Pictured from left to right: Dakotah Johnson, Minnesota Public Interest Research Group, Christy Newell, Will Steger Foundation, Alyssa Tucker, Minnesota Youth Environmental Network, Michelle Karch, Young Professional

Today, we stopped by Senator Klobuchar's office to deliver 1,145 postcards signed by young people across the state urging her to protect the Clean Air Act. Young people in Minnesota need Sen. Klobuchar to stand up for our future and be a champion for clean air safeguards. Any delays or compromises will jeopardize our health and the environment we are inheriting.

In collaboration with MPIRG, these postcards came from constituents at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Augsburg College, St. Catherine's University, Macalester College, Hamline University, University of Minnesota - Duluth and hundreds of high school students involved with Youth Environmental Activists Minnesota.

The postcards read:

Dear Senator Klobuchar,

For 40 years, the Clean Air Act has protected public health from air toxics and pollutants including mercury, smog and soot.

The EPA estimated that clean air regulations saved more the 160,000 lives in 2010 alone. Economic analyses have demonstrated that the economic benefits of updated clean air standards outweigh costs 30:1, making them an investment that we can all afford.

Youth will make up 22% of eligible voters in the 2012 elections here in Minnesota. As a young person, I urge you to reject any legislation that weakens the Clean Air Act and to invest in the green economy.

This holiday season, youth across Minnesota are asking for Senator Klobuchar to be the clean air champion we need.