As the state continues to experience massive wildfires, a California congressman says more needs to be done to mitigate the detrimental impacts of wildfire smoke.
A new Stanford study revealed that Bay Area communities have seen 300% more smoke days in the past four years than from 2011 to 2015. According to Central Valley Representative Josh Harder, it's an issue of equity that heavily impacts the labor force, education system and healthcare system.
"If you work out in the field, you can't really decide to take a day off and work from Zoom in the comfort of your own pajamas, you have to be out there," he said. "Our frontline workers are disproportionately impacted by this smoke."
The study found that on average, Bay Area counties experience 45 smoke days per year. The impact is magnified throughout the Central Valley District, where many cities are considered some of the most polluted in the nation.
"I know what it's like to grow up with childhood asthma and it breaks my heart that one in six kids in the Central Valley today are experiencing that type of stress, that type of childhood asthma, just because of the smoke that's pouring into the Valley every day," he said.
As negotiations continue on the infrastructure package and the White House prepares to roll out its climate action plan, Harder said he's calling for congress and the Biden Administration to take more of an aggressive stance against smoke.
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