Sierra Club Endorses Josh Gottheimer for U.S. Congress

Sierra Club Endorses Josh Gottheimer for U.S. Congress
Date : Thu, 29 Sep 2016 12:53:07 -0400

FYI, this went out today.

Sierra Club Endorses Josh Gottheimer for U.S. Congress

The Sierra Club is proud to announce our endorsement of Josh Gottheimer for the 5th District in 2016. We are confident Josh will be a strong leader for the environment in Congress by taking on issues like protecting clean water in New Jersey, fighting climate change, and improving our transportation infrastructure. Gottheimer is running as a Democrat in the 5th District against the incumbent Congressman Scott Garrett, who has one of the worst records for the environment in Congress. Rep. Garrett has served as a Congressman since 2003.

“We proudly endorse Josh Gottheimer for Congress. We need to send Josh to Washington to be a strong advocate for the environment not only for New Jersey, but for the nation. Congressman Garrett has opposed the Waters of the United States Rule, voted to weaken and repeal the Clean Water Act numerous times, and opposed protections on toxic chemicals. While he has been a climate change denier, he has even tried to block reductions on greenhouse gases. He has one of the worst records on the environment in Congress,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “ If elected, Josh is committed to stand up to block the Fossil Fools in Congress. We believe that Josh Gottheimer will not only fight for the people of New Jersey, but move help our entire country forward environmentally.”

The 5th Congressional District currently contains portions of Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren County and inclusive of 79 municipalities .

“As a parent of young children, I understand how critical it is that we raise our sons and daughters in communities with safe water to drink and clean air to breathe. That's nonnegotiable. We must strengthen our water infrastructure, protect our schools from lead and other toxic chemicals, and keep our parks and natural resources pristine. Tea Partier Scott Garrett’s record of attack on clean water in our homes and schools and his denial of climate change threatens our families, our children, and our economy,” stated Gottheimer.

Rep. Garrett has not done anything to help communities deal with the serious issue of oil bomb trains threatening our communities. Many of the trains cross important drinking water resources like the Oradell Reservoir that supplies Bergen County’s water. Instead of pipe bombs on wheels, dirty pipelines, and barges we need to move forward with renewable energy. However, Congressman Garrett voted to lift the ban on fossil fuel exports, which will exacerbate our impact on climate change and increase the demand for dirty infrastructure.

“ Congressman Garrett is not only bad in Washington; he is bad for New Jersey. Garrett voted to lift the ban on crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports, supported Keystone XL Pipeline, while opposing clean energy funding and programs to deal with climate change resilience and adaptation,” said Jeff Tittel. “When you look at his record on fracking, pipelines, and climate change, it is no wonder that he has failed to take action against oil bomb trains. Everyday these ticking time bombs on wheels are going through his district, but he hasn’t done anything for the people who would be impacted if there was a disaster.”

The Sierra Club is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization with over 1,000,000 members nationwide. The Sierra Club traces its roots to 1892, when noted conservationist John Muir founded the organization. Muir is widely credited with influencing President Theodore Roosevelt to create the nation's first national parks. The Sierra Club boasts an estimated 20,000 members in New Jersey, the tenth largest of the organization's 65 chapters in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“ Josh Gottheimer will work to oppose the Right Wing of the Tea Party in Washington that want to roll back environmental protections . He has promised to tackle climate change by supporting bold action to reduce carbon pollution. Josh is also dedicated to defending the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act by opposing new oil and gas drilling on public lands,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “ The Sierra Club supports Josh Gottheimer for Congress. We need to elect Josh because unlike his opponent he is someone who will fight to protect our open space and clean water.”

The Sierra Club is not only the nation's oldest and largest environmental group, but one of the most influential when it comes to making political endorsements. As Tittel describes it, "The Sierra Club endorsement is the green version of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval."




Toni Granato Administrative Assistant New Jersey Sierra Club office:(609) 656-7612 https://www.facebook.com/NJSierraClub @NJSierraClub and @StopPilgrimNYNJ on Twitter
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Received on 2016-09-29 09:53:07