Environment

Congresswoman Velázquez believes a cleaner environment means working people will have healthier communities in which to raise their families.  In that regard, she has worked to protect our environment nationally, while addressing public health and environmental concerns at home, in New York.  
 
She voted against the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which would accelerate a “race to the bottom” for environmental standards.  She also opposed the Keystone XL Pipeline proposal, which would risk significant environmental degradation.
As the top Democrat on the Small Business Committee, she has supported policies that position entrepreneurs as leaders in the green energy revolution, enabling the development and adoption of cleaner energy sources to help slow climate change.  
 
Locally, the Congresswoman continues working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to see progress made on Superfund sites in New York like the Gowanus Canal, Newtown Creek and the Wolff-Alport Chemical Company. She remains committed to seeing these sites remediated, while protecting the needs of the local community and area businesses.
 
As our City has recovered from Sandy, Rep. Velázquez has steered federal resources toward ensuring our communities are more resilient to future weather catastrophes. She helped bring $511 million in federal resources to Lower Manhattan and the Lower East Side for flood and storm resiliency projects. $100 million has gone to Red Hook for innovative flood protection systems and the Congresswoman is working to secure additional funds. As our climate changes, New York may see additional flooding and storms in the future and it is important our City and neighborhoods be prepared.
 
Finally, Rep. Velázquez recognizes that we still face public health and environmental challenges from 9/11.  She helped successfully push the extension and full funding of the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act and the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, which care for first responders and others suffering from 9/11-related ailments.
 
For all these efforts the Congresswoman has been recognized as a steadfast champion of the environment, receiving a 100% vote rating from the New York State League of Conservation Voters. She will continue working to protect our environment.