CONTACT:
Emily Rosenwasser, Emily.Rosenwasser@sierraclub.
Sierra Club Endorses Pam Byrnes for U.S. Congress
Nation’s Largest Grassroots Conservation Organization Praises Pam Byrnes’ Commitment to Protecting Michigan’s Clean Energy Economy
“Pam Byrnes is the right choice for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District because she’s fought tirelessly to bolster clean energy jobs right here in Michigan during her time in the state legislature,” said Mike Berkowitz, Political and Legislative Director for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “As our nation embraces moving away from dependence on dirty fossil fuels, we need a leader like Pam Byrnes representing Michigan as a clean energy champion in Washington.”
During her tenure in the Michigan state legislature, Pam Byrnes fought for Michigan clean energy jobs through her sponsorship of House Bill 5907, a bill that upped renewable energy goals for Michigan’s fossil fuel-dependent utility companies. She also worked to ban the dumping of toxic mercury into landfills, and to protect the Great Lakes from polluters.
Pam Byrnes’ main challenger, Tea Party Republican Tim Walberg, voted to give oil companies billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, and allowed them to drill in the Great Lakes.
“The Great Lakes are one of Michigan’s greatest resources, and Tim Walberg has put our drinking water and our livelihoods at risk by making them open for business to big polluters,” said Richard Barron, Political Chair of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “Pam Byrnes recognizes the importance of the Great Lakes, and will protect our fresh water from oil drilling and pollution.”
As a former Road Commissioner and Chair of the House Transportation Committee, Byrnes prioritized improving mass transit through legislation that focused on the maintenance of roads and made them accessible for all forms of transportation.
“The most important way that we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels is by making mass transit more accessible to all Michiganders,” said Mark Muhich, a Sierra Club activist from Jackson in the 7th Congressional District. “Pam Byrnes understands that our future lies in smart energy decisions like expanding public transit and investing in our infrastructure.”
Pam Byrnes will meet with local Sierra Club Jackson and Huron Valley groups in upcoming weeks to hear from members on Michigan clean energy goals and protecting the Great Lakes.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 2.4 million members and supporters nationwide, and over 150,000 in Michigan. In addition to creating opportunities for people of all ages, levels and locations to have meaningful outdoor experiences, the Sierra Club works to safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation. For more information, visit http://www.sierraclub.org.
Paid for by Michigan Sierra PAC (109 E. Grand River Ave. Lansing, MI 48906) and authorized by Pam Byrnes for Congress.