Contact: Chuck Porcari (cell: (240) 286-7566) or Mark Sokolove (cell: (703) 599-7656) or (202) 785-8683

WASHINGTON - The League of Conservation Voters (LCV), the political voice of the national environmental and conservation community, today announced its endorsement of Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA) for reelection in IowaÆs 2nd Congressional district.

"LCV endorsed Jim Leach because of his record of standing for Iowa families and a clean, healthy and safe environment," said Betsy Loyless, LCV Vice President for Policy. "His leadership has been particularly strong on protecting public lands and improving air quality."

Air quality in Rep. LeachÆs southeastern Iowa district is among the worst in the state. He demonstrated his leadership on this issue by supporting a 2003 measure that would have forced polluted areas to adopt more stringent ozone clean-up controls. In 2003, Rep. Leach also championed the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act to help ensure all the nation's waterways are protected.

Rep. Leach was named as an LCV Environmental Champion in 2002 and has earned 90 percent in the 2003 National Environmental Scorecard released earlier this week. He is the first Republican that LCV has endorsed for the 2004 election cycle.

For information on all of LCVÆs endorsed candidates, visit our website at </Campaigns/CampaignsList.cfm?c=3>.

- 30 -

The nonprofit League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is the political voice of the national environmental and conservation community. LCV, which is not a partisan organization, is the only national organization working full-time to hold Congress and the president accountable for their environmental actions. For more information, please visit us on the web at www.lcv.org.