Letter read at the Welcome on March 29, 2019:
Dear Massachusetts Sustainable Communities Conference Members:
Thank you for your partnership and tireless advocacy to defend and protect our communities and our environment from the crisis that is climate change. I am so sorry that I cannot be in person with you today but know that I stand in solidarity with your efforts today and every day.
I am proud that, my colleagues in the Senate and the House, led by my fellow Bay Stater Senator Ed Markey and Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, respectfully, have introduced the Green New Deal in Congress. Through robust investments in renewable energy, green infrastructure and transit, energy efficient homes and government buildings, and other locally driven environmental initiatives, the Green New Deal will help us work toward a livable climate for all children and communities.
Below are issues that will guide my thinking and approach to crafting legislation and policies to help us make the Green New Deal a reality:
- We must strengthen investments in local environmental justice initiatives like the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program that support local environmental and public health initiatives.
- We must ensure that any federal infrastructure package includes robust investments in energy efficient homes, buildings and transportation that can help us achieve 100% zero carbon emissions by 2050.
- We must also work toward a Green Job Guarantee that ensures that all workers have access to good jobs, affordable education, quality training, and livable wages.
We owe it to our children and our children’s children to be bold and act bravely.
Thank you again for your continued partnership and bold activism.
All the best,
Ayanna Pressley
Member of Congress