©2024 League of Conservation Voters
Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
“We forget, right? Every administration looks at this situation and recognizes that it’s not just a near term crisis, where we’re gonna have to try to pump more to deal with it. It’s a long-term crisis. And as long as we depend on oil and natural gas, we’re going to keep coming back here…What we need to do to improve our energy security and protect our national security is what we need to do to deal with climate change.”
— Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Sharon Burke at a press conference on Clean Energy and National Security hosted by Foreign Policy for America, the League of Conservation Voters and Climate Power.
“Climate change is accelerating. Energy independence is necessary, and both are matters of national security.”
— Rep. Chrissy Houlahan at a press conference on Clean Energy and National Security hosted by Foreign Policy for America, the League of Conservation Voters and Climate Power.
“Unfortunately, the site tells a story all too common across the western United States. In an effort to extract as much profits as possible, corporations put communities and their public health and their clean water at risk, these impacts will be felt most directly by communities of color, particularly tribal communities.”
— Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee Rep.Grijalva, speaking on the unjust location of the White Mesa Mill, a site adjacent to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s White Mesa Community and Bears Ears National Monument that was built to process uranium ore but is now an unregulated radio-active waste-disposal service that is harming local communities.
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SUPPORT FOR JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON’S CONFIRMATION TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT: On Thursday, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) sent a letter to the Senate from President Gene Karpinski urging members to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court, adding that this vote will be considered for inclusion in the 2022 Scorecard. It’s worth noting that LCV previously scored Judge Jackon’s confirmation to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in our recently released 2021 Scorecard. To read the letter, click HERE.
OUR TAKE: In the letter to the Senate, LCV President Gene Karpinski said, “In order to protect all of our rights – including the rights to clean air and clean water, to vote and to be equal before the law – we need a Justice who serves all the people, not just deep-pocketed polluters and other special interests. It is clear from Judge Jackson’s long record that she embodies that spirit of impartial public service.”
SUPPORT CONTINUES FOR JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON’S CONFIRMATION TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT: On Monday, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) joined Earthjustice Action and the Sierra Club to launch a digital ad campaign in support of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. When confirmed, Judge Jackson will make history as the first Black woman to serve on the Court in its 233-year history.
OUR TAKE: LCV Advocacy Director for Judiciary & Democracy Doug Lindner said, “Judge Jackson’s confirmation would bring invaluable, long overdue perspective as both the first Black woman and the first public defender ever to serve on our highest court. We need a Supreme Court Justice who respects the laws that protect our democracy and the health of our communities, including the air we breathe and the water we drink. It’s clear from Judge Jackson’s distinguished record on the bench, as Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, and as a federal public defender that she is a jurist of tremendous integrity, skill, and understanding who will serve the people, not corporate polluters.” For the full press release, click HERE.
CLEAN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE: On Tuesday, Foreign Policy for America, LCV and Climate Power hosted a press event focused on clean energy and national security, featuring Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Sharon Burke, Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy Admiral Dennis McGinn, and Representatives Jason Crow, Chrissy Houlahan, Jim Langevin, and Tom Malinowski. Watch a full recording of the event HERE and find key highlights and quotes HERE.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld said, “We stand with the people of Ukraine, and it is abhorrent that oil and gas CEOs are taking advantage of this humanitarian crisis to increase prices and to line their pockets while families across the country feel the pain at the pump from Putin’s price hike. The good news is that Congress already has a solution teed up that will make us less reliant on volatile fossil fuel prices in the future and will address the climate crisis right now. The Senate must meet this moment by passing the $555 billion in climate, clean energy, and environmental justice investments that already passed the House.”
CONNECTING WITH VOTERS ON GAS PRICES: On Wednesday, Hart Research Associates released the results of an in-depth survey conducted on behalf of Climate Power and the League of Conservation Voters that examines what voters believe about the causes of rising gasoline prices and what they want their elected officials to do about them. The survey was conducted March 9th – 10th among a representative national cross section of 1,000 voters. To read the memo, click HERE.
POLLSTERS’ TAKE: Geoff Garin, Jay Campbell and Corrie Hunt of Heart Research said, “One of the most important takeaways from the survey is that it’s essential for Democrats and clean energy advocates to be on the offensive in addressing voters’ concerns about gas prices—both by fixing blame where it belongs [oil and gas execs] and offering a clear path forward to voters [clean energy solutions]. It would be dangerous and political malpractice to stand on the sidelines and let the other side define this debate.”
I FIGHT FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE: This week, Chispa announced a digital video campaign encouraging viewers to get involved in the climate justice movement. The ad, titled, “I Fight for Climate Justice,” brings attention to intentional and institutionalized climate injustices that Latinx and BIPOC communities disproportionately face, and is running in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, and Texas. Watch the ad HERE.
CHISPA TAKE: Chispa National Senior Director Johana Vicente said, “The impacts of climate change are not a future thing. The effects are here right now and impact communities of color disproportionately. From increasing natural disasters to the worsening air quality that our communities breathe, we see and feel the impacts of climate change every day. Fighting for climate justice means fighting for a sustainable planet where communities have access to clean air, clean water, green spaces, and a democracy that represents us all. The future of Madre Tierra and our communities is at stake and we have the power to hold our decision-makers accountable to prioritize climate justice. Together, we can make a difference.” For the full press release, click HERE.
CISNEROS FOR CONGRESS: This week, LCV Action Fund, which works to elect pro-environment candidates, announced its endorsement of Jessica Cisneros for election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas’ 28th Congressional District. Read more about Cisneros and the impact she will make for our environment HERE.
OUR TAKE: LCV Action Fund Vice President of Political Affairs Craig Auster said, “Jessica Cisneros is the climate and environmental justice leader we need in South Texas. Thousands of people in Laredo have lacked clean drinking water this past month due to semi-annual water line breaks – it’s clear South Texans need a representative who will prioritize their health and well-being over corporate polluter profits. LCV Action Fund is thrilled to support Jessica Cisneros’ campaign for Congress because we know she will continue to fight for the health of all communities and clean energy, justice and jobs.”
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CLIMATE SOLUTIONS PASSES MD SENATE: On Monday, the Maryland Senate passed the Climate Solutions Now Act after hours of debate and multiple failed attempts by Republican legislators to amend and weaken it. The bill sets ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 2006 levels by 2030, and reach net-zero emissions by 2045. It also includes goals for reducing emissions from transportation and buildings along with environmental justice and economic development provisions. The bill now moves to the House where multiple counterpart pieces of legislation were introduced but have yet to receive committee votes.
CONNECTICUT WANTS CLEAN ENERGY: On Thursday, executive director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters Lori Brown published an op-ed calling on Rep. David Arconti, Sen. Norm Needleman, and the chairs of the Energy and Technology Committee to take action and advance Senate Bill 10. The bill, which would establish a 100 percent zero-carbon mandate in law, would help reach energy independence during a time in which our reliance on volatile fossil fuel prices are hurting families everywhere. To read the op-ed, click HERE, and find their action alert HERE.
CTLCV TAKE: Connecticut LCV Executive Director Lori Brown wrote, “there is no way that a grid that relies on fossil fuel will be the best path to our children’s future, so we need to get on with making clean energy work. And clean energy is already cost competitive when given a fair chance to compete.”
VERMONT WANTS CLEAN ENERGY: On Tuesday, Lauren Hierl of Vermont Conservation Voters joined Johanna Miller of the Vermont Natural Resources Council, Ben Edgerly Walsh of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, and Jordan Giaconnia of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility in an op-ed highlighting Vermont’s urgent need to transition to clean energy.
ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND LABOR UNIONS WANT CLEAN ENERGY: New York League of Conservation Voters is part of a coalition of environmental organizations and labor unions that are making a final push in the coming weeks to gain the approval of a clean fuel standard in the state budget. The proposal is part of a broader goal to reduce carbon emissions and shift the state to renewable sources of energy in the coming decades.
NYLCV TAKE: New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe said, “We applaud the state Senate on taking important climate action by including the clean fuel standard in its one-house budget. The clean fuel standard will cut fossil fuel use for transportation, clean our air, force the fossil fuel industry to pay for the climate crisis that they created and help us build the clean transportation infrastructure, including electric buses and trucks, that we need. We look forward to continued progress on this bill, which is co-sponsored by the overwhelming majority of members in the State Senate and Assembly, and the ability to make significant progress to reach New York’s climate goals.”
CA RECEIVES D GRADE FOR INACTION ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS: On Tuesday, California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) assigned its first D grade (67%) to the state for its inaction on the climate crisis in 2021. The grade is included in the organization’s annual California Environmental Scorecard, a comprehensive analysis of where the state’s political leaders stand on the environment and the climate crisis. This grade reflects the reality that California is not on track to meet its current goals to address the climate crisis and has not passed significant climate legislation in over three years.In particular, the state Senate has held back California’s climate leadership, letting bill after bill expire.
CEV TAKE: CEO of EnviroVoters Mary Creasman said, “California has failed to take meaningful climate action at the rate and scale that is needed for the crisis. We’re plagued by ‘climate delayers’ in Sacramento – members of the state legislature that talk about climate change but don’t back up those words with action. That’s just as dangerous as denying the existence of climate change. We don’t have time for climate rhetoric without climate results…Corporate polluters’ political influence has already done irreparable damage to our public health and economy, and it could cost us our future. We hope this is a wake-up call to our elected officials: we expect you to put our collective good above corporate interests.” For the full press release, click HERE. To view the California Environmental Scorecard, click HERE.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS FIGHTS FOR CLEAN AIR: On Wednesday, CEO of California Environmental Voters Mary Creasman and secretary-treasurer of the State Association of Electrical Workers Joel Barton published an op-ed highlighting the importance of passing the Clean Cars and Clean Air Act in November. As a state with some of the country’s most polluted air, this initiative would focus on the well-being of all of California’s communities. To read the op-ed, click HERE.
ARIZONA COMMUNITY GETS ITS FIRST ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS: Moms working with Chispa’s grassroots Clean Buses for Healthy Niños campaign successfully pushed for an Arizona school district’s first electric school bus this week. They are boosted by Vice President Kamala Harris, who announced the EPA would distribute $17 million to convert diesel school buses to electric and low emission buses. To read the whole story, click HERE.
IN THE FIELD: Across the nation, communities want climate action now. LCV’s field team has knocked on over 525,000 doors and has activated over 31,000 people to advocate for critical climate legislation. Over 24,500 businesses are displaying their support for climate action, too.
COMING UP:
ALL OF MARCH – Women’s History Month
MARCH 20 – Door Knock for Alaska’s Forrest Dunbar
©2024 League of Conservation Voters