Statement from the National Medical Association on the Good Neighbor Plan
For Immediate Release:
[April 29, 2026]
The National Medical Association (NMA), representing the collective voice of Black physicians and the patients we serve, strongly supports the Good Neighbor Plan provisions under the Clean Air Act and urges continued protections against harmful cross-state air pollution.
The Good Neighbor Plan is a critical federal safeguard designed to reduce smog-forming pollution, particularly nitrogen oxides (NOx), from power plants and industrial sources that travel across state lines and harm communities far from their origin. These protections are rooted in the Clean Air Act’s “good neighbor” provision, which requires states to limit emissions that significantly contribute to unhealthy air quality in downwind states.
Air pollution does not respect geographic boundaries. Emissions generated in one state can worsen air quality in another, contributing to increased rates of asthma, cardiovascular disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and premature death. The burden of these health impacts falls disproportionately on communities of color, particularly Black communities, who are more likely to live near pollution sources and already face higher rates of chronic illness.
The NMA is deeply concerned about recent proposals to roll back key provisions of the Good Neighbor Plan. Weakening these protections risks reversing critical progress in reducing harmful pollution and protecting vulnerable populations.
“The National Medical Association views climate change and air pollution as urgent public health crises,” said Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., President of the National Medical Association. “The Good Neighbor Plan represents a necessary and science-based approach to reducing dangerous emissions that disproportionately harm communities of color. As physicians, we see firsthand the toll that polluted air takes on our patients, especially children, pregnant women, and those living with chronic diseases. We must strengthen, not weaken, these protections to ensure healthier futures for all communities.”
The NMA applauds efforts to reduce pollution from fossil fuel power plants and industrial sources and emphasizes that strong environmental policies are essential to advancing health equity. Reducing harmful emissions will lead to improved respiratory and cardiovascular health outcomes, fewer hospitalizations, and longer, healthier lives, particularly for historically marginalized populations.
As healthcare providers, we cannot stand silently by. The NMA calls on policymakers to uphold and strengthen the Good Neighbor Plan and to take swift, decisive action to reduce pollution, protect public health, and advance environmental justice nationwide.
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About the National Medical Association:
The NMA is the nation’s oldest and largest organization representing Black physicians and health professionals in the U.S. and promotes the collective interests of physicians and patients of African descent. We serve as the voice of Black physicians and a leading voice for parity in medicine, elimination of health disparities and promotion of optimal health. To learn more about the NMA, please visit https://www.nmanet.org/.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jaylen Christie
850-556-4924
jaylen@bdaviscomm.com
