Earlier today, I attended an information session hosted by EPA and NJDEP regarding the clean up on the Passaic River. I spoke with the EPA’s administrator for New Jersey to stress that New Jersey taxpayers should not be on the hook to pay for the cleanup. We must hold companies responsible for polluting the Passaic River accountable. That is why I have sponsored a bill that prohibits the investment of pension and annuity funds by State in entities that avoid Superfund obligations to State.
Assembly Bill No. 997, which has bipartisan support, passed both Senate and Assembly twice and yet Governor Murphy has refused to sign it into law. I demand Governor Murphy to publicly support this bill and put interests of New Jersey over the interests of his Wall Street friends and foreign investments. These companies have abused our laws by claiming bankruptcy to avoid their obligations leaving New Jersey taxpayers on the hook for cleaning the mess they created. An unclean Passaic River has the potential to harm our children and families from New Jersey all the way to Florida.
As your voice in Trenton, I will continue the fight to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our residents.