WASHINGTON – A total of 123 House members from 35 states, including Congresswoman Nan Hayworth (NY-19) are co-sponsoring legislation that would block EPA standards to reduce toxic, smog and soot pollution from industrial plants and other sources, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Carbon Dioxide pollution increases the risk of heat stress, promotes the spread of infectious diseases and makes it more difficult to reduce smog pollution, which threatens the health of asthma sufferers and others with respiratory problems, the group said.

The NRDC’s director of the Climate Control Center, Dan Lashoff, said four bills would attack implementation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.

“Our elected representatives should hold big polluters accountable, not help them block the strong safeguards that would protect our health and quality of life,” he said. “Unfortunately these bad air boosters, who have collectively taken over $27 million in campaign contributions from big polluters during their careers, are choosing to standing up for the polluters instead of public health.”

Of the four pieces of legislation proposed, Hayworth is a co-sponsor of just one – to permanently allow unlimited carbon pollution. The NRDC said she has received $217,500 in campaign contributions from oil, gas, electric utilities, coal and mining companies. Hayworth’s political career only began earlier this month when she took office representing five counties in the Hudson Valley.

In the 19th District, the NRDC said pediatric estimate of asthma prevalence is 46,602 children while the number of adults with asthma prevalence is 133,398.

A statement from Hayworth’s office responded to the NRDC. “As a physician, Rep. Hayworth is always focused on the health and wellbeing of her constituents and all Americans. She does not support the Environmental Protection Agency’s agenda to regulate greenhouses gases using the Clean Air Act. The EPA regulations Rep. Hayworth opposes will drive up spending, have an impact on jobs, and raise energy costs on families and small businesses already finding it hard to make ends meet.”