(TRENTON) -- Governor James E. McGreevey today issued the following statement on the Senate Environment Committee's vote in favor of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act:

"This significant vote today puts us one step closer to another shining moment in New Jersey's longstanding history of environmental protection.
The Senate Environment Committee should be commended for its action to ensure all New Jerseyans have access to clean drinking water for generations to come.

"The committee's leadership - Sen. Bob Smith and Sen. Stephen Sweeney - demonstrated a remarkable commitment to building consensus and doing what's right for all of New Jersey. Throughout the process, they never lost sight of the big picture - that preserving the Highlands is good for the environment, good for the economy and good for our state.

"I also want to recognize Senate President Codey, Speaker Sires, the Senate and Assembly Appropriations committees and the Assembly Environment Committee, headed by Assemblyman John McKeon. They all worked hard to advance this bill.

"I look forward to a vote in the full Legislature, and am confident that the day when we can declare victory for clean drinking water in New Jersey is near. "

###

Photos and audio and video clips from Governor McGreevey's press conferences are available in the Office of the Governor section on the State of New Jersey web page, http://www.nj.gov/.