Republican members of Congress who want to block the Environmental Protection Agency from setting stricter clean air standards are facing opposition from public health advocates who say such a move would be disastrous for children and others with asthma.

The outcome of the debate over the EPA and its clean air standards will have a significant effect on California, says Dan Lashof of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Carbon emissions are a major component in smog, Lashof adds, and smog exacerbates asthma.

The dozen California reps who have signed on to support some or all of the EPA-blocking measures are:  Mary Bono Mack, R-CA 45, Ken Calvert, R-CA 44, John Campbell, R-CA 48, Elton Gallegly, R-CA 24, Wally Herger, R-CA 2, Duncan D. Hunter, R-CA 52, Darrell E. Issa, R-CA 49, Jerry Lewis, R-CA 41, Daniel E. Lungren, R-CA 3, Tom McClintock, R-CA 4, Howard P. McKeon, R-CA 25, and Dana Rohrabacher, R-CA 46. Read the NRDC's analysis of the issue.