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LCV Action Fund Endorses Summer Lee for Congress

Jan 27, 2022

Courtnee Connon, courtnee_connon@lcv.org

Washington D.C. – The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, which works to elect pro-environment candidates, announced today the endorsement of State Representative Summer Lee for election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

“Representative Summer Lee is an outspoken advocate for climate and environmental justice and democracy reform for all Pennsylvanians and we could not be more proud to endorse her campaign for Congress,” said LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. “From fighting for cleaner air and water by addressing PFAS pollution to taking steps to protect our democracy for all communities – especially the low income and communities of color who are disproportionately impacted – Representative Lee is the kind of leader we need in Washington.”

“Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania has proudly supported Representative Summer Lee since her successful run for the state legislature in 2018,” said Conservation Pennsylvania Political Director Katie Blume. “She’s been a strong advocate on the intersection of environmental and racial justice, and brings attention to air quality and health issues in her district. We look forward to a Congresswoman Lee who will continue to fight for environmental rights and justice for all Pennsylvanians.”

“The fight for environmental justice is what called me to run for office – because every day the people in my community are forced to breathe some of the most toxic air in the country,” said State Representative Summer Lee. “Every single one of us deserves clean air and water, a healthy environment, and political leaders who will fight for these rights. The League of Conservation Voters has been a leader in environmental progress through action — holding elected officials accountable and fighting back against corporate fossil fuel interests — and I couldn’t be prouder to have their support in this Congressional race.”

Summer Lee was born and raised in the North Braddock and Rankin neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University and earned a law degree from Howard University School of Law, specializing in civil rights and constitutional law. At law school, Lee interned with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and was a student attorney in the Howard University School of Law Civil Rights Clinic, representing and assisting indigent clients with civil rights complaints. After Howard, Summer returned home and led organizing and voter outreach initiatives with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party in 2016. After repeated incidents of violence against students from administrators and police, Summer spearheaded a successful initiative and write-in effort to transform the Woodland Hills School Board. And after winning the primary in 2018, she became the first Black woman from Southwestern Pennsylvania to serve in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. In the legislature, she has sponsored and cosponsored several bills related to climate, environmental justice and democracy reform. These include achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2050; energy efficiency tax credits; to protect clean air, clean water and address PFAS pollution; on fees on plastic and paper bags; on community solar; to establish a native pollinator program in the state Department of Transportation; to use green clean supplies in schools; to create a Fresh Food Financing Program; outlawing inhumane hunting practices and many others. Additionally, she worked alongside community leaders and groups across the Mon Valley to stop a dangerous fracking proposal in its tracks. Representative Lee has earned a 100 percent lifetime score on the Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Scorecard.

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 leaders who stand up for a clean, healthy environment and to defeat anti-environment candidates who oppose climate action. Since the 1990 election cycle, LCVAF has helped elect and re-elect 95 U.S. Senators and 462 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. 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 Summer Lee for Congress.