Sponsors (9)
The resolution foregrounds strong public‑health reasons to cut particulate pollution from fossil‑fuel sources—promising large health and healthcare‑cost benefits—while creating trade‑offs in higher near‑term energy costs and economic disruption for fossil‑fuel‑dependent communities and risks of uneven benefit delivery without targeted equity measures.
Children and people with heart or lung disease: would experience fewer asthma exacerbations, bronchitis episodes, heart attacks, and improved lung development if particulate pollution from fossil‑fuel sources is reduced.
People living near fossil‑fuel combustion sources (including nonsmokers): would face lower long‑term risks of lung cancer and other chronic respiratory harms as exposure to particulate matter declines.
Taxpayers, hospitals, and health systems: could see lower public‑health burdens and reduced healthcare costs if measures cut PM exposure for the an estimated ~80 million people living near fossil fuel plants.
Energy consumers and taxpayers: may face higher utility and energy costs if compliance requires expensive pollution controls or fuel switching by power plants.
Workers and local governments in fossil‑fuel dependent communities: could suffer job losses and local economic disruption if plants are retired or restricted without robust transition and economic support plans.
Low‑income and frontline communities: risk delayed or uneven benefits if stricter PM actions are implemented without targeted equity measures and deliberate implementation timelines.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Records findings that fine particulate matter causes serious health harms, ties PM largely to fossil-fuel combustion, and notes millions live near fossil fuel power plants.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Sheldon Whitehouse · Last progress December 17, 2025
Declares findings about the health risks of fine particulate matter (PM) pollution, stating that PM can penetrate lungs and the bloodstream and is linked to heart attacks, strokes, asthma, bronchitis, reduced lung growth in children, lung cancer, and premature death. It identifies combustion of fossil fuels as the largest U.S. source of PM and notes that tens of millions of people — including many children — live within three miles of fossil fuel-fired power plants. The measure is informational: it records and publicizes scientific and public-health findings but does not create new legal requirements, funding, or regulatory actions.