This Senate resolution was introduced on December 17, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. It states that particulate matter pollution can cause heart attacks, asthma, strokes, and premature death. The text describes particulate matter as tiny airborne particles made of many different chemicals and elements. It says these particles can reach deep into the lungs and the bloodstream. The resolution lists health effects cited in the text: heart attacks, asthma, bronchitis, decreased lung function, premature death for people with heart or lung disease, and an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke with long-term exposure. It also cites evidence linking particulate matter to lung cancer in nonsmokers and a California study that found smaller lungs at age 18 for children who grew up in high particulate matter areas. The resolution notes that combustion of fossil fuels is the largest source of particulate matter in the United States and cites an estimate that about 80,000,000 people live within 3 miles of a fossil fuel–fired power plant, including about 17,000,000 children. The resolution concludes by recognizing these health harms and stating that the Environmental Protection Agency should maintain and enforce safe nationwide standards for particulate matter.
The resolution formally states the Senate's recognition of health harms from particulate matter and expresses the view that the Environmental Protection Agency should keep and enforce nationwide particulate standards. It was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The text does not detail specific new rules or funding.
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Sponsors of the resolution say particulate matter is a serious health risk. The resolution lists studies and findings that link particulate matter to heart attacks, asthma, bronchitis, reduced lung function, premature death for people with heart or lung disease, higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke from long-term exposure, and a contribution to lung cancer even among nonsmokers. It also highlights a California study showing smaller adult lungs for children raised in high-particulate areas and identifies fossil fuel combustion as the largest source of particulate matter.
No publicly available information.