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Today, we released our 2024 National Environmental Scorecard, and I wanted to make sure you saw it first. |
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Our Scorecard has been the primary yardstick for evaluating the environmental records of members of Congress since 1970 — trusted by the media, policymakers, and the public alike. You can download it here (PDF) or visit our newly updated lcv.org/scorecard. In addition to serving as a recap of last year’s Congress, the votes scored, especially in the House, provide a chilling preview of what to expect from the new anti-environmental, anti-democracy trifecta in Washington this year. |
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The 2024 Scorecard shows that, for the second year in a row, Republicans in the House of Representatives embraced extremism and chaos. Their bills and radical amendments to government funding bills were so harmful that the party’s own leadership pulled them four times — resulting in the least productive Congress in recent history. The House Republican majority catered to Big Polluters and corporate interests with dozens of votes to cut clean energy incentives and remove protections for our environment and our communities. While the House was mired in intentional gridlock fueled by its most extreme Republican members, the Senate continued to confirm strong, highly-qualified federal judges, confirming more than any other recent president and Senate in a four-year period. |
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“2024 saw the most extreme members of the House Republicans again manufacturing wasteful cruelty and chaos at the expense of the health and safety of our environment, our democracy, and our economy. We applaud the congressional champions who opposed these attacks — especially those to repeal the affordable clean energy plan during the hottest year on record and amidst deadly and devastating climate-fueled extreme weather disasters.” |
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— LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld |
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For the third year running, this year’s Scorecard highlights the leadership of the Tri-Caucus, whose members led many of the climate, conservation, environmental justice, and equitable democracy bills and initiatives. These pro-environment, pro-democracy champions in Congress fought tirelessly against anti-environmental votes on damaging spending cuts, addressed the climate crisis’ root causes and damaging effects, sought to reduce air and water pollution, successfully advocated for protecting public lands and waters across the country, and combatted voter suppression and gerrymandering. Leadership of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) scored an average of 97% on the 2024 National Environmental Scorecard. |
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The 2024 Scorecard includes eight Senate votes, half of which were regarding confirmation of qualified, diverse judges and other nominees and half of which attacked environmental protections. It includes 33 House votes, 14 of which were on radical policy changes unrelated to funding levels amended to or buried within government funding bills, two of which sought to use or further weaponize the Congressional Review Act to block environmental safeguards, and the rest of which were aimed at undermining the programs and laws that advance a safe climate, environment, and democracy. |
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Thank you, Friend, for your support in holding members of Congress accountable to protect our environment and democracy. We couldn’t do this work without you! |
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Gene Karpinski
President
League of Conservation Voters |
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