Statement from leaders of the 111 group New Jersey coalition against the Manchin/Schumer dirty side deal on tonight's announcement it has been removed from this week's must pass budget bill

Trenton, NJ and across the USA -- Environmental justice advocates and their allies scored a huge victory late this afternoon when Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Manchin announced they withdrew the dirty pipeline deal from the must pass budget bill to fund the federal government this week. This is testament to the organizing and lobbying by frontline communities and hundreds of groups, representing millions of members and supporters across New Jersey and the nation. 

 

“When we rally together and apply local pressure - we win. We are proud of NJ officials who chose to stand on the side of the community. Local love to our elected officials wins the day!“ said Maria Lopez-Nuñez Deputy Director, Organizing and Advocacy at Ironbound Community Corp.

 

In New Jersey alone, over 111 groups (see attached) weighed in with our Congressional Delegation against this dirty deal as it would be a direct attack on environmental justice communities and perpetuate the climate crisis that threatens all of us. Senator Booker as well as US Reps. Pallone, Watson-Coleman, and Payne were among over 88 members of Congress that joined us for the right reasons and played a critical in role in defeating it today.

 

However, this victory will only last as long as we ensure it does. The Majority Leader in announcing the withdrawals said they "will continue to have conversations about the best way to ensure responsible permitting reform is passed before the end of the year".

 

As Major Hurricane Ian barrels down on Florida in the next 24 hours and then moves up the east coast, now is especially not the time, not that there ever is a good time, to adopt the fossil fuel industry's wish list. We can't thank Senator Booker, Congressman Pallone, the Congressional Black Caucus, et al. enough for their leadership and opposition to this “permitting deform” and look forward to working with them, et al. to ensuring today's victory becomes more permanent.

 

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