Poll: New Jersey voters across North & South Jersey in CD-7, CD-11 & CD-3 rate climate provisions of Biden infrastructure plan highly

     Proposal builds bridges across party lines in New Jersey’s 3rd, 7th, 11th Congressional Districts

Trenton — A new poll released Thursday revealed strong bipartisan support for President Joe Biden’s infrastructure proposal across the political spectrum in New Jersey’s 3^rd, 7th and 11th Congressional Districts. The districts, represented by Reps. Andy Kim, Tom Malinowski and Mikie Sherrill, include a broad swath of the state, including Essex, Union, Somerset, Hunterdon, Morris & Warren Counties as well as Burlington & Ocean Counties. This survey, providing district-specific data on how voters view the American Jobs Plan (AJP), is sponsored by Environment New Jersey, Earthjustice and Environment America.

The poll found that overall, voters in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District support the bill by a 60 percent to 33 percent margin. Sixty-three percent of the all-important Independent voters polled there approve of the plan. In New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, voters support the bill by a 59 percent to 34 percent margin, including 55 percent of Independents polled. In the 3^rd Congressional District, voters support the bill by a 55 percent to a 36 percent margin, including 55 percent of Independent voters polled approved the plan.

Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed in the 7th District; 52 percent of voters in the 11th District and 61 percent of those surveyed said Congress should pass the bill if a bipartisan majority of the U.S. public supports it, even if Congress does not reflect that bipartisanship.

On multiple measures, voters in the district clearly signal that components of the American Jobs Plan that focus specifically on climate change and clean energy are a significant selling point. When told that the plan includes a major emphasis on investments to expand the use of clean energy, such as wind and solar power, to tackle the climate crisis and create jobs, 67 percent of voters in the 7th District, 61 percent in the 11th District and 3^rd Districts firmly say that this approach makes them more likely to support the American Jobs Plan.

Among the specific provisions designed to address the climate crisis:

• 85 percent of voters in the 7th District; 82 percent of voters in the 11th District; and 84 percent of voters in the 3^rd District support investments to rebuild roads and bridges and modernize public transportation to ensure it is cleaner and able to serve more people.
• 84 percent of voters in the 7th District and 82 percent of voters in the 11th District support overhauling our country’s drinking water infrastructure.
• 76 percent of voters in the 7th District and 75 percent of voters in the 11th District support funding the Gateway Project to repair and construct additional tunnels under the Hudson River to improve low-pollution transportation options for commuters.
• 75 percent of voters in the 3^rd District support efforts to protect the Jersey Shore from the impacts of climate change by making coastlines stronger and investing in infrastructure.
• 69 percent of voters in the 7th District and 69 percent of voters in the 11th District and 68 percent of voters in the 3^rd District support investments in clean energy such as wind and solar power by extending tax credits to spur innovation and manufacturing.
• 68 percent of voters in the 7th District, 71 percent of voters in the 11th District and 67% of voters in the 3^rd District support addressing the challenge of climate change by shifting to greater use of clean energy, reducing carbon pollution from vehicles and industry, and making homes and buildings more energy efficient.
• 63 percent of voters in the 7th District, 64 percent of voters in the 11th District and 65 percent of voters in the 3^rd District support investments in electric vehicles and charging stations to reduce pollution and help more Americans buy clean cars.

“New Jersey has been hit hard by the climate crisis and the societal devastation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Doug O’Malley, Environment New Jersey State Director. “Climate change is fueling more frequent and destructive extreme weather disasters in New Jersey. The American Jobs Plan is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in what matters and tackle the climate crisis, and this data demonstrates New Jerseyans firmly support President Biden’s plans to invest in our infrastructure.”

The survey was conducted between May 4 and May 15 by Hart Research Associates for Environment America and Earthjustice, in cooperation with the League of Conservation Voters. A memorandum outlining the full results of the survey is included with this press release.

“When it comes to infrastructure, there ought to be no room for party politics.  What my residents care about is having clean water and fixing a sewer system that because of its age has caused frequent backups into their basements.  It is very expensive to repair our wastewater pipes and pumping stations.  The proposed infrastructure funding will enable us to make significant and lasting repairs and upgrades, without adding to everyone’s property tax burden,” said Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilentro.

“We mayors are keenly aware of the importance of reliable transportation and other forms of critical infrastructure to the state’s local and regional economies, as well as to public safety. We are the ones who are required to maintain infrastructure at the local level, from stormwater systems to streets and sidewalks. In Chatham Borough, the impact of climate change on these vital structures has become increasingly problematic. In fact, infrastructure failure has become ever more common in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and other big storms. This community frequently deals with power outages, flash-flooding, and stormwater issues on an annual, if not more recurring, basis. As such, the promise of infrastructure upgrades and measures to address climate change under President Biden’s infrastructure plan is tremendously welcome news. This legislation will allow us to rebuild our infrastructure so that it can better withstand serious climate events while leading the transition to greener technologies across the board. I view that as a win-win for Chatham,” said Chatham Borough Mayor Thad Kobylarz.

“Any mayor’s nightmare is to come in office only to discover the proverbial can has been kicked down the road too many times, leaving the nearly impossible challenge of catching up. Our Country as a whole has been kicking this can  all too long. From unsafe bridges still in use to public transportation that is decades behind the modern world to many communities lacking bandwidth to learn and work, it is time to make a REAL investment in our infrastructure. This bill is long overdue and the impact on our communities is needed now,” said Madison Mayor Robert Conley.

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