WASHINGTON, DC (August 1, 2013) – After the introduction today of the Clean Ports Act of 2013 by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) to ensure cleaner air in America’s ports, the BlueGreen Alliance’s Executive Director David Foster issued the following statement:

“We commend Senator Gillibrand and Congressman Nadler, the bill’s co-authors for their efforts to reduce air pollution at our nation’s ports, improve public health, and create good jobs while ensuring prosperity and security for America’s truck drivers by alleviating the unfair burden placed upon them by the trucking industry.

“We must take action now to clean up our ports to ensure we protect workers, the communities nearby, and the environment. The burden for doing that should not fall on hard working truck drivers already suffering under low wages and deplorable working conditions. Instead, industry should foot the bill to ensure public health and cleaner ports.”