Issue Position: The Environment
Environment
We are experiencing a planetary emergency. That means not only that the polar ice caps are melting thousands of miles away, but also that here at home the Jersey Shore line could go under water and that flooding that damages and destroys property in our state is getting worse.
In the Garden State, we cherish our natural treasures. Protecting clean water and air, preserving recreational open spaces, and creating mass transit-oriented development are important to ensuring a better quality of life for our communities, families, and children -- not to mention ensuring our safety and property.
Throughout my career in public service, I have fought to preserve and protect our natural heritage and resources throughout our state, our nation and the world. You can be assured that I remain committed to protecting our environment and ensuring that our natural resources can be enjoyed by future generations.
As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I have worked to create more federal park land in New Jersey, like Patterson's Great Falls Park; ensure federal resources for the pristine Highlands; and protect the Jersey Shore from erosion. I have also fought to ensure our nation's energy and transportation policies promote clean energy innovation and smart development to protect our state and our planet for our children and grandchildren.
Highlights
* Coastline drilling -- Sponsor of The COAST Act to permenently ban coastline drilling along the U.S. East and West Coasts. While individual states are permitted to ban drilling along their own coasts, there are areas along the coast of Virginia less than 100 miles from the Jersey Shore, and Virginia has shown a willingness to allow drilling. Official estmitates have shown that the oil available in the Outer Continental Shelf is insufficient to significantly lower energy prices.
* Energy efficiency -- Created the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants program as part of the 2007 energy bill. This program, funded with $3.2 billion in the 2009 economic recovery package, helps create jobs, provide local tax relief, ensure local services and clean the air we breathe. The grants invest in energy efficiency projects undertaken by cities, towns and counties. It lowers their energy costs and provides local budget relief.
* Beach replenishment -- Secured hundreds of millions of dollars in federal investment over the years for beach replenishment and flood prevention. This includes, most recently, $97 million in a July 2009 appropriations bill.
* Paterson Great Falls Historic District -- Co-sponsored and ushered through the Energy and Natural Resources Committee the law to designate Paterson Great Falls Historic District as a unit of the National Park System. Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park covers about 35 acres of the Great Falls Historic District including the upper, middle and lower raceways, a portion of Upper Raceway Park, the Ivanhoe Wheelhouse, the Society for Establishing Useful Manufacturers Gatehouse, Overlook Park and the S.U.M Hydroelectric Plan, Allied Textile Printing including the Colt Gun Mill ruins, Mallory Ruins, Waverly Mill Ruins and Todd Mill Ruins, the Rogers Locomotive Company Erecting Shop, the Paterson Museum and the Great Falls Visitor Center.
* Coastal Heritage Trail -- Co-sponsored law enacted in 2008 to reauthorize federal investment in New Jersey's Coastal Heritage Trail. The 300-mile Coastal Heritage Trail divides into five sections that extend south from Perth Amboy to Cape May and west to Deepwater. The trail contains historic villages, migrating eagles, boardwalks and the nation's oldest operating lighthouse, among other historic and cultural sites.
* New Jersey Highlands -- Helped secure a federal investment of more than $1.7 million for land conservation in the New Jersey Highlands.
* Farmland conservation -- Sponsored the Healthy Farms, Foods and Fuels Act, legislation that would provide for increased conservation of farmland.