FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2014
SIERRA CLUB ENDORSES EMILY CAIN FOR CONGRESS
PORTLAND—Sierra Club’s Maine Chapter today announced its endorsement of State Senator Emily Cain to represent Maine’s 2nd Congressional district. The Club’s leaders said that Cain is the best candidate to protect our nation’s environment, health and safety. Sierra Club made its decision to endorse Cain after interviewing her and reviewing heranswers to the Club’s candidate questionnaire. Bruce Poliquin, her opponent, did not respond to the Club’s questionnaire.
“Emily Cain will be a strong Maine voice in Congress for taking action on climate change, promoting clean renewable power, defending our nation’s landmark environmental protection and conservation laws, and calling for stronger health standards for toxic chemicals and other pollutants,” said Melissa Walsh Innes, Sierra Club Maine’s Political Team Chair and former Maine state legislator.
In her Sierra Club questionnaire, Cain wrote: “For the health of the planet, the public and our economy, our nation must move to a clean energy future. In order to keep the United States economically competitive, create jobs, and become less dependent on other nations Congress should advance clean energy policies and investments that will hasten our nation’s transition from an overreliance on fossil fuels to a clean energy economy.”
Cain is opposed to extreme fossil fuel development and infrastructure like the proposed Keystone and Northeast tar sands pipelines, oil drilling offshore and in protected wilderness areas, and the proposed East-West highway. She will work to ensure that the Army Corp of Engineers conducts a comprehensive environmental impact study of the proposed dredging of Penobscot Bay.
Sierra Club also cited Cain’s strong pro-environmental record in the Maine legislature. She helped to pass the 2010 Ocean Energy Act to promote off-shore wind energy in Maine, and as a member and chair of the state Appropriations Committee, she worked to have increased state investment in Maine’s popular Land for Maine’s Future conservationprogram. She also fought to protect Maine families from exposure to toxic chemicals by supporting a law requiring safer alternatives and greater disclosure of the use of certain toxic chemicals in kids’ products. In 2013, she participated in a bio-monitoring study that tested her own level of toxic phthalates and BPA.
With more than 14,000 members and supporters in Maine, the Sierra Club will be encouraging voters to support Emily Cain for Congress.
The Sierra Club, founded in 1892, is the nation’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. In 2014, the Maine Chapter of the Sierra Club is celebrating its 21th anniversary. For more information about Sierra Club Maine, see maine.sierraclub.org; email maine.chapter@sierraclub.org; or call 207-761-5616.
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