PITTSBURGH, September 27, 2018 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Pittsburgh) this evening received the Clean Water Action organization’s “Dewey Award.”

The award is granted to individuals who are proven champions of the environment within their community.

“Throughout my legislative career, I have been proud to work with my colleagues to improve water quality, air quality and environmental standards for Pennsylvanians,” Fontana said.

“Environmental protection is not a priority that has an ‘end’ point. It is a priority and an ongoing obligation we must all relentlessly pursue to make better communities for ourselves and future generations.”

The senator’s environmental work includes:

  • supporting investments in water and sewer line replacement;
  • backing the new law that requires schools to test their water for lead levels and supporting the creation of a taskforce to examine lead levels statewide;
  • requiring DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) to disclose water testing results;
  • increasing carbon monoxide monitoring;
  • supporting a severance tax on natural gas drilling; and
  • prohibiting recycling fees.

“Protecting the environment is a public health issue,” Fontana told the audience at the awards ceremony. “All of us have a right to clean, safe water. All of us have the right to breathe in clean air.”

Fontana has also worked to continue the fight against climate change by co-sponsoring legislation that ensured Pennsylvania would fulfill its responsibility to meet environmental goals in the Paris Climate Accords and the Clean Power Plan.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Fontana joked. “There have been times where fighting on the side of environmental protection has felt like banging your head against the wall. But the truth is, there will always be more that we can, and should be doing to protect and preserve our environment, clean up our communities, and to encourage others around the world to follow suit.”