Issue Position: The Environment

Issue Position

I believe that we have a sacred duty to steward our natural blessings and to pass this world on to our children in better shape than we found it. I'm proud, therefore, of the high marks I earned again in 2013 from the League of Conservation Voters, which gave me a 96 out of a possible 100 and ranked me among the most pro-environment lawmakers in Congress.

Whenever I am home in the district, I find time to spend outside, enjoying the great outdoors. The Fourth District offers nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts no shortage of places to explore. There are many miles of Long Island Sound shoreline beaches, from Tod's Point to Calf Pasture to Seaside Park; and hundreds of acres of forests with trails to hike. When I spend time in these places, I leave with a renewed sense of gratitude. We can't put them at risk.

Conservation is an American Value

All Americans need clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and food that is grown and harvested in a sustainable way. Protecting the environment is not partisan. Our forefathers understood that. President Teddy Roosevelt established the system of National Parks and President Richard Nixon signed the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, safeguarding these critical resources.

Protecting our Land, Air and Water

Long Island Sound and the surrounding watershed are a national treasure and an economic boon. The forests and wooded hills of Southwest Connecticut are among the most beautiful in New England, thanks to the vigilance of generations of dedicated citizens.

Since coming to Congress in 2009, I have been a champion for the environment, consistently voting for laws that keep our air, water and land clean. My vote in favor of the Public Land Management Act helped protect more than two million new acres of wilderness and parks nationwide. I am a leader in the effort to secure support for Long Island Sound conservation programs, including clean river and harbor projects in Stamford, Norwalk and Greenwich. Last summer, I helped secure an Urban Waters Small Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to research and improve marine water quality at the Norwalk public beaches. This funding will protect the Sound and ensure safe, clean water for our families to enjoy.

Combating Climate Change and Promoting Storm Resiliency

We have seen too many examples in recent years of the ravages of climate change. Scientists and experts agree that climate change will continue to be the cause of rising sea levels, prolonged droughts and dangerously strong storms, like Super Storm Sandy.

Any plan to combat climate change must include a reduction in our dependence on fossil fuels. I look forward to the time when dirty energy is a thing of the past. Affordable solar energy, wind turbines, alternative sources of fuel -- all of these green sources of energy are at our fingertips. I am firmly committed to supporting the green energy economy, and I believe that American entrepreneurs are uniquely poised to be leaders in that field.

Until then, extreme weather events like Sandy may be the new normal, and I have worked hard to get Connecticut residents the help they need as they rebuild and recover from one of the worst storms in the state's history. The federal government has an essential role to play as a partner in Sandy recovery, but also in storm preparation.

Supporting Local Environmental Initiatives

Some of the most exciting new "greentrepreneurs" are hard at work right here in Connecticut. In Oxford, a company called Eemax makes state-of-the-art, on demand water heaters that reduce homeowners' energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint. Eemax exports its products, and I support the tax credits and free trade agreements that help companies like Eemax grow -- because their growth brings jobs to the state and a cleaner environment. Everybody wins.

Connecticut residents will soon be heating their homes and powering their businesses with greener energy, too. Bridgeport Biodiesel recycles cooking oil from local restaurants, and instead of pouring the grease down the drain, they turn it into home heating fuel. Bridgeport Biodiesel's refined cooking oil is a viable, valuable source of energy for heating homes -- and a source of jobs, too, in Connecticut's largest city.

These examples are just two of so many innovators who are looking to solve old problems with smarter thinking. I pledge my support and my partnership to people like them, and I look forward to the day when we take for granted that business as usual and conservation aren't mutually exclusive.

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