After House Republicans Propose Steep Cuts in Critical Clean Energy Programs, Union Members & Environmentalists Urge Lawmakers to “Win the Future” by Creating Clean Energy Jobs, Building a 21st Century Transportation Infrastructure and Protecting Health and Safety of Workers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 10, 2011) Two weeks after President Obama called on Americans to win the jobs and industries of the future, and a day after House Republicans proposed steep cuts in critical renewable energy, efficiency, and transit programs, hundreds of union members and environmentalists headed to Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to invest in a healthy and prosperous future by creating clean energy jobs, building a 21st century transportation infrastructure and protecting the health and safety of workers across the country.

Organized by over two dozen labor unions, environmental organizations and trade associations, the effort was a conclusion to events surrounding the 2011 Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference, which was hosted by the BlueGreen Alliance Foundation and drew 2,500 people to share ideas and strategies for building a green economy that creates good jobs and preserves America’s economic and environmental security.

“Americans are ready to get back to work and to heed the President’s call to win the jobs of the future,” said David Foster, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance. “And now, Congress must get moving on critical policies that build a healthy and prosperous America.”

Green jobs advocates urged lawmakers to create clean energy jobs through innovative financing for clean energy, igniting manufacturing and deployment, making homes, businesses and industries more efficient and ensuring a skilled, 21st century workforce. They also urged the development of a 21st century transportation infrastructure with passage of a comprehensive transportation reauthorization bill, empowering ports to create good green jobs, and ensuring American leadership in the next generation of vehicles. Finally, the group urged representatives to protect the health and safety of workers by opposing roll-backs of the Clean Air Act, reforming our laws on toxics, and updating U.S. health and safety laws.

“The thousands of people at the Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference were representing millions more that are willing to answer President Obama’s call to out-build, out-educate, and out-innovate to win the future,” continued Foster. “The American people have the will to win; it is now up to Congress to move our country forward with smart, strategic policies and investment that will put people back to work and ensure our economic and environmental security.”

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