FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2022
Contact: Dana Johnson, dana@weact.org, 917-885-3314 or Chris Dobens, chris@weact.org, 718-679-8542
WASHINGTON – Yesterday it was reported that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) would not support a budget reconciliation package that would address the climate crisis and invest in redressing environmental injustices. Dana Johnson, senior director of strategy and federal policy at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, responded to the announcement:
“Our communities have been dealt another devastating blow this month. First, the Supreme Court ruled to extend the life of the fossil fuel industry and to slow down our transition to renewable energy with the West Virginia vs EPA decision. Then, Sen. Manchin, has once again sided with the fossil fuel industry and forestalled historic investments necessary to realize a safe and affordable energy future for all Americans.
This is a reminder that our path to achieving environmental justice is to ensure that people living in communities of color and areas of low income can participate fully in the decision-making process for leadership at every level of government. We need to have comprehensive national voter rights legislation such as the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act in place as soon as possible.”
# # #
WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a Northern Manhattan membership-based organization whose mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low-income residents participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. WE ACT has offices in New York and Washington, D.C. Visit us at weact.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.