Sen. Bateman, the Environmental Champion, Will Be Missed

New Jersey State Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-16) has announced that he will not seek reelection to the State Senate. Senator Bateman has served the 16th District in the Legislature since January 1994 when he was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly where he served seven consecutive terms, ending in 2007. In 2008, he was elected Senator and currently serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Environment Committee, the Joint Committee on Public Schools and the Joint Committee on Housing Affordability. He served as Deputy Conference Leader from 2008-2014.

“Senator Kip Bateman has been a true environmental champion in the New Jersey State Legislature. The NJ Sierra Club endorsed the Senator because of his commitment to keeping air and water clean and our open space protected. He was a key environmental vote on the Senate Environment Committee and kept many important issues bi-partisan. He not only co-sponsors critical bills but helps bills get through the Environment Committee without being weakened or blocked.  Many times, he has gone against other members of his party to protect the environment of our state and sometimes was the only Republican to do so,” said Jeff Titel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.  “We worked with the Senator on crafting and stopping legislation. With Senator Bateman leaving, we are concerned that the environment will no longer be a bipartisan issue.”

Senator Bateman is the ranking Republican in the Senate Environment Committee and has been instrumental on environmental legislation in the state. His record of dedication to promoting clean energy, open space preservation, and protection of New Jersey’s air and water quality makes him an environmental leader in New Jersey.

“Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman has been a frontrunner in protecting New Jersey’s environment for many years. The Sierra Club in 2012 gave him our Achievement Award, which is our highest honor. We have endorsed Kip Bateman in every election since he first came into office. He is a Republican leader who believes in climate change and supports legislation to reduce greenhouse gases and promote green energy jobs. He has stood up to Governor Christie numerous times in protecting the environment and has voted against the Governor’s anti-environmental appointments to commissions,” said Tittel. “We used to have a state Senate where some of the Republicans like Senator Allen, Senator Lance (when he was in the legislature), Senator Palaia, and Senator Sinagra were the environmental leaders. At one time there were 9 Republican Senators who stood up to Governor Whitman against budget cuts to protect the environment. Senator Bateman’s father, Ray was also responsible for creating the Delaware Canal Commission.”

Bateman will serve out the remainder of his term in Legislative District 16, which will conclude in January 2022.

“Kip has continuously fought for clean energy in New Jersey.  Senator Bateman has also been a strong advocate for preserving open space and helping to protect our coastal waterways from pollution from fertilizer and stormwater runoff. He has spoken at Sierra Club conferences on energy efficiency and opposes pipelines across the state. Kip Bateman has been a friend and ally to the Sierra Club and New Jersey’s environment for many years,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “We will truly miss Senator Bateman however; we look forward to working with him during his last year at the statehouse.”