Washington, D.C. — In response to incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s announcement today that Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) will lead the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis in the 116th Congress, the League of Conservation Voters released the following statement from Senior Vice President for Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld:

“We are thrilled that the new pro-environment majority in the U.S. House of Representatives is already demonstrating real leadership in confronting the climate crisis. Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi — an environmental champion who oversaw House passage of comprehensive energy and climate legislation as Speaker in 2009 — is making climate action a top priority by reinstating the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and choosing Rep. Kathy Castor to lead this important committee. 

“Castor is a longtime environmental leader with a 93 percent lifetime score on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard. She has been a vocal champion for promoting clean energy, protecting our coasts from offshore drilling and combatting climate change in Florida and across the country as well as a key member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Her strong record on these issues goes back to her time as chair of the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission to more recently helping lead the effort in the House calling on former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to resign.

“As we close the books on one of the hottest years on record, which included tragic extreme weather events here and across the globe, it’s clear that that the climate crisis is a problem of epic proportions. It requires an all hands on deck approach to advance critically-needed solutions, and we look forward to working with Speaker-designate Pelosi, incoming Select Committee Chair Castor, all the committees of jurisdiction, and all willing members of Congress to do just that.”