By Press Release, CT State Democrats
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01/31/2022 08.24 a.m. EST
The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (D, District 12), has chosen Christine Cohen (D) to be its 2022 Connecticut State Lead. She will be responsible for coordinating relevant in-state events in the field of environmental policy and growing NCEL’s network of state legislators that will help in advancing environmental issues across America.
Jeff Mauk (Executive Director of NCEL) stated that the NCEL’s State Leads are crucial to encouraging cross-state collaboration in environmental policy. “Having a legislator from each state to facilitate NCEL’s work in every state is invaluable. They can introduce legislators to new environmental topics and facilitate introductions between peers across the country, creating new avenues of cooperation and sharing lessons learnt.
Sen. Cohen stated, “It is an honor that the NCEL has acknowledged my environmental work and my responsibilities here in Connecticut.” “Ecological policy is now more than just business policy, transportation policy, or energy policy. It’s essential that we work across party lines, exchange ideas at the local, national, and find workable solutions to both our environmental challenges as well as our environmental opportunities.
Sen. Cohen is the Senate Chair of Connecticut’s Environment Committee. Sen. Cohen worked tirelessly for Connecticut’s environment ever since she was elected to office in 2018. She worked with colleagues to pass important legislation to secure offshore wind, solar net metering, ban fracking waste, and create the state’s water program. Most recently, Sen. Cohen led the passage the plastic bag ban. This bill updated the bottle recycling bill and banned PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam, food packaging, shellfish restoration laws, and created sewage “right-to-know” laws. Sen. Cohen co-chairs and created the bipartisan Coastal Caucus in the state legislature. This group of legislators focuses on issues affecting coastal towns and cities.
The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators was created by and for state legislators. It is a non-profit that organizes more than 1,200 state legislators who are environmentally conscious from all 50 states and both major political parties. NCEL provides opportunities for legislators to meet and share ideas, collaborate on their environmental priorities, and embed notions of justice and equity at every step.
Sen. Cohen represents District 12 towns of Branford, Durham, Guilford, Killingworth, Madison and North Branford.
