TRENTON — Senator John McKeon (D-Essex/Passaic) issued the following statement in response to a letter released by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO regarding consideration of the Climate Superfund Act during the lame-duck session.
“New Jersey is facing a very real affordability crisis, and one of the most urgent questions before us is how we pay to repair climate damage and build a stronger, more resilient state for the future.”
“Communities across New Jersey are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, from stronger storms, extreme rainfall and flooding, record heatwaves, drought and worsening air pollution. These disasters continue to place a growing burden on New Jersey taxpayers, who are left footing the bill to repair and upgrade aging and insufficient infrastructure to address climate-related damage. That is not fair to working families across our state.”
“The Climate Superfund Act will fund projects that strengthen grid reliability, improve efficiency and reduce long-term costs for utility ratepayers while protecting communities from extreme weather.”
“This legislation would direct billions of dollars toward rebuilding and protecting New Jersey through infrastructure investments that will be built by union labor. It will create thousands of good-paying, family-sustaining union jobs while strengthening our communities against future climate disasters.”
“This legislation is fundamentally aligned with the long-term interests of working people across our state. I remain firmly committed to fighting for good union jobs with fair pay and strong benefits.”
Labor Organizations Supporting the Climate Superfund Act
- New Jersey Education Association
- SEIU 1199
- SEIU 32BJ
- Communications Workers of America District 1
- Hudson County Central Labor Council AFL CIO
- Middlesex Somerset Central Labor Council AFL CIO
- New Labor
- AFSCME Local 107
- CWA Local 1036, 1037, 1038, 1081
- Rutgers AAUP AFT
- Union of Rutgers Administrators AFT Local 1766
- IFPTE Local 194 and 195
Momentum continues to build across New Jersey. West New York and Hopewell Township have passed municipal resolutions in support of the Climate Superfund Act, joining a growing list of over 60 local governments. Senator Raj Mukherji of LD32 has signed on as a third prime sponsor.