Why are America’s leading environmentalists backing Ed Markey for the U.S. Senate?

We’re living in uncertain times, full of catastrophic threats to our environment and our health. But it is also a time of great opportunity, when changes in public opinion have made it possible for our elected leaders to act on climate, to boldly defend our air and water, and to confront so many other issues in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.

For these times, legislators with a combination of passion and experience are needed more than ever. That’s especially true in the U.S. Senate, where seniority, smarts, and a willingness to do the hard work of building coalitions instead of preening for the press makes all the difference.

Ed Markey uniquely has those qualities and much more. He is one of the nation’s strongest climate champions and we need to re-elect him to the U.S. Senate.

Ed has been endorsed by:

Environment America
League of Conservation Voters
Sierra Club
Sunrise Movement
NRDC Action Fund
Clean Water Action
Former Vice President Al Gore
Senator Elizabeth Warren
U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Bill McKibben
& The Boston Globe

 


Here is what some New England environmental leaders have to say about Ed:

Climate change, like the COVID crisis, demands speedy, focused action — we can’t take time out for egos and entitlement. Senator Markey has been a leader on the Green New Deal, the kind of bold idea that inspires young people and gives all of us a reason to hope.”

– Bill McKibben
Founder, 350.org

 

“We’re lucky to have one of the nation’s strongest climate champions, Ed Markey, representing Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate. Thanks to Senator Markey, our air is cleaner, our children are healthier, and we are producing more and more of America’s energy from the sun and the wind. At this moment of great urgency, there’s no one better than Ed Markey to fight for clean air, a safe climate, and a healthy future.”

– Ben Hellerstein
Director, Environment Massachusetts

 

“Senator Markey has been a tireless advocate for Massachusetts’ environment throughout his distinguished career in public service. He is focused on bringing more clean energy jobs to our state and has helped to make Massachusetts a national leader. Over the years, no one has done more for climate and energy policy than Ed Markey.

– Elizabeth Turnbull Henry
President, Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund

 

“We are so fortunate to have a tireless leader like Ed Markey fighting the battles that will protect our air, our water and our future from toxic pollution. He’s always one step ahead of the corporate interests that would put their profit over our health because he’s been THE champion for the environment for decades, first in the House and now in the Senate. Clean Water Action has endorsed Ed Markey for re-election because we want to send the nation’s toughest voice for climate justice back to Washington, so he can keep up the fight for our values and vision.

– Cindy Luppi
New England Director, Clean Water Action

 


 

What has Ed Markey done to earn such praise?

Providing vision and foresight

Champion of safe and renewable energy since the 1970s. In 1980, Ed Markey risked his political career by helping to lead the successful effort, over the objection of President Carter, to commit the Democratic Party to support solar and wind power and oppose new nuclear power plants until they could be made safe.

Early warnings on climate change. In 1990, Ed Markey supported the Global Change Research Program Act of 1990, which required the preparation of a “National Assessment of the Consequences of Climate Variability and Change.”

Chaired first Congressional committee focused on global warming: Starting in 2007, Ed Markey convened the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, which held more than 50 hearings that contributed to the advancement of smarter energy and climate policies.

Developing innovative policies

The Green New Deal: In 2019, Ed Markey worked with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to draft the ground-breaking, comprehensive proposal to tackle climate change.

Hazardous waste cleanup: Driven by the tragic hazardous waste leaks in Woburn, Ed Markey helped write and pass the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, which aims to clean up thousands of toxic dumps throughout the country.

Pushing the energy policy envelope. The Waxman-Markey bill of 2009 introduced to the national stage many of today’s widely-praised energy policies, including a renewable energy standard, emission cuts, investments in energy technology, restrictions on coal-fired power plants, energy efficiency standards, job retraining, and requirements for energy-smart cars and power grids.

Winning effective legislation

Fuel efficiency standards: Ed Markey led the bipartisan effort that passed the best federal anti-climate pollution policy we have on the books today: the 2007 fuel economy law that would effectively double miles per gallon in cars and light trucks.

Appliance efficiency standards: Ed Markey was the co-author of the Appliance Efficiency Act of 1987, signed by President Reagan, which has eliminated the need for hundreds of coal-fired power plants.

Funding for Renewable Energy and Efficiency programs: Ed Markey has been a leading advocate for federal funding of clean energy research and development, which has helped spark massive reductions in the cost for solar, wind, and energy efficiency technologies.

Pushing regulators to do the right thing

BP oil spill: Ed Markey’s investigation of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico forced the company to reveal the true size of the spill’s flow rate, which helped guide cleanup efforts and led to the Department of Justice filing charges against BP. The company pled guilty to Obstruction of Congress for making false and misleading statements and withholding information and documents.

Nuclear power safety: Ed Markey’s strong oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has led to many safety improvements in the country’s nuclear power plants and the closure of those which couldn’t meet those standards, including the Yankee Rowe and Pilgrim plants in Massachusetts.

Toxic chemicals in schools: Ed Markey’s 2016 report on widespread presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a class of man-made chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems, in school buildings across the country put pressure on the EPA to develop new methods for reducing emissions.

 


One of Environment America Action Fund’s Boston Globe ads in support of Ed Markey. See all of the Boston Globe ads.


 

Who we are

We’re groups and individuals who care deeply about the environment, have admired Ed Markey’s work for a long time, and see him as the best bet to win major reforms on issues we care about, especially the environment, consumer protection, and privacy.

Environment America Action Fund is supported by the grassroots members of Environment America in Massachusetts and around the nation and other friends and supporters who care about the environment. We report to the Federal Election Commission the names of all individuals who donate more than $200.  The vast majority of our funds come from the tens of thousands of individuals across Massachusetts and the country, members and supporters of Environment America, who want to ensure that environmental issues are addressed by our elected officials. We report our donors to the Federal Election Commission. Our report is posted on line at https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00531814/



 

 

Paid for by Environment America Action Fund, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. Contact us at: www.environmentamericaactionfund.org.

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