Moms in New Jersey

Moms are working in New Jersey to fight for clean air and a stable climate. We host events, share information about what’s going on, and create opportunities for mothers to talk to their legislators about their concerns. Please join us in New Jersey, and let us know about your priorities.

What We’re Working On

Tell Governor Murphy: Lead on Climate Safety

It is more important than ever for states to act on climate change. States—and their governors—can be powerful leaders in building a clean energy economy. That’s why we’re asking Governor Murphy to keep stepping up to slash climate pollution, protect children’s health, and ensure clean air for all. Our future depends on it.

Take Action

Meet Your New Jersey State Organizer

Elizabeth Hauptman

Elizabeth is Moms’ field organizer in Brighton, Michigan. She also coordinates volunteer engagement for Moms across the U.S. She serves on Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin’s Environmental Advisory Board and the Brighton Area Chamber Environmental Council. Elizabeth’s work with Moms is deeply personal because her son suffers from asthma and is affected by poor air quality.

Pictured: Families with Senator Cory Booker (NJ) at our annual Play-in for Climate Action.

Contact Elizabeth

Highlights

Moms visit Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to hold petrochemical companies accountable. In March 2023, New Jersey Mom Trisha Dello Iacono joined Moms’ staff and members from Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia at the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing about the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio—to put a face to the communities threatened by plastics and petrochemical pollution. Watch Moms in action.
Vice President Harris looks to Moms Clean Air Force to lead on electric school buses. In December 2021, Moms’ Trisha Dello Iacono joined the Vice President plus Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy for the introduction of the Biden-Harris Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan. Hear Harris shout out Moms at the event.
New Jersey becomes the first state to commit to teach the climate crisis in public schools. New Jersey Moms weighed in on this important issue with the State Board of Education and First Lady Tammy Murphy in the months leading up to this decision, which was implemented in September 2021.
New Jersey Moms join staff and members nationwide to tell EPA to slash climate pollution from cars. In June 2021, Trisha Dello Iacono joined more than 40 Moms from 16 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s first climate-related public hearing since President Biden took office. Read Trisha’s testimony.
Moms tell the Office of Management and Budget to oppose EPA’s attack on soot pollution protections. In November 2020, Trisha Dello Iacono told OMB, “Coronavirus has drastically changed life for my friends whose children suffer from upper respiratory diseases and live in areas with elevated particle pollution. Recent studies have shown a link between particle pollution and COVID-19 susceptibility.” Read more.

Events and Resources in New Jersey

Why We Care

New Jersey has a smog problem. The American Lung Association gave eight New Jersey counties a C, D, or F grade for ozone pollution—which means dangerous breathing days for the over 127,000 children with asthma in our state.

As a hub for manufacturing, New Jersey is also vulnerable to chemical disasters. Ninety-five facilities—in 19 of our 21 counties—use hazardous chemicals that could pose catastrophic risk to millions of residents in the case of an accident.

When it comes to climate change, we’ve seen firsthand how hurricanes and sea-level rise endanger our communities. Hurricane Sandy hurt our health and safety—and cost over $30 billion in losses. With 127 miles of coastline, sea-level rise poses a threat to our thriving tourism industry.

To tackle air and climate pollution, in 2023 Governor Murphy signed a bill to accelerate our transition away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy. We’re aiming for 100% clean by 2035.

Past Events

March 2023

On March 9, Moms Clean Air Force showed up in force for the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing about the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. No one from the community was invited to testify at the hearing, so three Moms members from East Palestine came to put a face to the disaster. Moms Clean Air Force staff and members from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Louisiana, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, also attended. Watch our Moms in action.

December 2021

On December 14, Trisha Dello Iacono, Senior Legislative Manager for Moms Clean Air Force and New Jersey resident, joined Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary Jennifer Granholm, and Gina McCarthy at an event in Brandywine, Maryland, to introduce the Biden-Harris Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan.

October 2021

On October 13, Trisha Dello Iacono, Moms Clean Air Force National Field & Legislative Manager, joined World Resources Institute and the Electrification Coalition for a roundtable discussion on the wide-ranging benefits of electric school buses and New Jersey’s window of opportunity to accelerate deployment. New Jersey’s First Lady, Tammy Murphy, and Congressman Frank Pallone delivered opening remarks.

June 2021

New Jersey moms joined Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from across the country to participate in EPA’s listening sessions on its upcoming oil and natural gas methane rule. National Field and Legislative Manager Trisha Dello Iacono offered testimony. Read Trisha’s testimony.

On June 2, National Field and Legislative Manager Trisha Dello Iacono joined more than 40 Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 16 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s first climate-related public hearing since President Biden took office. The hearing was about EPA’s proposal to restore long-standing state authority to protect residents from climate pollution from cars. Read Trisha’s testimony.

September 2020

New Jersey Moms joined Moms Clean Air Force members across the country to testify in EPA’s virtual hearing on its proposal to retain the current National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ground-Level Ozone. National Field Manager Trisha Dello Iacono urged EPA to follow the science and strengthen the existing rule. Listen to Trisha’s testimony here.

July 2020

National Field Manager Trisha Dello Iacono joined Moms Clean Air Force organizers from across the country to offer comment in a meeting with Office of Management and Budget officials on the EPA’s proposed National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone on July 8.

May 2020

National Field Manager Trisha Dello Iacono joined Moms Clean Air Force members across the country to testify in the EPA’s virtual hearing on its proposal to retain the current National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter. She testified in favor of following science and strengthening the existing rule.

February 2020

National Field Manager Trisha Dello Iacono met with New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy’s staff to discuss her K–12 Climate Change Education Initiative, which seeks to incorporate climate change education in New Jersey’s K–12 academic standards to ensure New Jersey students will be better equipped to combat the climate crisis and thrive in the future green economy.

January 2020

Project Manager Mollie Michel spoke on behalf of Moms Clean Air Force at Representative Frank Pallone’s press conference announcing the Clean Future Act. New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy was also in attendance.

September 2019

National Field Manager Trisha Dello Iacono joined Congressman VanDrew’s new environmental advisory committee.

July 2019

Members of Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended the sixth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

September 2018

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey members attended and spoke at the Morristown Peoples Climate Movement event.

July 2018

Members of Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended the fifth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

November 2017

National field manager Trisha Dello Iacono testified at an EPA Clean Power Plan hearing held in Charleston, WV.

September 2017

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey members traveled to Washington, DC to meet with lawmakers and urge them to protect EPA’s budget.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey co-sponsored a webinar, “Our Homes, Our Votes: Voter Registration and Mobilization for Low-Income Voters.” The webinar covered the critical importance of helping low-income individuals register to vote, voter eligibility requirements, available voter registration resources, fitting voter registration into our regular work, specific voter registration activities, and voter mobilization efforts.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey hosted a Play-In for Climate Action at Echo Hill Environmental Center in Hunterdon County.

August 2017

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended a Resistance Town Hall with Rep. Frank Pallone and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman at the Labor Education Center in New Brunswick.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended Save the EPA: 7th District Forum on Trump’s Budget hosted by Food & Water Watch at the Borough of Somerville Library.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended a Food & Water Watch forum focused on protecting our health and environment and saving the EPA budget.

Moms Clean Air Force field manager Trisha Dello Iacono spoke at a press conference attended by federal, state and local elected officials, New Jersey environmental leaders and concerned citizens at the base of a bridge destroyed by Superstorm Sandy to oppose proposed cuts to the budgets of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Interior Department that would cause deep and lasting harm to our water, air, and land. Speaking with one voice, lawmakers from both parties called on the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to reject the FY18 budget unless it contains full and fair funding for the agencies that protect our health and environment.

Moms Clean Air Force super volunteer Tammi Bathke presented on a panel discussion in Atlantic City on why we need offshore wind to protect the health of our children.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey members attended a Community Townhall with Senator Booker and Congressman Norcross (CD-1).

July 2017

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey exhibited at The 2017 QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning held in Hunterdon County, NJ.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey members attended the 2017 Play-In for Climate Action in Washington, DC.

June 2017

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended the Sustainable New Jersey Summit at The College of New Jersey.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended Monmouth County Family Day.

May 2017

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey hosted Advocacy 101: Learn how to create change at Cherry Hill Library.

Moms Clean Air Force hosted a Mama Summit in Trenton–parents, kids and concerned citizens from across the State united to ask our elected officials to protect our children from the effects of toxic air pollution.

New Jersey Moms and Clean Air Kids at the 2017 New Jersey Mama Summit in Trenton, New Jersey, May 2017.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey met with Congressman Norcross to discuss clean air and kids’ health.

April 2017

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended Cherry Hill GreenFest.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey participated in the March for Science in Trenton.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended Run for Clean Air in Philadelphia.

Moms Clean Air Force hosted a panel discussion for community members interested in learning about the Jersey Renews coalition. At the Kroc Center in Camden, more than 40 participants gathered to unite and demonstrate the depth of community leaders concerned about the public health impacts of climate change. Through the Jersey Renews coalition, Moms Clean Air Force has joined unions of university faculty, steelworkers, nurses and more than 40 other organizations representing community members, faith leaders and workers calling on New Jersey leaders to protect citizens from climate pollution. Event attendees learned about state-based solutions, including the expansion of New Jersey’s clean energy goals, and the importance of domestic sourcing, particularly for offshore wind. Speakers also addressed public health impacts, particularly for children, and articulated the moral argument for action on climate change.

Moms Clean Air Force field director, Gretchen Dahlkemper spoke at a press event with Senator Cory Booker and Rep. Frank Pallone in Edison, NJ about the impact of EPA budget cuts.

February 2017

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey field consultant Kate and members attended a town hall hosted by Congressman Donald Norcross.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey hosted a Senator Valentine’s writing gathering at Nesting House in Collingswood, NJ.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended a Camden Town Hall Meeting.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended the Pinelands Commission pipeline vote at the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia–Cherry Hill.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance Roundtable.

January 2017

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey joined Jersey Renews, a coalition of over 30 labor, faith, community, and environmental organizations that urging elected officials in New Jersey to act now on Climate Change.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended a Pinelands Commission meeting to voice public comment in opposition to the proposed South Jersey pipeline.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey field consultant, Kate Schumacher participated in the Women’s March on Washington.

September 2016

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey was represented at the September 26 presidential debate.

June 2016

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey hosted a “School’s Out Food Drive” contributing to the over 4,542 pounds of food collected by Moms Clean Air Force chapters nationwide.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended a Healthy Schools Now Coalition Meeting in Trenton.

May 2016

On May 13, Trisha Dello Iacono attended a petition delivery to the EPA for comments on the chemical facility safety and security docket. Moms Clean Air Force garnered 4116 petition signers.

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended Work Environment Council Best Practices Event, Building Community Partnerships for Success, at New Jersey Education Association.

April 2016

Moms Clean Air Force hosted a Read-In and Earth Day activities in Wenonah, NJ.

March, 2016

Moms Clean Air Force New Jersey attended a press conference to highlight the findings of a study they participated in. The report is titled Buyer Beware: Toxic BPA & Regrettable Substitutes in the linings of Canned Food.