Donate

Archives: Blog Articles

LCV Action Fund Endorses Senator Wyden for Re-Election

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 Ron Wyden for re-election to the U.S. Senate from Oregon. Senator Wyden has worked to promote clean energy, protect our environment and combat climate change. 

“Senator Wyden has a proven track-record of fighting for our environment,” said LCV Action Fund SVP of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. “He is committed to leaving our children and our grandchildren a clean and safe planet. Senator Wyden knows that we don’t have to choose between growing our economy and protecting our air, water, wildlife and open spaces.” 

“Senator Wyden puts Oregon families first and isn’t afraid to stand up to big polluters,” said Oregon League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Doug Moore. “He understands the importance of safeguarding public health, combating climate change head on and building Oregon’s clean energy economy. Senator Wyden consistently stands up for Oregonians, and is the steadfast leader we need in Washington.”

“I am very happy to receive the endorsement from the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund,” said Senator Wyden. “For years, we have stood shoulder to shoulder to protect our environment against the big polluters and special interests that would carve up some of Oregon’s most spectacular and pristine places for short-term profits. I look forward to continuing our work together to combat the devastating effects of climate change, reduce carbon pollution, and ensure clean air and water for future generations to come.” 

As the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, Senator Wyden has worked hard to extend clean energy tax credits and expand investment opportunities. Also, this year, he introduced legislation to promote the development of geothermal and wave energy while increasing the efficiency of the power grid. 

As a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, he has been an advocate for Oregon’s open spaces and has led efforts to expand wilderness protections for exceptional areas like Mount Hood, the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Badlands and the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. Senator Wyden is also a member of the Senate Oceans Caucus, International Conservation Caucus and Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus.

Wyden has earned a 90% lifetime score on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard. The non-partisan Scorecard is a 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 position. For more information, visit https://scorecard.lcv.org.

Wyden is featured on LCV Action Fund’s GiveGreen website, https://www.givegreen.com, the only bundling website devoted exclusively to raising money for environmental champions and candidates.

###

Paid for by the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and authorized by Wyden for Senate.

LCV Statement on Rep. Bishop’s Bill to Dismantle LWCF

Washington, DC – Today, Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Rep. Rob Bishop, introduced a bill that would dismantle the original intent of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which expired on September 30, 2015 after 50-years of overwhelming success. In response, LCV Land Conservation Fellow Andy French issued the following statement:

“America’s best parks program has died at the hands of Natural Resource Committee Chairman Rep. Rob Bishop. His radical new bill is miles apart from the original intent of the program, which is to conserve places for future generations and increase outdoor recreation opportunities across the country. Instead this bill would filter money meant for conservation to pay for Big Oil’s pet projects and expand drilling off our coasts. We are calling on Bishop to stop these charades and stop blocking the broadly bipartisan bill to breathe the life back into LWCF, so future generations can have the same benefit of America’s best parks program.”

###

LCV Statement on Senate’s Latest Vote to Block the Clean Water Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate voted to permanently block the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers’ Clean Water Rule with S.J. Res. 22, a Congressional Review Act “Resolution of Disapproval.” In response, LCV President Gene Karpinski issued the following statement:

“Not content with the failure of Senator Barrasso’s Dirty Water bill yesterday, Republican Senate leadership decided to continue their assault on clean water by resorting to an obscure and extreme tactic to permanently block pollution protections for waterways. Time and again people across the country and political spectrum have voiced their support for the Clean Water Rule, but some Senators refuse to listen. Instead, they continue to do the bidding of big polluters, placing their profits ahead of the clean water our families, communities, and businesses depend on. Fortunately, President Obama has made clear he would veto this radical attack and remains committed to protecting our water, air, lands, wildlife and climate for generations to come.”

###

LCV Statement on State Dept Rejection of TransCanada’s Request for Suspension of KXL Permit Application

Washington, DC – In response to the State Department’s rejection of TransCanada’s request for a suspension of their Keystone XL pipeline permit application, LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld issued the following statement:

“We couldn’t agree more with the State Department’s decision. After such a long review process this was a ridiculous ploy from TransCanada. We’re confident that President Obama will build on his climate leadership once again by swiftly rejecting this dirty pipeline.”

###

LCV Statement on Defeat of Sen. Barrasso’s Dirty Water Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate voted down S. 1140, Senator Barrasso’s Dirty Water bill. In response, LCV President Gene Karpinski issued the following statement:

“Defeating this bill is a win for everyone who cares about clean, safe drinking water. Senator Barrasso’s Dirty Water bill is no more than a polluter-backed assault on the clean water our families, communities, and businesses depend on. Not only would this legislation have blocked vital protections for the drinking water of one-in-three Americans, it threatened to gut the very Clean Water Act itself. We thank those who stood up to big polluters today, and urge Senate Republican leadership to stop mounting these radical legislative attacks on these popular public health protections, and put the health of the American people before polluters’ profits.”

###

LCV Statement on Energy & Commerce Subcommittee Passage of Resolutions Attacking EPA’s Clean Power Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the Energy and Power Subcommittee’s passage of H.J.Res. 71 and 72, which would remove EPA limits on carbon pollution from power plants, LCV Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo issued the following statement:

“It’s no surprise that some of polluters’ best friends in Congress are once again pushing radical resolutions to permanently stop the EPA from limiting carbon pollution from power plants. These extreme measures ignore the broad and diverse set of stakeholders—including utilities, public health experts, clean energy advocates and others—who have embraced the Clean Power Plan because it protects our health, advances clean energy, and reduces dangerous carbon pollution. We strongly urge Representatives to vote against these radical measures that put polluters’ profits ahead of the American people’s future.”

###

LCV Statement on TransCanada Requesting Suspension of Keystone Permit

Washington, DC – In response to TransCanada requesting a suspension of their Keystone XL pipeline permit, LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld issued the following statement:

“Suspending the Keystone XL permit application at this point would be absurd. This is nothing more than another desperate and cynical attempt by TransCanada to build their dirty pipeline someday if they get a climate denier in the White House in 2017. President Obama and Secretary Kerry have all the information they need to reject this dangerous pipeline, and we are counting on them to do just that.”

###

LCV Statement on the Senate Republican Energy and Environmental Working Group

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the creation of the Senate Republican Energy and Environmental Working Group, LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld issued the following statement:

“We are encouraged by the creation of the Senate Republican Energy and Environmental Working Group and the desire of these senators to more closely align themselves with the majority of Americans who strongly support action to reduce carbon pollution, promote clean energy, and protect our air, water, lands and wildlife. Until the rise of the Tea Party, the environment enjoyed bipartisan support in Congress, and we hope more Republicans in Congress will join this effort so that we can once again pass pro-environment legislation in a bipartisan manner.  In the meantime, this should up the ante on Republican leadership to abandon their radical attacks on commonsense and widely popular environmental protections like the Clean Water Rule and the Clean Power Plan.”

###

LCV Statement on CNBC GOP Debate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At the CNBC Republican primary debate tonight, the moderators asked Senator Graham and Governors Christie, Jindal and Pataki about climate change. In response, LCV Senior Vice President of Campaign Daniel J. Weiss issued the following statement:

“We commend the CNBC debate moderators for bringing up the critical issue of climate change. We were sorely disappointed that the Republican candidates failed to present solutions for the expensive threat posed by climate change, and failed to stand up to big polluters who currently enjoy a free pass to dump unlimited carbon pollution into our air.

“The many costs from unchecked carbon pollution – including higher health expenditures and more extreme weather – would be borne by the taxpayers. The candidates did not address the concerns of the majority of Republican voters who understand that investments in clean energy and environmental protection both benefit public health and grow the economy.”

###

LCV Statement on Rep. Paul Ryan’s Nomination for Speaker of the House

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Republicans nominated Rep. Paul Ryan for Speaker of the House. In response, LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld issued the following statement:

“As the next Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan has an opportunity for a fresh start. We hope he will heed the widespread support from both Democrats and Republicans for protecting the environment and public health, including addressing the climate crisis, promoting clean energy, and safeguarding our air, land, and water. Big polluters have set a divisive agenda in Washington for far too long, threatening the environment and public health to protect their profits. As the next Speaker of the House, we urge Representative Paul Ryan to chart a vastly different course that is consistent with the environmental priorities of the American people, starting with passage of a clean omnibus bill free of anti-environmental riders in the coming weeks.”

###