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. Rush Holt (D) for reelection in New JerseyÆs 12th Congressional district. Holt, a proven leader on environmental issues in Congress, is the only House member from New Jersey who has earned a perfect 100 percent lifetime LCV rating.
"LCV endorses Rep. Holt because he is an outstanding representative who has worked effectively to enhance the quality of life for the people of New Jersey," said Betsy Loyless, LCV Vice President for Policy.
In response to overdevelopment in New Jersey, Rep. Holt secured passage in Congress of an amendment to the Land and Water Conservation Fund that secured millions of dollars to protect open space in New Jersey. Holt also helped lead the successful campaign to add the lower Delaware River to the National Wild and Scenic River program.
"He is a leader in protecting the quality of our nationÆs air and water, safeguarding valuable open spaces and our national parks, and working to develop a long term sustainable energy policy. Holt has led the effort in Congress to phase out snowmobile use in Yellowstone National Park. The National Park Service has concluded that the vehicles harm wildlife, pollute the air and degrade the visitor experience in our nationÆs first national park," commented Ms. Loyless.
Holt sponsored the Morris K. Udall Arctic Wilderness Act designating specified lands within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, which would preclude oil exploration and drilling. He opposed the Bush/Cheney National Energy policy, which would have given billions in tax breaks and subsidies to the oil and natural gas industry.
In June, Rep. Holt sponsored an important amendment to phase out snowmobile use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. He has also supported higher fuel economy standards to promote adoption of more efficient technologies and has advocated for moving forward on the Kyoto Protocol to reduce global warming.
For information on all of LCVÆs endorsed candidates, visit our website at </Campaigns/CampaignsList.cfm?c=3>.
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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.
