For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024

Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org

RICHMOND – Today, Virginia LCV released the Virginia delegation’s scores for the League of Conservation Voters’ 2023 National Environmental Scorecard highlighting how some members chose to champion the environment and protect our democracy, while others failed to do so. Since 1970, LCV’s Scorecard has been the primary yardstick for evaluating the environmental records of members of Congress. It is available for download in English here, in Spanish here, and online in both languages at scorecard.lcv.org.

The 2023 Scorecard shows the stark contrast between pro-environmental members of Congress and extreme MAGA Republicans in Congress. This year, many in our state’s delegation like U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, and U.S. Reps. Don Beyer, Gerry Connolly, Jennifer McClellan, Bobby Scott, Abigail Spanberger, and Jennifer Wexton worked to fight back against attacks on our democracy and environmental protections unleashed by a chaotic, MAGA Republican-led House that took hundreds of dangerous votes to cater to Big Polluters and the most extreme wing of their party.

This was a dramatic change from 2022, when climate champions led both the House and Senate, passing the most significant climate and clean energy investments in American history. In 2023, Congressional gridlock and chaos created by MAGA extremists led to one of the least productive Congresses ever.

“We are grateful here in Virginia to have a congressional delegation that by and large works to advance strong environmental protections, address the climate crisis, and protect our democracy from extreme, MAGA attacks. The dysfunction and chaos in the House of Representatives throughout 2023 was a disservice to Virginians and the American people and we sincerely hope that better days are ahead in Congress,” said Virginia LCV Executive Director Michael Town. “We don’t have time to waste when it comes to addressing the climate crisis and securing our clean energy transition, and it’s imperative that the next Congress picks up where we left off in 2022. Here in Virginia, one of the state’s most impacted by rising sea levels, we’re working hard to stay the course on cutting pollution, creating clean energy jobs, and protecting clean air for all Virginians. Virginia’s Congressional delegation must continue doing everything it can in Washington to bring investment to our state and to pass policies that protect clean air and water and secure a democracy that works for everyone.”

“Following the most productive Congress in history for climate action, 2023 was not only the hottest year on record, it was one of the least productive legislative years ever because of MAGA House Republicans’ extreme leadership,” said LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. “The last Congress showed that transformational change that works for both our communities and our planet is possible when our elected leaders come together to pass meaningful legislation that will tackle the climate crisis and environmental injustice. In 2023, the near record number of House votes included underscores that the new House Republican majority did the bidding of Big Polluters and sought to undo the Biden-Harris administration’s historic leadership on climate change. We appreciate our allies in the House who consistently opposed these attacks and, thanks to champions in the Senate and the President’s steadfast leadership, these attempts to undermine the historic affordable clean energy plan were unsuccessful.”

For the second year, the 2023 Scorecard highlights the leadership of the Tri-Caucus, including the history-making election of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries as the first member of the Tri-Caucus elected to lead either chamber. Leadership of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) scored an average of 99% on the 2023 Scorecard. These champions in Congress led and supported many of the climate, conservation, environmental justice, and equitable democracy bills and initiatives in 2023, in addition to helping to educate constituents and connect communities to the transformational investments within the affordable clean energy plan.

The growing impacts of the climate crisis required an all-of-government approach that Congress helped deliver, despite relentless attempts by the fossil fuel industry and other entrenched interests to put their profits over Virginia.

The 2023 Scorecard includes 36 votes in the House several of which were messaging amendments offered on major funding bills. The Senate in contrast approved 69 lifetime federal judges with exceptional environmental records.

The full delegation’s scores for 2023 are:

U.S. Senate

 

U.S. House of Representatives

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 helped distinguish which legislators are working for environmental protection. More information on individual votes and the Scorecard archive can be found at scorecard.lcv.org.

About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.

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