WASHINGTON -- Two New Jersey federal lawmakers with jurisdiction over transportation urged Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday to push ahead with delayed plans to retire older, dirtier trucks serving the Port Newark-Elizabeth and Port Jersey marine terminals.

U.S. Reps. Albio Sires and Donald Payne Jr., both members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said plans to phase out older diesel trucks by end of stalled under Gov. Chris Christie's administration and it was up to Murphy to restart the program.

"Environmental injustice is a serious problem in Newark and other port communities," said Payne, D-10th Dist. "By replacing outdated diesel trucks, the state of New Jersey can help alleviate the health crisis."

In their letter to Murphy, a fellow Democrat, the lawmakers said emissions from the dirty trucks were sickening their constituents who live near the ports, responsible for increased cases of asthma, lung cancer and preterm births.

"Residents of our port communities are being forced to suffer the health impact of thousands of dirty truck engines' daily exhaust," said Sires, D-8th Dist. "This is immoral, especially since our state has the means to address this problem."

Murphy spokesman Dan Bryan said the governor shares that goal.

"Governor Murphy believes that reducing diesel emissions at ports is vital to New Jersey's public health, especially historically disenfranchised communities surrounding the ports that bear the brunt of this pollution," Bryan said. "He looks forward to working with all parties to accomplish this goal."

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had sought to ban the older trucks from picking up or dropping off shipping containers in an effort to meet Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards.

About 7,000 trucks serve the terminals, but even with Port Authority grants and loans, some drivers have been unable to replace their vehicles with newer, less-polluting versions.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.