Restoring Environmental Leadership
Our district knows all too well that the environment is a public health issue. Because a local company once dumped PCBs into the region’s water supply, we saw an outbreak of leukemia infect families, including our children, and devastate communities. These lessons have not been lost. We know that we need clean water and clean air. The federal government has abandoned its leadership position on the environment as climate change has made our district’s needs even more pressing.
21st Century Standards for Clean Water
Many of our cities take their drinking water from the Merrimack River, which has raw sewage flowing into it after a major rain storm. The best path toward cleaner water: Congress needs to fund major waste water treatment infrastructure in this district and set guidance for improving water quality.
We need to protect and fund research for the Great Marsh, which runs from Salisbury to Cape Ann. It is one of the region’s best resources for absorbing the brunt of intense flooding, rising ocean levels, as well as the filtering of pollutants.
Clean Air and Climate Solutions
This region has very high asthma rates. To improve air quality, we need to reduce carbon emissions. This is also our best hope for slowing the rising ocean levels, which threaten all our coastal cities. Billions of dollars worth of critical infrastructure has been built in flood zones that are widening due to rising ocean levels. Our communities and our health are at stake.
Our best hope for improving air quality: federal investment in clean energy infrastructure. This includes: Atlantic offshore wind energy, expansion of solar energy and electric vehicle fleets, and investments in conservation, research and development. By changing our energy supply, we will improve the overall health of the sixth Congressional district.
Stronger Collaboration between Federal, State, and Local Groups
A committed Congressional office should use its considerable resources to help local, state and federal groups collaborate. From the Army Corps of Engineers to local advocacy groups, there are so many organizations that set environmental policy. We need a hands-on representative to help the leaders in our district make complex decisions, whether it’s investing in a dredge to support dune replenishment or funding research on the health implications of sewage overflows in our most vulnerable communities.
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