For immediate release
Responding to a petition from constituents, Congressman Seth Moulton has agreed to support the "Green New Deal" proposal now gaining momentum in Congress.
On Monday December 10, a delegation of around 30 residents of the Sixth Congressional District delivered a petition to Congressman Seth Moulton's office in Salem urging him to support the creation of a Select Committee for a Green New Deal that will work to fight climate change "by linking investment in a just and rapid transition to a green, carbon neutral economy with the creation of living wage jobs." Numerous Lynn residents were part of the delegation, along with others from nearby cities and towns.
In a post on Twitter on Thursday, Moulton publicly stated that he is supporting the Select Committee for a Green New Deal called for by the petition. "I'm proud to support the Select Committee on a Green New Deal because I'm committed to fighting for a stronger, more resilient planet for our future generations," said Moulton. "No issue is more important today for our children and our grandchildren than addressing climate change," he noted in an accompanying video.
The delegation to Moulton's office was coordinated by local community organization Lynn United for Change with 350Mass, the North Shore Labor Council, Sunrise Salem, and Together North Shore all endorsing the petition and taking part in the action. Members of other groups including local congregations and the North Shore Green-Rainbow Party also participated.
Creating a Select Committee for a Green New Deal has become a focal point for climate activists and social justice groups in recent months. In Massachusetts, Moulton joins incoming Representative Ayanna Pressley and Representatives Katherine Clark, Joe Kennedy, and Jim McGovern as well as Senator Ed Markey in supporting the Select Committee proposal. Representative-elect Lori Trahan has also now signed on. Incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is under increasing pressure on the issue but has yet to endorse the idea.
The delegation delivered the petition to Congressman Moulton's Salem office as hundreds of young climate activists associated with the Sunrise Movement descended on Washington, DC to press the same issue. The protests in Washington included civil disobedience resulting in over 140 arrests.
The urgency of addressing both climate change and economic inequality is apparent across the Sixth District. Moulton noted that climate change impacts are being felt nationwide and in his own district. "Fisheries are being put out of business by warming oceans and rising sea levels are threatening the coastal communities that have been home to people for generations." Many in the district also continue to struggle with stagnant wages and rising housing costs.
"Lynn is a good example of why we need to connect the fight for social justice with the fight against climate change," said Flerida De La Cruz of Lynn United for Change. "We already have a big flooding problem that's going to keep getting worse if we don't move to clean energy quickly. And the low income parts of Lynn get hurt the worst by flooding partly because we were left out when the sewer system was improved. The Green New Deal is a way of fighting climate change without leaving some people behind."
Fred Hopps of North Shore 350 noted that Congressman Moulton's endorsement of the Select Committee for a Green New Deal is "the kind of support necessary to make Massachusetts a leader in national and global climate initiatives."
Video, Photos, and petition with signatures: available in this google drive folder
Contact: 781-346-9199 or send a message online
Caption for photo above: Goldean Graham of Lynn United for Change (at right) speaking in front of Congressman Moulton's office at 21 Front St, Salem MA on December 10 as the delegation delivered the petition. [Courtesty photo. Higher resolution version here]