(Boston Orange 摘譯) 麻州政府今 (25)日發聲，強烈譴責川普政府終止了環保局（EPA）給麻州公共衛生廳
(DPH)，要用來處理麻州西部哮喘問題的100萬美元經費。
這筆100萬元的經費，原定分3年撥發，用於支持居家環境改善，例如在奇科皮（Chicopee）、霍利奧克（Holyoke）和斯普林菲爾德（Springfield）等城市去除黴菌，改善通風等。
就在最近，美國肺臟協會 (American Lung Association)才發表報告，把Hampden郡的空氣品質評為D級，有5576名兒童，43484成人為哮喘而苦。
麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）、副州長Kim Driscoll、衛生與公眾服務廳廳長凱特·沃爾什（Kate
Walsh），以及麻州公共衛生廳專員羅比·戈爾茨坦醫生（Dr.
Robbie Goldstein）。他們強調，這筆資金至關重要，刪減將影響公共衛生工作，傷害社區。
地方首長，包括春田市市長Domenic J. Sarno、Holyoke市市長Joshua A. Garcia和Chicopee市市長John Vieau，以及合作夥伴振興社區發展公司（Revitalize Community
Development Corporation）的總裁兼首席執行官Colleen
Shanley-Loveless，也都強烈反對，強調資金流失，導致關鍵的居家維修和健康干預措施被延遲或取消。
Trump Administration Terminates $1 Million in Grants to Address Asthma in Western Mass
BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration is condemning a recent move by President Trump to terminate nearly $1 million in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Department of Public Health (DPH) to address asthma in Western Massachusetts. The funding was intended to support in-home environmental remediations, such as mold removal and improved ventilation, in Chicopee, Holyoke and Springfield. These cuts come as a recent report by the American Lung Association gave Hampden County a “D” for poor air quality, with 5,576 children and 43,484 adults suffering from asthma.
“By canceling these grants for Hampden County, the Trump Administration is undermining our efforts to improve the health of the people of Western Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey. “With extreme heat, droughts and wildfires becoming all the more common, it’s essential that we prioritize improving air quality and reducing causes of asthma. This is just their latest attack on the health and wellbeing of communities across our country.”
“Protecting the health and safety of our communities is essential to making sure Massachusetts remains the best place to live, work and raise a family,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “When the federal government takes away the resources we need, it makes it harder for us to do critical public health work.”
“The loss of this funding is harmful to our public health efforts. We know the specific steps we can take to help people with asthma in Western Massachusetts and planned to support these efforts with this federal funding,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh. “Our team remains committed to identifying and addressing equitable health outcomes, but without this funding, Western Massachusetts residents may not be able to access services like vent cleaning and mold removal needed to combat the disproportionate health impacts in the region.”
“This funding represents more than just dollars; it is about health, equity and dignity,” said Dr. Robbie Goldstein, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. “We have used these grants to address the root causes of asthma in communities that have been historically underserved – places where too many children struggle to breathe because of preventable environmental conditions. The loss of this support is a grave injustice to the families of Chicopee, Holyoke, and Springfield who deserve the same opportunities for health and well-being as everyone else in our Commonwealth and in our country. Massachusetts will continue to lead with science and compassion, but this misguided decision makes our work harder – and sadly, puts health at risk.”
Withheld funding totals nearly $900,000 out of the promised $1 million over three years. DPH used these funds for in-home environmental remediation to address asthma in residents and communities disproportionately at risk. This funding also went to community engagement, capacity building, and cross-bureau collaboration within DPH to address environmental hazards and to build community level adaptability and resiliency to address public health threats.
“The abrupt termination by the federal government of the EPA Environmental Justice grant – which supported our in-home asthma interventions and environmental health remediations – has had a profoundly negative impact on our ability to serve vulnerable families,” said Colleen Shanley-Loveless, President and CEO of Revitalize Community Development Corporation in Springfield. “This critical funding enabled us to make homes safer and healthier by addressing environmental triggers that exacerbate asthma and other respiratory conditions. Without it, critical home repairs and health interventions have been delayed or canceled, leaving residents at greater risk. We urge federal agencies to reconsider these cuts and restore support for community-based programs that protect public health and promote safe and healthy housing for all.”
These grants were particularly critical because traditional funding often overlooks services that can help make a person’s living environment healthier, such as mold removal, pest management, carpet or flooring replacement, or duct or vent cleaning.
“I stand with Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll in condemning this move by the Trump Administration to take away this much needed funding as we continue to tackle this challenging and multifaceted public health issue of Asthma,” said Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. "My administration has worked very hard to knock down the Asthma rates here in Springfield, but there is much more work to be done to keep all our residents safe, whether young or old, to properly deal with an Asthma affliction, or more importantly, prevent future generations from getting it. Believe you me, I know firsthand, for my youngest daughter Chiara has had to deal with a serious case of Asthma. Mr. President, many people who voted for and supported you and/or their family members and friends are afflicted with Asthma and now you turn your back on them?! In the name of public health, I ask President Trump to review and reverse this edict.”
“The termination of nearly $1 million in critical funding from the EPA is definitely a setback in our collective efforts to improve the living conditions of our most vulnerable residents. With this cut, our abilities are limited to protect the health of our children, our seniors, and families struggling with already difficult circumstances,” said Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia. “These funds were targeted to directly combat the health risks caused by substandard housing conditions, risks that exacerbate existing health disparities within our communities. It's unconscionable that the administration would choose to take away these vital resources, resources that were intended to create healthier, safer living conditions.”
“The Revitalize CDC Program has been an important resource to allow Chicopee residents to live safely in their homes," said Chicopee Mayor John Vieau. "We are disappointed that this critical resource that was slated to provide environmental remediation to homes in Chicopee, Holyoke, and Springfield residents has been terminated.”
DPH has submitted a formal dispute contesting the EPA’s termination decision. This termination follows recent action by the Trump administration to abruptly terminate nearly $100 million in grants to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Department of Mental Health.
