NY Delegation Scores High Marks on National Environmental Scorecard

New York League of Conservation Voters
(212) 361-6350, Ext. 206

For Immediate Release: February 27, 2019
Contact: Shachar Sharon, ssharon@nylcv.org

NY Delegation Scores High Marks on National Environmental Scorecard
Gillibrand and Schumer Score 100
Nine of 31 Perfect Scores in the U.S. House Earned by Representatives from New York, While New York’s Republicans Outperform Their Colleagues

New York, N.Y. – The national League of Conservation Voters today released it 2018 National Environmental Scorecard. The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) announced that the New York State delegation earned high marks, with both U.S. Senators and the most members of any Congressional Delegation in the country to achieve a perfect score. The Scorecard is the primary yardstick for evaluating the environmental records of every Member of Congress. The New York scores are available here.

“After eight years of the most anti-environmental U.S. House ever and two years of relentless attacks on the environment from the Trump administration, the tectonic shift to a pro-environment majority in the people’s House comes not a moment too soon. We could not be more excited to work with the new pro-environment House majority to protect our air, water, lands, and wildlife, combat the climate crisis, and hold the Trump administration accountable,” said the League of Conservation Voters Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld.

Highlights:

  • Both Senators Schumer and Gillibrand scored 100% and New York was one of 14 states in which both U.S. Senators earned perfect scores.
  • New York had the most members of any U.S. House delegation to earn a perfect score of 100%: Clarke, Engel, Espaillat, Meeks, Meng, Morelle, Nadler, Velázquez, and Serrano.
  • 18 U.S. House members from New York earned a score of 80% or greater.
  • The average House score for New York was 72%, 9th highest out of 50 states and just ahead of Hawaii and New Jersey.
  • None of the 75 members of the U.S. House scoring a 0 were from New York.

Many of New York’s Congressional Republicans voted in favor of clean energy funding, clean air standards, and conserving national forests. This reflects their willingness to support key traditionally bipartisan conversation issues that provide a significant benefit to New York.

“As the Trump administration continued their assault on our most important environmental protections, we are proud that the New York delegation stood up for clean air and water,” said NYLCV President Julie Tighe.  “This scorecard shows that U.S. Senators and Congressmembers from New York value the environment. We look forward to continuing to work with our representatives to combat climate change, advance renewable energy, and conserve our natural resources.”

The 2018 Scorecard measures votes cast during the second session of the 115th Congress. It includes 35 House votes that span the chamber’s assaults on clean air and water, lands and wildlife protections, and investments in clean energy. In the Senate, the majority of the 14 votes scored are confirmation votes on Trump’s anti-environmental nominees.

LCV has published a National Environmental Scorecard every Congress since 1970. The Scorecard represents the consensus of experts from about 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, public health, public lands and wildlife conservation, 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 New York League of Conservation Voters is the only non-partisan, statewide environmental organization in New York that takes a pragmatic approach to fighting for clean water, healthy air, renewable energy, and open space. For more information, visit www.nylcv.org.

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