WASHINGTON, DC— The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, which works to elect candidates who will implement sound environmental policies, announced today its endorsement of two candidates from Michigan for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives: Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Brenda Lawrence (MI-14).

“Representatives Dingell and Lawrence have quickly established themselves as critical environmental leaders in Congress – which should not surprise anyone who is familiar with their lengthy records of public service,” said LCV Action Fund President Gene Karpinski. “The egregious crisis in Flint shined a spotlight on Michigan – for all the wrong reasons. But we are heartened that Representatives Dingell and Lawrence have helped lead efforts to ensure that all communities have clean air to breathe and water to drink and that our planet is preserved for generations to come.”

“Representatives Dingell and Lawrence have been strong advocates for the health of Michigan’s environment and its communities,” said Michigan League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Lisa Wozniak. “From the Flint water crisis to the Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac, they have demonstrated leadership on the issues that impact our health and well-being. They work hard every day to protect our open spaces and the Great Lakes that make our state such a beautiful place to live, work and play.”

“It is an honor to have the support of the LCV Action Fund. LCV is a group that does so much to ensure our most iconic places and precious natural resources are protected,” said Dingell. “From the Great Lakes to our national parks and forests, Michigan is home to some of the most diverse environments in the country, and we cannot afford to take them for granted. We must all continue working together to ensure we protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the open spaces we enjoy for generations to come.”

“In Michigan our environment is a quality of life issue and an economic engine. I’ve fought to protect our Great Lakes and our majestic natural resources in Congress. That’s why I am so honored to have earned the support of the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund for my re-election,” said Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence. “Together, we can advance the vitally important cause of conservation, moving our nation and our planet in a more sustainable direction.”

As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Congresswoman Dingell has fought against attacks on critical environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and advocated for permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). In Michigan, Dingell has worked to strengthen protections for the Great Lakes and has been outspoken on the Flint water crisis. She has also raised concerns about the use of pipelines under the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers and has secured funding for renewable energy research in her district. Dingell has used her experience in the automobile industry to advance legislation for clean energy in the transportation industry. She introduced the Vehicle Innovation Act along with Senator Gary Peters, which will promote investments in research and development of clean vehicle technologies. Dingell has earned a 97 percent score on LCV’s 2015 National Environmental Scorecard.

Congresswoman Lawrence has been a strong environmental champion and a leader in addressing the Flint water crisis and the issue of unsafe drinking water across the country. She has led efforts in pushing for an emergency aid package for Flint, calling for hearings on the issue, and hosting over a visit to the city for 20 members of Congress. Lawrence also recently introduced the Environmental Health Workforce Act of 2016, which would prioritize education and training for environmental health professionals and attempt to prevent future environmental health crises. As the Ranking Democrat on the Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Interior and a member of the Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade, she has been an advocate for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and worked to secure a LWCF grant for a park in Southfield. Lawrence has earned a 94 percent score on LCV’s 2015 National Environmental Scorecard.

The non-partisan Scorecard is the nationally accepted yardstick used to rate members of Congress on environmental and clean energy issues. Based on key environmental votes in the House and Senate, it is often used by the media to quickly describe a member’s record. For more information, visit https://scorecard.lcv.org.

Dingell and Lawrence are featured on LCV Action Fund’s GiveGreen website, the only bundling website devoted exclusively to raising money for environmental champions for federal office.

About LCV Action Fund

The League of Conservation Voters Action Fund (LCVAF), the connected federal political action committee (PAC) of the League of Conservation Voters, works to elect candidates who will implement sound environmental laws and policies and defeat those who stand in the way of progress. Since the 1994 election cycle, LCVAF has helped elect and re-elect 69 U.S. senators and 306 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.  In the 2013-2014 election cycle, LCVAF endorsed over 70 candidates and raised and donated almost $6 million dollars via GiveGreen. Over the last several years, our efforts have also helped elevate climate change and clean energy as critical issues in key elections.

###

Paid for by the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and authorized by Debbie Dingell for Congress and Brenda Lawrence for Congress.