Leading the Way into a New Clean-Energy Green-Collar Economy

As concern over US reliance on foreign fossil fuels grows, so does the push for increasing renewable energy resources and creating “green” jobs. As a member of the House Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment for ten years, I worked to increase renewable energy production and to protect our environment for future generations.

I fought for key energy provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provided funding for low and middle class families to undergo weatherization of their home and to renovate existing public buildings to make them more energy efficient. This puts money back into people’s pockets by reducing the costs of utilities. Moreover, this stimulus legislation provided $19 billion for clean water, flood control, and environmental restoration projects in our communities.

In addition to this legislation, last year I authored the Water Quality Investment Act to grant money to municipalities to upgrade clean water infrastructure and to create jobs in this sector. Here at home, I am committed to cleaning up the sites which have been polluted and contaminated as a result of industrial activity. I have worked to obtain federal financial support to assist in the removal of thorium in Wayne, radium in West Orange, Montclair and Glen Ridge, and abandoned chemical facilities in Clifton. Furthermore, I am dedicated to cleaning up and preserving our waterways including the Passaic and Peckman Rivers.

As a lifelong resident of Paterson, another issue that has been very important to me is promoting the Great Falls Historic District in Paterson as a destination for both tourists and locals. I am happy to say that I recently succeeded in passing legislation to create a National Historic Park at the site.

I have been one of the strongest supporters of environmental conservation in the United States Congress, and I will continue to pursue policies to promote the use of renewable energy, to cleanup the environment and to create jobs in the process. It is critical that this world is left in even better shape for our children.

(Creative Commons [1] photo by brentdanley [2])