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 named Senator Patty Murray (D) as a 2004 Environmental Champion in her race for reelection to the U.S. Senate. 

LCV Environmental Champions are candidates who have proven their pro-environment commitment through substantive action.  LCV supports these outstanding leaders by rewarding them with direct contributions, fundraising, and occasionally running independent campaigns to help ensure they are reelected to Congress as we continue to build America³ pro-environment majority.

)s proud to name Senator Murray as an environmental champion in her race for reelection,�advocate for wilderness protection and improved cleanup of nuclear waste sites, Senator Murray is a steadfast environmental leader.  She consistently stands up to efforts that put the nuclear industry before the health of our families and our environment.�, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 80%">In 2001, Senator Murray took the lead in establishing the bipartisan Senate Nuclear Waste Cleanup Caucus to advocate for improved cleanup of nuclear waste.  She has been particularly active in promoting cleanup of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in southeast Washington.  The millions of gallons of waste stored at this facility pose a serious threat to health, safety and environmental protection.

Senator Murray³ important wilderness legislation, the Wild Sky Wilderness Act had passed the Senate twice.  It would preserve 106,000 acres in the Snoqualmie National Forest, which is only 90 minutes from over 2.5 million Washington residents, and would protect wildlife, help to maintain water quality, and preserve the area for recreation and fishing.  President Bush had promised to sign the bill, but the Republican House Leadership has continued to block it.

Senator Murray has also taken a leadership role in saving salmon, which are important to the culture and economy of the Pacific Northwest.  She has secured funding for a salmon recovery fund, worked to protect salmon habitat, and used a collaborative approach to develop a comprehensive solution to the threat of extinction.

In her two terms representing Washington, Senator Murray has earned a lifetime score of 87% on the LCV Scorecard.

For information on all of LCV³ 2004 Environmental Champions, visit our website.

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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 </>.