Sen. Kennedy Named Legislative Champion by CT League of Conservative Voters

From Connecticut General Assembly:

The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) has named Sen. Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D-Branford) one of its “2016 Environmental Champions” for his efforts to introduce and pass important environmental legislation. This is the second year in a row that Kennedy has received this significant designation by one of the state's leading environmental organizations.

“In my role as Senate chair of the Environment Committee, I have spearheaded significant environmental reforms impacting Long Island Sound, farmland preservation, plastic pollutants in our rivers and streams, and toxic pesticides on municipal playgrounds. I have worked hard with all committee members to serve in a collaborative, bipartisan way. Every Environment Committee bill signed into law in 2016 was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Connecticut’s environment is one of our state’s most vital assets and its protection is vital to the future of our state. The important legislative accomplishments we made would not have been possible without the input of groups like the CTLCV, and I greatly appreciate their support.”

Kennedy, a lawyer and graduate of the Yale School of Forestry, led passage of multiple pieces of important environmental legislation this past year, earning him a perfect “100 percent” voting record from the CTLCV.

In granting their “Environmental Champion” award to Kennedy, CTLCV cited Kennedy's leadership on two critical issues. The first issue concerned the alarming, rapid die-off of bees and other pollinators, creating a major environmental crisis, threatening our agricultural economy and ability to grow food. Senator Kennedy quickly assembled the leading bee and farm experts in the state and led passage of the most comprehensive pollinator health law in the nation. This innovative approach cuts down on the use of pesticides known to be the most acutely toxic to bees, while also promoting the widespread planting of pollinator-friendly vegetation on our roadsides and utility rights-of-way.

The second issue that CTLCV cited was Senator Kennedy's efforts to reduce packaging waste and improving recycling infrastructure. Excess and unneeded packaging costs CT towns and taxpayers millions of dollars in increased municipal disposal costs. Working in concert with Connecticut's business community, this new initiative aims to reduce packaging in our municipal solid waste, identify best practices and promote the use of biodegradable and recyclable material.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock