UPDATE: Unique Environmental-Labor Coalition to Participate In Congressional Hearing on Los Angeles' Clean Truck Program; Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Key Witnesses Available for Q & A before Testimony

New York Congressman Champions Congressional Effort To Modernize Transportation System; Bring LA's Successful – but Threatened – Green-Growth Initiative to Ports Nationwide

WASHINGTON, May 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Representatives of an unlikely alliance will testify Wednesday morning on the unprecedented success of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Clean Truck Program (CTP). A low-income port truck driver believed to be the first such worker to appear before Congress will be joined by one of the country's leading environmental attorneys, an elected leader of the largest union of transportation workers, as well as a top official at America's largest port to address the media from 9-9:30 a.m. Rep. Nadler will also be present for press questions. The Highways & Transit Subcommittee hearing starts at 11 a.m. (note time change)

Rep. Nadler and 78 Members – including 18 Subcommittee Members – sent a letter last week to T&I Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica calling for a federal solution to ensure the CTP's continued success and also promote the green-growth model to ports across the country looking for ways to reduce air pollution, create good jobs and enhance commerce.  

President Obama's newly appointed Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr. named the Port of Los Angeles as the first recipient of the Commission's first-ever Earth Day award.  In January 2010, the U.S. EPA recognized the Port as one of five recipients of its prestigious Environmental Justice Award.  However, the American Trucking Associations, a lobby opposed to climate-change legislation, has cited arcane law to legally challenge the landmark program and stall its full implementation, jeopardizing its sustainability.

WHO:        

• Capt. John Holmes, Dep. Exec. Director of Operations at the Port of Los Angeles
• Jose Covarrubias, a 20-year port truck driver from Southern California
• Melissa Lin Perrella, Staff Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
• Fred Potter, Teamsters At-Large Vice President, Port Division Director, New Jersey
• Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY); highest ranking Northeastern member of the House T&I Cmte.
• Other port drivers, "blue-green" coalition partners educating Members of Congress about the impact of trucking air pollution on 87 million Americans nationwide.

WHAT:   Media Availability and Highways & Transit Subcommittee Hearing

WHEN:   Wednesday, May 5

WHERE: Availability 9-9:30 am Rayburn HOB 2253; Hearing: 11 am Rayburn 2167

The Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports is a partnership of environmental, public health, community, labor and faith organizations that promote sustainable economic development at West Coast ports. We are working to make the port trucking system a less polluting, more competitive generator of good quality jobs for harbor-area residents. The Coalition for Healthy Ports is the sister alliance working to create cleaner, greener ports in New York and New Jersey. We are over 100 organizations strong nationwide.

SOURCE Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports

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