Good environmental policy and good economic policy go hand-in-hand — more now than ever before as our nation attempts to become more energy independent and focus on the value of green jobs.

I first got involved with environmental policy as a volunteer for Heal the Bay, and as a neighborhood activist fighting to make sure communities had a fair opportunity for public input on development projects.

Little did I expect that, as a legislator representing the coast from the Palos Verdes Peninsula up to Venice, I would become Chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. I played a leading role in protecting our air and water quality, promoting green jobs and alternative energy sources, and preserving our coastline as a natural and economic resource. Special interests and polluters were constantly trying to pass bills to let them off the hook for the damage they do, and I was on the frontlines in protecting our environment and our health.

I am particularly proud that as a member of the State Senate I helped pass AB 32, the groundbreaking Global Warming Solutions Act that phases in a cap on greenhouse gas emissions to reduce them to 1990 levels by 2020, a 25% reduction. California became a world leader in the fight against global warming and set the stage for other states, other countries, and even our own federal government. I’m so honored to have the author of AB 32, Senator Fran Pavley, supporting me in my quest to represent the people of the 36th Congressional District in Washington.

As a member of Congress, I will continue to stand up to the special interests that threaten the quality of our air, water and coastline. I will fight for a stronger national energy policy focused on conservation, alternative energy development, and green jobs. And I will bring a common sense approach to Congress that recognizes our environment as a resource that needs to be protected not just for environmental reasons, but for economic and public health reasons as well.