Pascrell Lauds House Passage of Moving America Forward Act

Transformational clean energy & infrastructure bill co-sponsored by Pascrell will create jobs & rebuild America

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today voted in favor of H.R.2, the Moving America Forward Act. Introduced by Rep. Peter Defazio (D-OR-04), this landmark legislation would invest $1.5 trillion into America’s transportation systems and clean energy initiatives. Included in the legislative package are two Pascrell initiatives. One is the Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act (H.R. 4887), which will reduce reliance on dirty energy sources by bolstering America’s offshore wind industry and create thousands of well-paying American jobs. Pascrell’s measure was also endorsed this week in a report by the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Another is a modified version of his Sustainable Water Infrastructure Act, which would unlock major funding for clean water using private activity bond investments by raising the cap for water projects.

“Today’s swift passage of our bill shows that the House recognizes the urgency this moment demands. Our roads are cracked, our bridges are crumbling, our water mains are exploding, and our planet is warming at unprecedented speeds. The legislation we passed today invests in American transportation and energy with an keen eye on the future,” said Rep. Pascrell, co-sponsor of the Green New Deal. “Included in this bill is my Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act, which will help America transition away from dirtier energy sources and lead the way in offshore wind power. The Sustainable Water Infrastructure Act we included will help rehabilitate our aging networks of pipes under the ground and create jobs in the process. Future generations deserve to have breathable air, drinkable water, and passable roads. Today the House is moving with urgency to ensure that they will.”

H.R.2 is a real plan to rebuild our aging infrastructure by investing in families and workers. This bill proposes more than $1.5 trillion to rebuild U.S. communities with infrastructure and innovation that will create millions of jobs and put America on a path toward zero carbon emissions, while addressing long-standing disparities in our communities.

Rep. Pascrell has introduced a version of his offshore wind legislation in every Congress since 2009. Bipartisan companion legislation, S. 1988, has been introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Susan Collins (R-ME).

For years, Rep. Pascrell has pushed for Congress for a significant increase in infrastructure spending. A consistent advocate in Washington of increased federal funding for New Jersey’s infrastructure and travel initiatives, Pascrell has helped secure hundreds of thousands in transportation grants and is working to update crumbling tunnels and bridges. Pascrell has also led the fight in the tristate delegation to advance the much-needed Gateway Tunnel Project amidst intentional delay by the Trump government. In addition to supporting our roads, bridges, and tunnels, Rep. Pascrell has also worked to fund Teterboro Airport. He helped win a major federal investment  towards increasing safety at North Jersey’s premier airport last September 2015. He also secured a $3 million federal grant to repair equipment at Teterboro Airport that was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy, as well as a $2.2 million grant to study the effects of noise pollution at the airport. Pascrell also has authored major legislation allowing investments to provide for clean wastewater systems and drinking water systems.

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