Senator Kirsten Gillibrand latest Congressional leader to endorse the Climate & Community Protection Act
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***: June 5, 2019
Contact: Arielle Swernoff | (646) 450-5461 | arielle@nyrenews.org
Web: @NYRenews | www.nyrenews.org
Senators Kirsten Gillibrand latest Congressional leader to endorse the Climate and Community Protection Act
Senator Gillibrand joins Senator Schumer, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and ten other members of the NY Congressional Delegation in supporting the landmark climate justice legislation currently under consideration in the NYS Senate and Assembly
New York, NY – In a letter to New York State lawmakers, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced his support of New York State’s Climate and Community Protection Act (CCPA, S.2992/A.3876).
In her letter, obtained by Politico New York’s Marie French, Senator Gillibrand wrote,
“Low-income communities and communities of color have historically endured the greatest impacts from pollution, and they face disproportionate risks from climate change. It is critical that their collective voice is heard in this discussion, and that those frontline neighborhoods and communities are treated equitably in the transition away from fossil fuels and economy-wide carbon emissions. I applaud the environmental justice provisions of the Climate and Community Protection Act, including the Environmental Justice Working Group and requirement to direct 40% of energy investments to front line communities...”
"...Completing negotiations to improve the Climate and Community Protection Act and enact it into law will put New York State on the path to eliminating carbon emissions while creating thousands of good paying jobs in every corner of our state. New York can be a model for the nation, and there is no time to waste any if we are going to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. It is my sincere hope that New York State will not lose the opportunity to lead by example."
Senator Gillibrand joins Senator Schumer, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez and ten other members of Congress, as well as the majority of the New York State Senate, seventy five members of the New York State Assembly, and 180 community, environmental, policy, and labor organizations in supporting the CCPA.
“We’re thrilled that Senator Gillibrand has is supporting the Climate and Community Protection Act,” said Katherine Nadeau, Deputy Director of Catskill Mountainkeeper and NY Renews Steering Committee member. “New York needs to take the lead on bold climate legislation that centers equity and justice, and that’s what the CCPA does. With just ten legislative session days left, we need our elected leaders to act now and pass the Climate and Community Protection Act.”
The Climate and Community Protection Act (S2992/A3876) establishes aggressive mandates to ensure New York achieves a 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the next 30 years. Under the CCPA, 40% of state energy and climate funds used to propel the transition must be invested in low-income communities and communities of color. In addition, the CCPA would attach fair labor standards, including prevailing wage standards, to green projects receiving state funding.
About NY Renews:
NY Renews is a nonpartisan coalition of over 180 member organizations. The coalition seeks a sustainable future for the earth and its people, recognizing that climate change represents a threat to all and especially to vulnerable people such as workers, people of color, seniors, youth, and the poor. NY Renews believes that the climate crisis and the inequality crisis can be solved with the same set of policies, and that climate protection must serve as a means to challenge racial injustice and bring about greater economic equity.
The NY Renews Steering Committee includes: 32BJ SEIU, ALIGN -- Alliance for a Greater New York, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Center for Working Families, Citizen Action of New York, Demos, Environmental Advocates of New York, GreenFaith, Long Island Progressive Coalition, Make the Road New York, New York State Nurses Association, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, People’s Climate Movement NY, PUSH Buffalo, Sierra Club, Teamsters Local Council 16, and UPROSE.
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