's politically-driven scheme to undermine clean car and truck programs and roll back standards for global warming pollution from power plants, oil and gas operations, and more. It means giving polluters a free pass to pollute at the expense of families across the country. It means our constituents will face more climate chaos and, especially in communities already overburdened by pollution, greater health risks and higher medical costs. It even means that our constituents will pay more for energy, given the cheaper clean energy alternatives to fossil fuels that are currently available.

We urge you to maintain the Endangerment Finding and, in general, do your job of protecting the health and welfare of Illinoisans and Americans all across the country.

Sincerely,

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