Principles include measures to promote clean energy economy and mitigate dangers posed by climate change

Also introduces legislation to improve public water infrastructure for the 21st century

Washington (May 22, 2019) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-author of the Green New Deal resolution, today outlined a vision for a green and climate-friendly infrastructure legislative package in the 116th Congress. Climate change has amplified existing threats to America’s infrastructure. On just America’s coasts alone, these threats now pose a risk to approximately $1 trillion of U.S. real estate. Additionally, the transportation sector is the largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, accounting for 28 percent of U.S. emissions, surpassing even electricity generation. Senator Markey argues that a comprehensive infrastructure package is an opportunity to make investments that significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect public health, and help communities adapt to unavoidable climate impacts, and would be a key driver of good-paying jobs throughout the country.

“An infrastructure package can serve as a critical down payment on the action that we need to take to combat the climate crisis. Any deal on an infrastructure package must include measures to promote our clean energy economy and mitigate the dangers posed by climate change,” writes Senator Markey. “Making a clean and climate-resilient infrastructure vision a reality will require re-envisioning existing infrastructure programs and re-evaluating how we invest in those programs.”

Major principles in Senator Markey’s white paper include:

• Clean up the energy grid and cut down on energy use
• Factor climate and health into transportation spending
• Make electric and high-efficiency vehicles affordable and available
• Electrify and expand mass transit
• Ensure safe drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems
• Build clean, healthy, and energy efficient schools
• Lower emissions and air pollution at airports, ports, and waterways
• Protect communities and the climate from natural gas disasters
• Ensure a safe workplace and a livable wage

A copy of Senator Markey’s principles for climate-friendly infrastructure can be found HERE.

As part of the Senator’s efforts to strengthen and improve the nation’s infrastructure in the face of climate change, he is also introducing the Contaminant and Lead Electronic Accounting and Reporting Requirements for (CLEARR) Drinking Water Act, legislation to authorize more than $1 billion in federal funding to help small and disadvantaged communities replace contaminated water infrastructure to comply with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.

Earlier this week, Senator Markey introduced the Enhancing the Strength and Capacity of America’s Primary Evacuation Routes (ESCAPE) Act, legislation that dedicates $1 billion of federal resources to expand the capacity and improve the resilience of the nation’s evacuation routes.

###