A broad-based coalition of advocacy groups from across New Jersey has issued the following set of statements hailing the release of Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) landmark budget proposal last night. This proposal would provide billions of dollars to create well-paying union jobs and address economic inequality by investing in local communities and fighting climate change and tackling other key priorities:

Rep. Pallone is a true leader for working families across our state and nation. The bold plan he released yesterday would build a fairer, more sustainable economy as part of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda. It would create millions of jobs address our climate crisis at a time when so many New Jersey communities are rebuilding from the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida by investing in priorities from upgrading our electric grid to expanding the use of electric buses to improve air quality in urban centers. We need this bold vision enacted into law, and we’re going to fight alongside Rep. Pallone in the coming weeks to get this done.

— Sue Altman, State Director, New Jersey Working Families

Rep. Pallone has proven once again that he is a true champion for environmental protection by unveiling a landmark legislative proposal that would put our nation on the path to clean, renewable energy. This proposal, if enacted as part of the Build Back Better Act, would create millions of good-paying jobs building a sustainable energy economy for ourselves and our children, as well as address other key environmental hazards, from lead pipes to indoor air quality. As Congress moves to consider this landmark proposal, we pledge to fight with Rep. Pallone to get this over the finish line.

— Ed Potosnak, Executive Director, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters

It comes as no surprise that Congressman Pallone, long a champion for Superstorm Sandy survivors, would stand up for disaster survivors everywhere with a bold vision that will move us toward clean energy while also preparing communities across our nation from increasingly severe weather events. We are grateful for the Congressman’s leadership in putting our state at the forefront and will fight with him to protect our vulnerable, front-line communities.

— Amanda Devecka-Rinear, Executive Director, New Jersey Organizing Project

The proposal Rep. Pallone introduced yesterday would take a gigantic step forward in environmental protection, giving local communities tools to fight climate change by putting our state and nation on the path toward a clean energy future. At a time when so many New Jersey families have been devastated by Hurricane Ida, it is essential that Congress move quickly to include Rep. Pallone’s plan into the Build Back Better Act so that we can put a stop to the harmful carbon pollution that is driving these increasingly severe storms.

— Maria Santiago, Co-Founder, Atlantic Climate Justice Alliance

Expanding Medicare to include dental, vision and hearing services is a much-needed improvement to our current Medicare coverage that will be immensely beneficial to seniors who will now have more comprehensive care. We are also pleased to see Energy & Commerce champion bold drug pricing reform and we credit the hard work organizers have been doing to make sure that these life-saving provisions are included in the budget framework. We applaud Frank Pallone for working with us on these measures. However, it’s baffling that, in the middle of a pandemic, we are refusing to expand healthcare to 23 million more Americans by lowering the eligibility age of Medicare to at least 60 – the House and Senate need to do better and deliver crucial progress to our seniors approaching retirement age who have faced significant job loss as a result of the pandemic.

— Anna-Marta Visky, Our Revolution Northeast Organizer

We want to thank Chairman Pallone and the House Energy and Commerce Committee for proposing critical investments to get lead out of our water. This $30 billion to replace lead pipes and service lines is vital to protect our communities like Newark and Trenton that are dealing with a lead crisis. This bold investment will help create good jobs while protecting our most vulnerable communities. Now the Senate needs to step up and match this investment to secure 100 percent lead pipe replacement.

— Buddy Jenssen, Co-Chair, Sierra Club North Jersey Group.

The crucial investments championed by Rep. Pallone will help address longstanding environmental challenges that disproportionately impact people of color by allocating billions of dollars to clean up contaminated Superfund sites, as well as investing in clean buses to improve the air our families breathe.

— Kim Gaddy, South Ward Environmental Alliance and National Environmental Justice Director for Clean Water Action