WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, proudly earned a 92 percent rating on the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) National Environmental Scorecard for fighting against efforts to threaten our environment and public health and championing Congressional action to combat the climate crisis.
“Each year I look forward to the scorecard that the League of Conservation Voters puts together and this year is no different," said Senator Carper. “I firmly believe that we have a moral obligation to be good stewards of the planet we share. That principle guides my votes in the Senate and my work on the Environment and Public Works Committee. I'm proud that my high rating reflects this and I look forward to driving environmental progress this Congress. The challenges of ensuring that clean air and water are available in every zip code and of addressing the threats posed by changing climate are great-so are the opportunities to act on these issues in a way that lifts up communities. I'm confident we can make it happen."
“After an incredibly difficult and painful year marred by a president intent on gutting environmental protections and a Senate leader determined to bury any chance of climate action, we're thrilled to see Senator Carper earn yet another excellent score on LCV's National Environmental Scorecard," said LCV Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo. “With a true climate champion like Senator Carper now leading the Environment & Public Works Committee (EPW) as part of the pro-environment trifecta, we're excited to see Congress work to enact transformational progress that combats the climate crisis, advances environmental justice, and ensures healthy, safe, and equitable communities powered by clean energy."
According to LCV, since 1970, the National Environmental Scorecard has been providing objective, factual information about the most important environmental legislation considered and the corresponding voting records of all members of Congress. The Scorecard represents the consensus of experts from about 20 respected environmental and conservation organizations who selected the key votes on which members of Congress should be scored. LCV scores votes on the most important issues of the year, including energy, global warming, public health, public lands and wildlife conservation, and spending for environmental programs.
Each vote scored has been assigned to one or more issue categories. There are 12 total categories, which are described below:
* Air - Votes on air pollution, including votes related to the Clean Air Act.
* Clean Energy - Votes on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
* Climate Change - Votes directly related to global warming pollution and increasing climate resilience for communities and wildlife.
* Dirty Energy - Votes on polluting energy sources, including conventional fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal; non-conventional fossil fuels such as tar sands; and harmful energy subsidies for nuclear energy and fossil fuels.
* Drilling - Votes on drilling onshore and in the waters off the nation's coasts.
* Lands/Forests - Votes addressing both private and public lands and forests, including wilderness designations, federal land management agencies, logging, mining, and grazing.
* Oceans - Votes on ocean conservation issues, including fisheries management.
* Other - A broad catch-all category that includes votes on overhauling the regulatory process, sweeping funding cuts, the National Environmental Policy Act, federal appointments and nominations, campaign finance reform, trade, family planning, and eminent domain/takings, among other issues.
* Toxics/Public Right to Know - Votes on the use of and exposure to toxic chemicals (including pesticides), the public's right to know if they are at risk, and Superfund sites.
* Transportation - Votes on transportation and vehicle fuels policy, including fuel efficiency standards, biking, and walking infrastructure, transit, and rail.
* Water - Votes on water quality and quantity issues and water pollution, including votes related to the Clean Water Act.
* Wildlife - Votes on fish (freshwater and saltwater) and wildlife issues, including the Endangered Species Act.
