President Obama's Weekly Address 8/13/16: Providing a Better, Cleaner, Safer Future for Our Children

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week's address, President Obama discussed the progress we have made to combat global climate change. During the Obama Administration, we have made ambitious investments in clean energy and achieved reductions in carbon emissions – increasing wind power and solar power, and decreasing the amount of carbon pollution from our energy sector to its lowest level in 25 years. We have also set standards to increase the distance cars and light trucks can travel on a gallon of gas every year through 2025. The President noted that although America has become a global leader in the fight against climate change, there's still work to do. Together, we must continue to work domestically and build upon the progress we've made along with other countries – such as the Paris Agreement, the most ambitious climate change agreement in history. President Obama said if we continue to work together, we will leave a better, cleaner, safer future for our children.

President Obama's Weekly Address 10/24/15: Protecting our Planet for Future Generations

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week's address, the President laid out the importance of serving as good stewards of the environment and maintaining the planet for generations to come. Since taking office the President has prioritized protecting the places that make America special. He has repeatedly said that no challenge poses a greater threat to our future than a changing climate, which is why he’s taken bold actions at home and encouraged historic action abroad on the issue. In his address, he encouraged Congress to reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund which has protected more than 5 million acres of land for more than half a century, without costing taxpayers a dime. Republicans in Congress let the fund expire despite strong bipartisan support. And he reminded us that we all have to do our part to address climate change, promote clean energy and energy efficiency, and ensure a cleaner, more stable environment for future generations.

Pallone Statement on Proposed EPA Regulations for Power Plant Emissions

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement today upon an announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of a proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emission from U.S. power plants by 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030:

“EPA’s proposed regulation to curb the amount of greenhouse gasses produced by power plants marks our nation’s most significant move to date to address climate change. These regulations will offer meaningful changes while allowing states and industry the flexibility to find ways to meet the new standards.

“Lower power plant emissions will have many benefits, specifically, improving public health by making the air we breathe cleaner and helping to reduce breathing related illnesses like asthma, which is increasingly affecting more and more Americans, particularly children. New clean energy jobs will be an additional positive outgrowth of this change, as the rapidly expanding field of energy alternatives will boom to meet the demands of adjusting to lower emissions standards, giving our economy a much needed boost.

“As a Representative and lifelong resident of one the areas hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy, my constituents and I know all too well the serious impact climate change is having on our lives, economy, health and wellbeing. Without addressing climate change, sea levels will continue to rise, resulting in enormous costs from damage to coastal areas and devastating the tourism industry, which is critical to the economies of places like the New Jersey Shore. The costs of inaction in dealing with climate change are simply too high to ignore. EPA’s proposal today is an important step forward toward taking action on one of the most important issues of our time.”

President Obama's Weekly Address 5/31/14 : Reducing Carbon Pollution in Our Power Plants

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, President Obama discussed new actions by the Environmental Protection Agency to cut dangerous carbon pollution, a plan that builds on the efforts already taken by many states, cities and companies. These new commonsense guidelines to reduce carbon pollution from power plants were created with feedback from businesses, and state and local governments, and they would build a clean energy economy while reducing carbon pollution. The President discussed this new plan from the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he visited children whose asthma is aggravated by air pollution. As a parent, the President said he is dedicated to make sure our planet is cleaner and safer for future generations.

NJEF endorses Buono

The below article appeared in the Asbury Park Press this past Sunday, 4/28. It makes strong points about Chris Christie's environmental record after he painted himself as an environmentalist in 2009 as he ran for governor the first time around. This time, given his move to gut environmental programs and raid clean energy funds for the general budget, no one should be fooled . Many are unaware of his chicanery and still think of him as a pro-environment!

Environmental group to support Buono

The NJ Environmental Federation endorsed Democratic Sen. Barbara Buono for governor last week, even though it backed Chris Christie in 2009. It said endorsing Buono was “an easy call,” given a series of broken promises by Christie and Buono’s record on issues like clean energy and green jobs.

“Barbara Buono is without any doubt the environmental candidate in this year’s race for governor,” said Janet Tauro, NJ Environmental Federation’s board chair. “We agree that the environment and the economy are inextricably linked, while Governor Christie’s policies show them to be mutually exclusive.”

“We need a leader who’ll invest in a green economy, not raid it,” said federation board member Ben Forest, citing the governor’s annual diversion of Clean Energy funds totaling more than $750 million and growing.

The NJ Environmental Federation is the state’s largest environmental organization.

Congressman Pallone Introduces Amendment to Protect the Atlantic Ocean from Dangerous Offshore Drilling

HR 6082 Gives Big Oil Unfettered Access to Drill

WASHINGTON DC – Yesterday, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) introduced an amendment in the Natural Resources Committee markup of H.R. 6082 that removed proposed oil and gas lease sales in the Atlantic Ocean from the bill. The original legislation will enable Big Oil companies the ability to lease five areas in the Atlantic for oil exploration, which would put the valuable coasts at risk.

H.R. 6082 accelerates the timetable for oil companies to lease waters around the United States for oil drilling. It requires the Department of Interior to move forward with leases in waters including the east and west coasts.  The bill also revives a Bush Administration plan which calls for leases to be issued in the mid-Atlantic and North Atlantic regions.

“Just two years after the BP oil spill devastated the Gulf, this bill brought forth by the Republican Majority expands drilling without any thought to safety and environmental safeguards,” said Pallone. “In New Jersey our ocean environment is integral to our economy, impacting commercial and recreational fishermen, seafood distributors and coastal tourism. This bill puts all of that at risk for the sake of increasing Big Oil’s profits.”

Pallone called for a focus on renewable energy sources, rather than oil drilling which has limited short-term impact and could seriously damage the ocean environment and hurt coastal economies.

“At this time we should recognize that we simply cannot drill our way to energy independence, and instead we should focus on investing in a clean energy strategy that reduces our dependence on foreign oil and moves us towards a new era of clean energy jobs,” Pallone added. 

Fighting for NJ Jobs and Our Energy Future

From the E-Newsletter of Congressman Rush Holt: 

Congressman Rush Holt

It is very important that our country conduct research and development for sources of energy that are alternative to fossil fuels. The research is important for jobs today and jobs for the future. With our national economy for energy well over a trillion dollars a year, it is wise to invest at least a few percent of that amount in developing clean, abundant, environmentally attractive energy sources for the future.

Fusion energy research is showing as much promise and progress as ever. As a result, a number of other countries around the world are investing more and more in fusion, both in their own national research programs and in the multi-billion-dollar international research project ITER, under construction in Europe. They see this research as crucial for their energy future and also enormously valuable to their present overall research infrastructure. The U.S., once the clear international leader in the field and still the home to many of its best scientists and engineers, plays only a fractional role in ITER.

Earlier this year, the President, who often has advanced a wise vision for America’s energy policy, now faced with real budget constraints, made what I considered a misguided decision. In his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2013, he proposed increasing US contributions to the ITER project (a good idea) at the expense of the domestic research program (a bad idea).

In effect, the President proposed underfunding U.S. fusion energy research by $48 million, which would result in closing the MIT fusion research project, curtailing other university and corporate research, and laying off more than 80 people – about one-fifth of the workforce – from the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), the leading U.S. center for research in the field. These workers – some of the best in the world – come to work in suits, in lab coats, and in jeans and hardhats. They are, in other words, a broad cross-section of the kind of workers we want and need in New Jersey. If these cuts became law, they would debilitate the U.S. fusion program, jeopardizing America’s role as a leader in researching clean, sustainable sources of energy.

We should participate vigorously in the international research program, but if we allow our domestic program to atrophy, we can neither contribute much to the international program nor derive much benefit from it. We should be in a position to sell energy technology to other countries, not to have to buy it. It is a big energy market out there, and growing!

As the former assistant director of the PPPL, and as someone who cares deeply about scientific research, I brought together 48 bipartisan members of Congress to oppose the fusion energy cuts. Writing to New Jersey Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, the chairman of the US House Subcommittee on Appropriations for Energy and Water Development, we said, “Clean energy is an area in which our government can ill-afford to fall behind.”

When his committee wrote the Energy Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2013, he chose to restore nearly full fusion funding, which would preserve these jobs in New Jersey and would keep the research underway around the country. On Wednesday this week, I joined Rep. Frelinghuysen and leaders and workers at the PPPL to thank him for his leadership. More work still remains to be done; the Senate must pass an energy funding bill that retains this new funding.

Sharing the Constitution

The U.S. Constitution is, to my mind, the greatest invention of humans: an ingenious system of checks and balances that harnesses the power of individual initiative and enhanced community that has enabled America to grow into the most powerful and beneficial nation on earth.

For many decades now, members of Congress have shared the Constitution with students and citizens by distributing pocket-sized Constitution booklets, containing the entire text of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. I like to tell students it is their copy of both our statement of purpose and the operating manual for the government they are called to run. I point out that the real ingenuity of the Constitution is that it is based, not just on fixed procedures, but on ever-dynamic mechanisms of self-correction and progress toward our ideals of liberty and equality.

Last week, I went to the House floor to point out the ironic fact these booklets are out of print (for reasons political, budgetary, and procedural, beyond what I can explain easily here). I proposed an appropriations amendment, accepted by the Republicans and Democrats, to print again these pocket Constitutions. I will let you know when printing is completed so that you can request a free pocket Constitution of your own; I carry one with me all the time.

Next Week: Telephone Town Hall on Tuesday, Senior Forum on Friday

Next week, I’ll be hosting two forums to share news from Congress and to hear directly from you.

On Tuesday evening at 7:45 p.m., I’ll hold a telephone town hall open to all residents of central New Jersey. Many of you will automatically receive calls on Tuesday evening inviting you to join; to ensure that you are called, please visit http://holt.house.gov/townhall or call 1-87-RUSH-HOLT.

Then, on Friday, I will host a Senior Forum in Monroe to discuss Social Security and Medicare – how they work, how they can work better, and how we can protect these crucial programs from deterioration or attack.

Senior Forum on Social Security and Medicare
Friday, June 22, 2012
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Monroe Township Public Library
4 Municipal Plaza
Monroe Township, New Jersey 08831

I’ll be joined by Max Richtman, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. I hope you will join us and share your questions and concerns!

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

Trenton Rally this Thursday, June 14th to keep fracking waste out of NJ

by Linda Baum & Food and Water Watch

The state legislature introduced a bill (A575/S253) to ban fracking waste in New Jersey and we need the Senate & Assembly Environment Committees to pass it.  Environmental advocacy group Food and Water Watch is asking everyone to attend a Day of Action for A Clean Energy Future this Thursday, June 14^th in Trenton from 9AM-3PM.  Learn more and register at:  http://bit.ly/JvIgaE

A number of transportation options are available to help folks get there and back safely.  If you would like to carpool from a nearby location, you can do a zip code search for carpool options at http://bit.ly/June14TrentonCarPools.  Another option is to ride the Bus for Progress, which is picking up passengers in South Amboy, Red Bank, Wall, and Jackson.  Reserve your seat here:  http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=74395

The meet-up point in Trenton is at the Old Barracks, and registration there is from 8:30-9:00 AM.  Click here for directions, a schedule for the day, parking info, and a rough floor plan of the State House Annex that shows where the Assembly Environment Committee is meeting.

If you can’t make it on Thursday, Food and Water Watch asks that you make a quick phone call to Assembly Speaker Oliver, asking her to make sure this legislation passes.  Individual calls make a big difference in the push to get this legislation passed, so please call even if you’ve already contacted legislators on this issue.

Call Assembly Speaker Oliver at (866) 582-4813.  Tell her: 

• I support a ban on fracking waste in NJ;
• This type of drilling is putting drinking water at risk of serious contamination;
• Please cosponsor A575, the bill to ban fracking waste in New Jersey.

Thank you for your activism.

June 14th Fracking Lobby Day in Trenton

Please see below about an important event taking place this coming Thursday in Trenton and please help spread the word. The Bus for Progress is one way to get to Trenton for those who would rather leave their cars home, and seats are currently available. The Bus will be making stops in South Amboy, Red Bank, Wall, and Jackson. Click here for more information: http://www.busforprogress.org/events/june-14-lobby-day-details. Click here to reserve your seat: http://www.busforprogress.org/events

*****

Dear Supporter,

Fracking waste is coming to New Jersey, threatening our drinking water, environment and public health. In January of 2013, NJ's fracking ban will expire. As if this is not enough, the industry is pushing risky gas pipelines, gas-fired power plants and billions in taxpayer dollars for subsidies for gas transportation projects. These subsidies are coming at a time when Governor Christie is pushing for millions in cuts to clean energy and conservation programs. Can you join us in Trenton on June 14 to stand against the fracking industry's assault on our state?

In the morning, we will be creating a presence in the NJ State House, educating legislators about how they can help stop the fracking industry from turning NJ into a fracking wasteland. At noon, leaders from across NJ will be speaking out at a rally against the dangers of fracking and the direct impact these risky and unnecessary gas infrastructure projects are having on our state. We need your help to pull off a massive show of support against fracking and for clean energy.

Let's plan to take over the capital on June 14 and demonstrate that New Jersey is ready for clean energy solutions and a fossil fuel-free future. Will you join us in Trenton on June 14th?

To register and invite others, visit this link:

http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/?key=74212

We look forward to seeing you in Trenton!



Jim Walsh

New Jersey Director

Food & Water Watch

jwalsh@fwwatch.org

President Obama's Weekly Adress 3/10/12: Investing in a Clean Energy Future

WASHINGTON, DC— In his weekly address, President Obama spoke to the American people from a factory in Petersburg, Virginia about the growing trend of companies creating more jobs in the United States, and also making better products than ever before.  The new technologies they are developing are playing an important role in reducing our dependence on foreign oil and saving families money at the pump. Under the Obama Administration, domestic oil and gas production is up, and we are currently producing more oil at home than any time in the last eight years, but with only 2% of the world’s oil reserves, we can’t just drill our way to lower gas prices.  We need an all-of-the-above strategy that focuses on American-made energy, as well as increasing the fuel efficiency of the cars we drive, saving families money and dramatically reducing our reliance on foreign oil. The President also called on Congress to end the $4 billion in subsidies to oil companies each year so that we can invest in clean energy technologies.  There is no silver bullet to solve high gas prices, but together we can work to overcome our energy challenges as we create new American jobs.

President Obama's Weekly Address 3/3/12: Taking Control of Our Energy Future

WASHINGTON, DC—In this week’s address, President Obama told the American people that three years after helping the auto industry save more than one million jobs, the American auto industry is back and creating cars that are even better than before. The entire industry has added more than 200,000 jobs in the past two and a half years, and thanks to the Administration’s new fuel efficiency standards, these companies are making cars that will save families money at the pump and help reduce our reliance on foreign oil. While this will help, there is no silver bullet for solving the problem of higher gas prices, and Americans understand that with only 2% of the world’s oil reserves, we cannot simply drill our way to lower gas prices. Under President Obama, our use of clean, renewable energy has nearly doubled, but we must also end the $4 billion in tax breaks that oil companies receive each year while collecting record profits. The President asks everyone to tell their elected officials to stop this corporate welfare and fight for a clean energy future that is within our reach.

 

President Obama's Weekly Address 8/13/11: Putting the American People First

WASHINGTON-- In this week’s address, President Obama told the American people that although the United States leads the world in new ideas, innovative businesses and creative entrepreneurs, too many Americans are still struggling to get by. It is time for Congress to act on the President’s proposals, including extending the payroll tax cut, cutting red tape, and getting our construction workers back to work, so that we can get our economy on firmer ground and ensure that anyone who wants a job can find one. President Obama believes the American people deserve more than political brinksmanship, and urges anyone who is frustrated by the gridlock in Washington to let their elected officials know that it is time to put aside partisanship and act in the best interests of the country.

NY Times: Gov. Christie Abandons a Good Idea

The following editorial was published yesterday in the NY Times, people should read it before falling for his claim to be an advocate for the environment:

Running for governor in 2009, Chris Christie vowed to become “New Jersey’s No. 1 clean-energy advocate.” That was a hollow promise. As governor, Mr. Christie proceeded to cut all the money for the Office of Climate and Energy. He raided $158 million from the clean energy fund, meant for alternative energy investments, and spent it on general programs. He withdrew the state from an important lawsuit against electric utilities to reduce emissions.

On Thursday, he took the worst step of all: He abandoned the 10-state initiative in the Northeast that uses a cap-and-trade system to lower carbon-dioxide emissions from power plants. The program has been remarkably successful, a model of vision and fortitude. Lacking that, Mr. Christie has given in to the corporate and Tea Party interests that revile all forms of cap and trade, letting down the other nine states trying to fight climate change.

The system works by requiring utilities to either lower their emissions or buy allowances to pollute. Money from the allowances goes to states for clean-energy programs. Since it began in 2008, the system has created more than $700 million for these programs; New Jersey has spent some of its share on helping cities become more energy-efficient. Greenhouse emissions from power plants in the region went down about 12 percent from 2008 to 2010 for many reasons, including lower natural gas prices. Programs like the regional initiative are estimated to have produced more than 10 percent of that decline.

Mr. Christie has already demonstrated his disdain for the program’s goals by spending $65 million of the state’s $100 million share from the allowances to pay down New Jersey’s deficit. He claimed this week that the program was not working, a notion that was quickly refuted by five other governors. “Governor Christie is simply wrong when he claims that these efforts are a failure,” said Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland. He said they had an equivalent effect of taking 3,500 cars off the road in his state.

For now, at least, the far right has killed cap and trade nationally, but the idea is far from dead. Several Western states are gearing up for a cap-and-trade program; California has been particularly aggressive. The Northeast state compact will survive Mr. Christie’s exit. It is New Jersey that will be the poorer, with less to invest in smarter energy programs, more carbon dioxide and a leadership vacancy at its helm.

The Obama Energy Agenda and Gas Prices

(Click to Enlarge)

President Obama's Weekly Address 5/7/11: Clean Energy to Out-Innovate the Rest of the World

WASHINGTON – Speaking to the American people from Indianapolis, Indiana, President Obama said that clean energy companies like Allison Transmissions will keep the economy growing, create new jobs, and make sure America remains the most prosperous nation on Earth. Clean energy is also part of the ultimate solution to high gas prices. Until we reduce our dependence on oil, we will be held hostage to the ups and downs of the oil markets. That means we need to continue to invest in clean, alternative sources of energy – like advanced biofuels and natural gas – and more efficient cars, buses and trucks. See an infographic explaining the President's short and long term approach to high gas prices HERE.

President Obama's Weekly Address 4/23/11: Stopping Oil Market Fraud, Beginning a Clean Energy Future

WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Obama laid out his plans to address rising gas prices over the short and the long term. While there is no silver bullet to bring down prices right away, there are a few things we can do. This week, the Attorney General launched a task force dedicated to rooting out fraud or manipulations in the oil markets. The President called for finally ending the $4 billion in taxpayer money that the oil and gas companies receive annually. And, we need to continue safe, responsible production of oil at home. But in the long term, we need to invest in clean, renewable energy. That is why the President strongly disagrees with a proposal in Congress that cuts our investments in clean energy by 70percent.

President Obama's Weekly Address 4/16/11: America’s Fiscal Future

WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Obama said that to restore fiscal responsibility, we all need to share in the sacrifice – but we don’t have to sacrifice the America we believe in. Earlier this week, the President proposed a balanced approach to cut the deficit, which matches the $4 trillion in deficit reduction put forward by House Republicans’ plan. The President’s proposal does this by combing the entire budget for savings and asking everyone to do their part. The Republican plan, though, would end Medicare as we know it and make drastic cuts to education, infrastructure and clean energy, while giving away $1 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthiest two percent.

President Obama's Weekly Address 10/2/10: Weekly Address: Solar Power & a Clean Energy Economy

The President points to a revolutionary new solar plant that will employ 1,000 people and power 140,000 homes. The plant is possible because of the President’s investments in the clean energy economy, which Congressional Republicans want to eliminate.

President Obama's Weekly Address 7/31/10: Moving Forward on the Economy vs. Moving Backward

Following the signing of historic Wall Street Reform legislation, the President lays out his plans to strengthen the middle class, give tax breaks to small businesses that create jobs here, invest in homegrown, clean energy, and cut taxes for working families. The President also contrasts that plan with the agenda outlined by the Republican House Leader that would return America to the policies that created this economic crisis, drastically increase the deficit, and make permanent massive tax breaks for the very wealthiest Americans.

President Obama's Weekly Address 7/24/10: Moving Forward on the Economy vs. Moving Backward

Following the signing of historic Wall Street Reform legislation, the President lays out his plans to strengthen the middle class, give tax breaks to small businesses that create jobs here, invest in homegrown, clean energy, and cut taxes for working families. The President also contrasts that plan with the agenda outlined by the Republican House Leader that would return America to the policies that created this economic crisis, drastically increase the deficit, and make permanent massive tax breaks for the very wealthiest Americans.


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