Medford – In a new video announcement released today, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gives a strong and powerful endorsement of Ed Markey, saying Ed “is one of the strongest progressives that we have in the United States Senate.” In February, Ed and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez together introduced the Green New Deal resolution, a bold vision to transform America’s economy and democracy while combating climate change. Since its introduction, the Green New Deal has ignited a national debate and galvanized a growing movement that is calling on leaders to take the kind of urgent action needed to achieve 100 precent clean, renewable, zero-emitting energy and repair the oppression of frontline and vulnerable communities that have born the worst burdens of a fossil fuel economy.

Ocasio-Cortez joins Senator Elizabeth Warren, the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, the Sunrise Movement, NARAL Pro-Choice America, 350 Massachusetts, Coalition for Social Justice, and others in endorsing Ed Markey’s re-election campaign.

“In the fight to save our planet and unleash a clean energy future, I am proud to partner with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and honored to have her endorsement for re-election,” said Markey. “Climate change is the existential threat of our time, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the kind of generational leader we need to make the bold goals of the Green New Deal a reality. She is a champion of working people, a force for systems change, and a singular voice in the fight for a democracy that works for all Americans. I am so fortunate to call Alexandria my friend and colleague, and I am proud to have her support.”

The transcript of the announcement video and a link is provided below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiskvyBkU4s&feature=youtu.be

“I’m here to say that I’m proud to enthusiastically support and endorse Senator Ed Markey for re-election to the United States Senate.

Ed Markey is a proud and strong progressive champion for working families. Not just in Massachusetts, but across the country.

And his leadership in authoring the Green New Deal along with me, and carrying it in the United States Senate, is emblematic of the kind of work that he does for working families across the country.

In so many conversations that I’ve had with Ed, it is so abundantly clear the path that he has paved for all of us to be here in this moment and to continue to push for change in the future, as well.

When I first got to Congress and we started to discuss big, bold plans – a solution on the scale of the crisis – many members shied away. A lot of people said we can’t do too much, we can’t go too fast in order to pursue change for the American people.

And Ed Markey was one of the few people that had the courage to stand up and take a chance. And take a chance on a freshman congresswoman. And take a chance on this plan.

I think it’s so emblematic of who Ed Markey is. He knows exactly what communities need to be centered. He knows about the issues of our time. And he’s not just resting on his record of the past, but he’s aggressively pursuing an agenda for the future. And that’s what a progressive is, and that’s what progressivism is all about.

Ed Markey, I know, is one of the strongest progressives that we have in the United States Senate. And in a time right now, when we have to have conversations, not just about holding this administration accountable, but changing the Democratic Party for the future, Ed Markey has a very critical role in making sure that climate change, as well as a bevy of other issues – health care and beyond – are critical core issues in how we fight for working people and working families in the United States.

I hope you will join me in supporting him. But I, for one, am very proud to support and endorse Ed Markey for re-election.”

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