MASSACHUSETTS FEDERAL DELEGATION EARNS PERFECT SCORES ON LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS’ NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD
Today, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) released their 2021 National Environmental Scorecard, giving the entire Massachusetts delegation perfect marks. The Scorecard has evaluated the environmental records of members of Congress since 1970 and is available for download in English here, in Spanish here, and online in both languages at scorecard.lcv.org.
In 2021, the intersection of the threats to our environment, our health, and our democracy was stark. Our federal government endured attacks on our democracy while at home in Massachusetts, we confronted the staggering impacts of climate change, the losses from an ongoing global pandemic, and reckoning with systemic racism. To reflect these intersecting challenges, the 2021 National Environmental Scorecard includes a historically high percentage of votes related to justice and democracy in both chambers.
As the state affiliate of LCV, the Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund is proud to have strong voices representing the Commonwealth in Washington.
“Our delegation is leading on the most pressing issues impacting residents of the Commonwealth,” said ELM Action Fund Executive Director Casey Bowers. “Each of them is using their power to protect our health, our republic, and our environment. But we know the work is far from done. The future of our planet and our democracy are at stake, and Congress has the power to set our country on a path toward a green, just, thriving future. Congress must move swiftly to pass the Build Back Better Agenda and vital voting rights protections to provide solutions to the threat climate change poses to our communities and ensure access to the polls for historically underrepresented populations.”
While we continue to make progress on climate, the environment, and voting rights at the state level, it is critical that we have support from our representatives in the federal government. The 2021 Scorecard’s inclusion of votes related to justice and democracy reflects the increased need to safeguard these fundamental rights from numerous attacks by members of the federal judiciary as well as harmful state and local policies. These restrictions on our democracy and voting rights primarily target people of color, who have for generations borne disproportionate negative impacts of the climate crisis. Of the 22 House votes LCV evaluated, half were in this category. In the Senate, six of the 34 Senate votes LCV considered were related to justice and democracy.
All nine Massachusetts members of the House of Representatives and both Senators scored a perfect score of 100%, reflecting their consistent efforts throughout the year to protect our environment, public health, and democracy.
Senator Elizabeth Warren: 100%
Senator Ed Markey: 100%
Representative Jake Auchincloss: 100%
Representative Katherine Clark: 100%
Representative Bill Keating: 100%
Representative Stephen Lynch: 100%
Representative Jim McGovern: 100%
Representative Seth Moulton: 100%
Representative Richard Neal: 100%
Representative Ayanna Pressley: 100%
Representative Lori Trahan: 100%
About
LCV has published a National Environmental Scorecard every Congress since 1970. The Scorecard represents the consensus of experts from more than 20 respected environmental and conservation organizations who selected the key votes on which members of Congress should be scored. LCV scores votes on the most important issues of the year, including energy, climate change, environmental justice, public health, public lands and wildlife conservation, democracy, and spending for environmental programs. The votes included in the Scorecard presented members of Congress with a real choice and help distinguish which legislators are working for environmental protection. More information on individual votes and the Scorecard archive can be found at scorecard.lcv.org.
The ELM Action Fund is the Massachusetts state affiliate of the League of Conservation Voters. We build political power that meets the scale and urgency of our environmental challenges.
