League of Conservation Voters Releases National Environmental Scorecard For Michigan Delegation
SCORES HIGHLIGHT MICHIGAN DELEGATION’S VOTES ON ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Today, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters released the Michigan 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 opponents of environmental progress. This year, many in Michigan’s delegation like Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, and Reps. Dan Kildee, Debbie Dingell, Haley Stevens, Rashida Tlaib, and Elissa Slotkin worked to fight back against attacks on our democracy and environmental protections unleashed by the anti-conservation majority in the House that took hundreds of dangerous votes to cater to Big Polluters.
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, some in our state’s delegation supported legislation that benefits people and the planet. But, unfortunately, some actively worked against it. This type of Congressional gridlock and chaos created by opponents of progress on the environment and climate led to one of the least productive Congresses ever.
“Michiganders should be proud to have pro-environment, pro-climate representatives in Washington, D.C. who are working to safeguard Michigan’s natural resources and incredible Great Lakes, hold corporate polluters accountable, and ensure a clean, healthy climate for future generations,” said Bentley Johnson, federal government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “Here in Michigan, we have made incredible progress in the past year by passing historic clean energy legislation that makes our state a national leader in clean energy advancement and climate action. Michigan’s congressional delegation must continue to help our state and our communities benefit from federal investments while Michiganders hold opponents of environmental progress accountable.”
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 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,” said LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. “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.”
The accelerating climate crisis and impacts from extreme weather, frequent and prolonged power outages, and more 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 Michigan.
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. In 2023, pro-conservation members of Michigan’s congressional delegation were in lock-step, voting consistently to protect our water, divest from fossil fuels, and tackle the climate crisis.
The full delegation’s scores for 2023 are:
SENATE:
Senator Debbie Stabenow – 94 percent
Senator Gary Peters – 94 percent
HOUSE:
Representative Jack Bergman – 0 percent
Representative John Moolenaar – 6 percent
Representative Hillary Scholten – 97 percent
Representative Bill Huizenga – 6 percent
Representative Tim Walberg – 0 percent
Representative Debbie Dingell – 100 percent
Representative Elissa Slotkin – 100 percent
Representative Dan Kildee – 100 percent
Representative Lisa McClain – 0 percent
Representative John James – 14 percent
Representative Haley Stevens – 100 percent
Representative Rashida Tlaib – 100 percent
Representative Shri Thanedar – 100 percent
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.