The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, which works to elect candidates who will support sound environmental policies, announced today its endorsement of Judge Veronica Escobar for Congress (TX-16).

“Veronica Escobar will fight for everyone’s right to have clean air, energy and water” said LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. “She has a strong history of public service and working to combat environmental injustices. In Congress we know Escobar will continue to advocate for all Texans, particularly the border communities and communities of color, and it is long past due time that Texas sends a Latina to Congress. We could not be more pleased to endorse her.”

“Her strong commitment to protecting the Castner Range and her lifelong dedication to protecting communities make Veronica Escobar a more than fitting choice to follow in Congressman O’Rourke’s footsteps,” said Texas League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Elizabeth Doyel. “Her work with border communities’ and public health efforts demonstrate her willingness to always fight for the most vulnerable Texans. She represents Texan values.”

“I am honored to have the support and endorsement of the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund because of their critical work to protect our environment,” said Judge Escobar. “Our district in West Texas is home to a diverse and beautiful ecosystem. If elected to Congress, I will work to ensure these Texas gems, such as Castner Range, stay protected and preserved for future generations, and fight for environmental justice for all communities.”

As a citizen activist and local elected official, Judge Escobar has been involved in important fights to protect the environment and address environmental injustices. She helped fight against a smelter plant in one of El Paso’s Latino communities, including testifying at the state capitol. She also unsuccessfully worked to prevent a natural gas pipeline in a low-income community in El Paso, attempting to put in greater protections and working with other elected officials to force the company to at least hold community meetings. She did successfully intervene on a rate case by El Paso Electric that would have taxed solar customers. Escobar has also worked to conserve El Paso’s natural environment. In 2007, she started a public-private ecotourism commission to seek to promote the outdoor recreation industry. She helped create the foundation and interest in a program to build a trail across the entire county, which will be built up along the river and its drains and connecting green spaces. She also supported efforts to protect the Castner Range and create a national monument.

Escobar is featured on LCV Action Fund’s GiveGreen website, the only website devoted exclusively to raising money for environmental champions for federal office. Last cycle, LCV Action Fund raised more contributions to candidates through GiveGreen than ever before—over $8.3 million for state and federal candidates.

About LCV Action Fund

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, 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 73 U.S. senators and 331 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.  In the 2016-2017 election cycle, LCVAF endorsed over 100 candidates and, since 2009, has raised and contributed more than $17.6 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.

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Paid for by the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and authorized by Veronica Escobar for Congress.