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To be published immediately
Today, climate activists held a press conference at Congressman Hakeem Jeffries’ office in Brooklyn to decry his weak climate and his ties to the fossil fuel industry, urging him to take a stand against Senator Manchin’s Dirty Pipeline Deal. In 2022, two of Jefferies’ top ten donors were private companies with fossil fuel funds. Jeffries’ campaign has accepted $80,550 this year from Apollo Global Management and Blackstone Group as he continues to refuse to accept a pledge to ban fossil fuel money, signed by 59 members of Congress.
Since taking office in 2013, Representative Jeffries has failed to take bold action to end America’s crisis-causing reliance on fossil fuels, from a nationwide fracking ban to halting new fossil fuel infrastructure, banning fossil fuel exports, and ending taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuel industry. He was recently one of only two New York Democrats in the House of Representatives who did not publicly oppose Senator Manchin’s “dirty pipeline deal.”
The press conference came days after Jeffries announced his candidacy for House Minority Leader, a role he is expected to assume later this month. Speakers called on Jeffries to lead bold climate leadership as House Minority Leader from day one. Activists with 350 Brooklyn, Climate Families NIC, Food & Water Watch, Indivisible Brooklyn, New York Communities for Change and Sunrise Movement NIC demanded that Jeffries oppose any renewed version of Sen. Joe Manchin’s “Dirty Pipeline Deal” that accelerates the Mountain Valley pipeline and other fossil fuel infrastructure, while weakening fundamental environmental laws, and emboldened him to fight the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, which is dominated by climate deniers and fossil fuel extremists.
Food & Water Watch New York Organizer Santosh Nandabalan said:
“Tail. Jeffries’ capacity to lead House Democrats has been called into question by his virtual silence on perhaps the greatest threat facing humanity — the climate crisis. While New Yorkers have been fighting to fight manufactured gas plants and pipelines that threaten our health and climate, Representative Jeffries has failed to use his considerable influence in Washington to advance the cause. As the House Minority Leader or as the Representative of Brooklyn, our demands are the same — Representative Jeffries must stand up to his corporate fossil fuel donors and push for bold legislation to end our dependence on fossil fuels.”
“For a long time, Representative Jeffries has stood up for corporate interests around the planet and working people in his district harmed by the climate crisis,” he said. New York Communities for Change member and Jeffries constituent Sonia Medrano. “As House Minority Leader, Rep. Jeffries must reverse his weak climate and reject any renewed version of Senator Manchin’s ‘Dirty Deal’ that may be in the works.”
“Democrats outperformed their midterm expectations because of young and millennial voters who care about the climate in overwhelming majorities.” “But politicians like Jeffries continue to ignore the climate at best and at worst do the bidding of the fossil fuel industry,” he said. Liat Olenick with Indivisible Nation Brooklyn and Climate Families NIC. “The party and Hakeem Jeffries need to choose – young people or fossil fuels.” And the choice is clear.”
“The climate crisis is rapidly accelerating, even as Congressman Jeffries remains silent,” he said Sarah Gronim of the local group 350 Brooklyn. “Right now, Senator Joe Manchin is trying to add language to the National Defense Authorization Act that would allow fossil fuel companies to push through interstate pipelines because of environmental and local concerns.” Right now, the United States exports more liquefied natural gas than any other country on the planet. That methane is 85 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Where is Congressman Jeffries? Leadership means responsibility. We need him to take responsibility for real climate action.”
The recorded live broadcast is available on the Food & Water Watch – NI Facebook page
Contact: Phoebe Galt, [email protected]
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