Washington, D.C. — Today, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) released its 2024 National Environmental Scorecard at a virtual press conference with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) and Andy Kim (NJ) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (ME-01) and Andrea Salinas (OR-06). Since 1970, LCV’s Scorecard has been the primary yardstick for evaluating the environmental records of members of Congress and is available for download here, online at lcv.org/scorecard, and highlighted on LCV social channels. In addition to serving as a recap of last year’s Congress, the votes scored especially in the House provide a chilling preview of what to expect from the new trifecta in Washington this year. 

WATCH: 2024 Scorecard Press Conference

The 2024 Scorecard shows that for the second year in a row, extreme Republicans in the House of Representatives embraced extremism and chaos with messaging bills and radical amendments on government funding bills that were so harmful their own leadership pulled them on more than one occasion — resulting in the least productive Congress in recent history. The House Republican majority catered to Big Polluters and corporate interests with dozens of votes to cut clean energy incentives and remove protections for our environment and our communities. While the House was mired in intentional gridlock caused by the most extreme members of the House Republicans, the Senate continued to confirm strong, well-qualified federal judges, confirming more than any other president and Senate in a recent four-year period.

“In 2024, the House Republican leadership again embraced chaos, dysfunction, and their polluter allies and most extreme members at the expense of our environment, our democracy, and our economy,” said LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. “We applaud the congressional champions who opposed these attacks – especially those to repeal the affordable clean energy plan during the hottest year on record and amidst deadly and devastating climate-fueled extreme weather disasters.”

“You can stack up the evidence of what the Trump administration is doing for its fossil fuel donors, and the context is quid pro quo corruption — corruption, corruption, corruption,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. “We need to make sure that people understand that higher insurance costs and the looming economic catastrophe are climate denial consequences — that the fossil fuel industry owns what is going to happen.”

“There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t think about what kind of America are my kids growing up in? What’s our environment going to be like when they are my age?” said Senator Andy Kim. “We need to continue to push on and be able to show that us taking on this cause, being able to make sure that we have the kind of clean energy that we need, that’s not just good for our environment, good for our communities, but it’s also good for our economy. Right now, more than ever, with so much happening across our government, I know everyone’s feeling like they’re pulled in a million different directions. We have to stay focused. We have to make sure we stay true to the priorities that are out there. And we can’t just be acting in reaction constantly. Otherwise, we’re not going to be able to tackle a problem and a challenge as significant and as difficult and widespread as climate.”

“For decades, the National Environmental Scorecard has been an essential accountability tool for the American people. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee, I’ve seen firsthand how Republicans are pushing extreme, dangerous cuts to vital environmental programs that protect our health, support our communities, and confront the climate crisis,” said Representative Chellie Pingree. “While President Trump, Elon Musk, and Republicans attempt to dismantle clean energy investments and gut environmental protections to benefit Big Oil, I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in defending the progress we’ve made. The Scorecard reveals exactly who’s fighting for our environmental future and who’s selling it out to corporate polluters. At this critical moment, with our democracy and planet under unprecedented threat, we must continue our unwavering defense of the bedrock laws and institutions that safeguard our environment for generations to come.” 

“Now more than ever, we have to stand up against the Republicans’ effort to set us back decades in the fight against climate change,” said Representative Andrea Salinas. “Republicans in Congress want us to focus on rolling back energy efficiency standards for household appliances—standards which would actually reduce energy consumption and save consumers money—instead of engaging on forward-thinking energy policies. We are going to see more and more attacks over the next four years, and we will all need to work closer than ever to defend our environment. LCV’s Scorecard is a critical tool that will hold my colleagues and myself accountable to our constituents—ensuring we don’t lose track of the bigger picture for our environment and our climate as we address the day-to-day challenges facing Americans.”

Integrated into this year’s Scorecard for the third year running, we highlight the leadership of the Tri-Caucus, who led many of the climate, conservation, environmental justice, and equitable democracy bills and initiatives. These pro-environment, pro-democracy champions in Congress fought tirelessly against anti-environmental votes on damaging spending cuts, addressed the climate crisis’ root causes and damaging effects, sought to reduce air and water pollution, successfully advocated for protecting our public lands and waters across the country, and combatted voter suppression and gerrymandering. Leadership of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) scored an average of 97% on the 2024 National Environmental Scorecard.

This year, the 2024 Scorecard includes eight Senate votes, with half on confirming qualified, diverse judges and other nominees and half attacking environmental protections; it includes 33 House votes, 14 of which were on poison pill policy amendments on government funding bills or the extreme underlying bills themselves, two of which were using or further weaponizing the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to block environmental safeguards, and the rest of which were undermining the programs and laws that advance a safe climate, environment, and democracy.  

“The votes of 2024 are also relevant to our current political situation and news of the day — eleven of the thirty-three House votes we included in the 2024 Scorecard were on extreme policy riders that were looking to cater to the most extreme parts of the Republican caucus and to make steep cuts to critical government services and programs,” said LCV Vice President of Federal Policy and former EPA Health Scientist Matthew Davis. “These same discussions and these same cuts are front and center today as we are once again seeing Republicans put us on the brink of a government shutdown over unreasonable and unpopular policy demands.”

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