Senator Markey receives environmental champion award

Media Contacts
Ben Hellerstein

Former State Director, Environment Massachusetts

Boston – Today, Environment Massachusetts gave Senator Ed Markey an Environmental Champion Award for his commitment to protecting our environment and public health. The Senator received a 100% on the environmental scorecard for his overwhelming support of clean air, clean water, and open spaces.

“Senator Markey is at the top of the class when it comes to keeping our air and water clean, protecting our special places, and ensuring a healthy climate,” said Brendan Mahoney, campaign organizer with Environment Massachusetts. “That’s why we are proud to present him with our Environmental Champion Award.”

Mahoney presented Senator Markey with hundreds of photos and over 10,000 petition signatures from Bay Staters expressing their support for environmental action.

“Overall this has been a disturbing spring when it came to Congress standing up for our families’ health and our environment. The average environmental scorecard in the House was 43% and in the Senate was 47%. In fact, some have called this the most anti-environmental congress we’ve ever seen,” added Mahoney. “Senator Markey stands in stark contrast to an Administration and Congress proposing to end our environmental protections, including the Paris Climate Agreement, EPA funding that protects Cape Cod Bay, and just last week announcing plans to revoke the Clean Water Rule that protects the drinking water sources for 1 in 3 Americans.”

“As a mother of two, I appreciate Senator Markey’s long-standing efforts as a champion against climate change and his work to ensure a brighter future for all our children, needed now more than ever,” said Claire Humphrey from Mothers Out Front.

“Senator Ed Markey has long been a champion to those concerned about how environmental pollution affects public health,” said Dr. Richard Clapp from Physicians for Social Responsibility. “From the threats of radiation releases from nuclear power plants, to toxic chemicals in workplaces and products, to the overwhelming public health threat of climate change, Sen. Markey has been one of the leading elected officials for many years. On behalf of Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, I salute him.”

“Senator Markey first went to Congress in 1976, only four years after the passage of the Clean Water Act. Since then, he has been a staunch advocate for the environment and for Massachusetts’ rivers, lakes and streams in particular. Today, we need more than ever courageous politicians like Senator Markey to continue the battle to improve conditions in waterways like the Mystic River, one of the Commonwealth’s great urban natural resources,” stated Beth MacBlane, Outreach and Communications Director of the Mystic River Watershed Association.

“Senator Markey is just the champion we need to lead the charge in Congress and protect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the places we love,” said Mahoney. “The vast majority of Americans oppose moving backwards on climate or selling off our public lands to the highest bidder. We’re counting on our environmental champions like Senator Markey to do everything in their power to protect our health and the planet.”

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Environment Massachusetts is the statewide, citizen-funded advocacy group working for a cleaner, greener, healthier future.