Lateefah Simon, the California Democrat replacing veteran progressive lawmaker Barbara Lee, says she wants to help shape environmental policy on Capitol Hill.
Having been born legally blind, Simon relies on public transportation and says she wants to secure more federal funding. The Oaklander also says she wants Democrats to continue working toward implementing policies tied with the contentious Green New Deal. That’s going to be harder during the coming Congress because of Republican wins last week.
“I think it’s important to have a North Star of net-zero emissions,” Simon said during a recent interview with POLITICO’s E&E News. “I understand it’s going to be a fight to get there.”
That’s perhaps why a roster of environmental groups endorsed Simon — including the League of Conservation Voters, Friends of the Earth, the Sierra Club and Climate Hawks Vote.