When it comes to clean air, we haven’t crossed the finish line yet

The air that we breathe in the United States, including Delaware, is a lot cleaner than it was when folks first ran the Caesar Half Marathon 53 

In Delaware, we’ve done our homework and made great strides in cleaning up our own air pollution. But, unfortunately, Delaware is located at the end of what I call “America’s tailpipe,” because pollution put into the air by states to our north and west is blown our way by prevailing winds. In fact, 90 percent of Delaware’s air pollution comes from our neighboring states. This pollution endangers our hearts, lungs and brains, and it costs us a great deal in medical bills and in the quality of our lives.years ago. But we still have a lot of work to do to ensure that future generations have clean air, and the opportunity to safely participate in events like the Caesar Rodney Half Marathon.

Thankfully, we have federal clean air protections established by the Clean Air Act that were forged through a strong commitment by Democrats and Republicans alike, who believed that playing fair and doing our share when it comes to cleaning up America’s air was profoundly important. As the top Democrat on the Senate’s Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, I’ve strongly supported the Clean Air Act and efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency to curb harmful pollutants and promote public health.

I know that we’re not finished with our work to clean up our air – or, in the spirit of the Caesar Rodney Half Marathon, “we’re not at the finish line.” That’s why I will continue to work with the administration, my colleagues in Congress, and others like the American Lung Association on efforts to protect and clean our air for generations to come.