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Heightened Urgency Seen in Wake of Paris Climate Retreat & EPA Rule Rollbacks; “Family Friendly” Protest to Feature News Event and Speeches from Bipartisan Line-up of U.S. Senators and Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C.//NEWS ADVISORY///Hundreds of moms and their children from all corners of the United States will gather on Capitol Hill Thursday (July 13, 2017) to hold a unique “Play-In” rally and press conference. Parents and their kids will focus on the need to address climate change and air pollution, and also will demand climate solutions such as renewable energy and limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Following the protest event, Moms and their children from nearly 40 states will meet with their corresponding members of congress.

Now in its 4th year, the Play-In for Climate Action takes on a special urgency in 2017 against the backdrop of the Trump Administration’s pullout from Paris Climate Agreement and recent moves to roll back key protections at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  And according to a new survey, the majority of U.S. moms and grandmothers–regardless of background—are concerned about climate and air pollution. See the full survey results here: http://www.momscleanairforce.org/moms-poll/.)

Organized by Moms Clean Air Force, the “family friendly” demonstration takes place Thursday from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. at Upper Senate Park, 200 New Jersey Avenue NW on Capitol Hill. A news event will be held from 10:15-11 a.m. at the same location. Moms, two members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, Republican House members of the Climate Solutions Caucus and other speakers will focus on the air pollution that causes dangerous climate change. Families from across the country will showcase exactly what’s at stake as temperatures and sea levels rise: our children’s health and future.

News event speakers will include:

·       Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR);

·       Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI);

·       Republican House members of the Climate Solutions Caucus;

·       Ben Monterroso, executive director, Mi Familia Vota;

·       Megan Boone, lead actress, The Blacklist (TV series);

·       Vanessa Hauc, Emmy-award-winning correspondent, Noticiero Telemundo;

·       Victoria Barrett, plaintiff, Our Children’s Trust;

·       Casey Camp-Horinek, actress, Native rights activist and environmentalist.

For the latest updates to the schedule, go online to: www.momscleanairforce.org/play-in-climate-action. The schedule for the Play-In protest event is as follows:

·       9 -10:15 a.m. – Family activities, music from Laura Tsaggaris, hula-hoops, yoga, and giant puppets;

·       10:15-11 a.m. -- News conference.

Hundreds of mothers and their children from across the U.S. are expected to participate in the “Play-In” protest event. Recently, Moms Clean Air Force welcomed their one millionth member. More information about the million-member milestone can be found here: http://www.momscleanairforce.org/one-million-moms-video/

MEDIA CONTACT:   Alex Frank, (703) 276-3264 or afrank@hastingsgroup.com

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Photos and b-roll footage from the Play-In will be available upon request.  Contact Alex Frank, (703) 276-3264 orafrank@hastingsgroup.com for more information.

Moms Clean Air Force is a community of over one million moms -- and dads -- working together to combat air pollution, including the urgent crisis of our changing climate.  For more information, go to www.momscleanairforce.org or follow us on Twitter @CleanAirMoms, Instagram @cleanairmoms, or Facebook @momscleanairforce.

Play-In for Climate Action partners are: 350.org, Allergy & Asthma Network, Alliance for Climate Education, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Children's Environmental Health Network, Citizens' Climate Lobby - DC chapter, Clean Air Moms Action, Climate Parents, Cool Effect, Dear Tomorrow, Defend Our Future, Elders Climate Action, Evangelical Environmental Network, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, Green for All, Interfaith Moral Action on Climate, Interfaith Power & Light, Latina Lista, Mi Familia Vota, Mindful Healthy Life, Our Children’s Trust, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Reverb, Sachamama and WEACT for Environmental Justice.