PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Make the Trucking Industry in WA Clean Up Its Act
  1. Signatures
    1,865 out of 2,500
    Petitioning
    1. The U.S. House of Representatives
  2. Created By
    Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports
About this Petition Petition Letter

Thanks to a legal loophole big enough for an 18-wheeler to drive through, pollution from Washington’s ports -- including Seattle and Tacoma -- is a serious problem.

Ninety-five percent of port trucks in Washington fail to meet current EPA emissions standards. Diesel soot, like that coming from these old, dirty trucks, accounts for up to 85% of the total cancer risk from air pollution.

The reason for this environmental crisis boils down to economics: Thanks to a 30-year old law trucking companies can get away with pushing all the costs of truck ownership and maintenance onto the workers behind the wheel. They rake in profits on the backs of their drivers, who take home around $10 an hour after clocking 50-60 hours a week. Health care is a rare luxury among drivers and after all the expense, they can’t possibly afford clean, low-emissions vehicles.

Washington’s ports needn’t generate pollution and poverty-wage jobs. They could drive the future of clean technology to fuel America’s economic recovery. For that to happen, communities need real regulations to hold the trucking industry accountable for its mess and to spur growth and change at local ports.

The Clean Ports Act of 2010 is critical for Washington. It would give our coastal communities the power to make the port trucking industry clean up its act –- so we don’t have to pay for their diesel mess.  

Tell Washington's leaders in Congress to stand up for port area residents and workers and sponsor the Clean Ports Act of 2010.

Recent Signatures

Please co-sponsor the Clean Ports Act of 2010 today!

Greetings,

I am a constituent who deeply cares about creating a thriving green economy in Puget Sound, greater Washington and the rest of the country. That’s why I’m writing to encourage you to co-sponsor Rep. Nadler’s Clean Ports Act of 2010, H.R. 5967.

We have a real problem in Washington. Ninety-five percent of our state’s port trucks fail to meet current EPA emissions standards. Diesel soot, like that coming from these old, dirty trucks, accounts for up to 85% of the total cancer risk from air pollution.

Fortunately, there is a solution. The Clean Ports Act of 2010 will confirm that local authorities like the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma can impose labor and environmental standards like those in the Los Angeles Clean Truck Program. That policy has put over 6,000 clean vehicles on the road, eased congestion, improved public health and safety, and instantly created thousands of green jobs, the kinds of changes we need here now.

In August, a federal judge ruled this EPA-award winning program is 100% legally sound, so as your constituent, I am counting on you to protect the green-growth model from lengthy, expensive appeals so cities across the U.S. like Seattle and Tacoma have the option to replicate Los Angeles’ success.

Your leadership on this critically important bill will accelerate desperately needed clean-air programs and pave the way for green job creation to improve the lungs and livelihoods of millions in our state and for all Americans.

Please sponsor the Clean Ports Act, H.R. 5967, today!

[Your name]

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