Dear John,

The harsh and devastating reality of Trump 2.0 has cast a dark shadow over Oregon and the nation. As federal protections for clean air, clean water, public lands, and climate are dismantled one by one, the responsibility to defend Oregon’s people and environment now falls squarely on our state’s leaders.

The 2025 session left much work undone. A transportation package that centers climate and equity stalled. Critical water protections were killed behind the scenes. Conservation and wildlife funding was derailed at the last minute. Even with Democratic supermajorities, Oregon was left playing defense while Trump’s administration advanced a full-scale rollback of environmental protections.

We cannot afford to lose another year. That starts with holding our elected leaders accountable. OLCV’s Environmental Scorecard is exactly the tool to do that, and it was just released today! Check to see how your legislators voted by clicking here.  Now you, John, can take action to hold our legislators accountable!

We expect leadership equal to this moment — leadership that refuses to let Washington, D.C. dictate our future. Leadership that acts with urgency, courage, and moral clarity to defend our state’s values, protect our communities, and build the clean, just, and resilient future we all deserve.

Oregon lawmakers fell short on climate action this past session, so this year we decided not to give out legislative awards in the 2025 Scorecard, but instead to our volunteers who showed up for our environment. Yet another change we made to the Scorecard this year was the introduction of a 5% dedication in any legislator’s score who sponsored a Major Threat. This is a response to the increased number of legislators sponsoring Major Threats during the 2025 session, which is deserving of accountability.

That cannot allow a repeat of the 2025 session. Oregonians deserve leaders who take real action. This is the moment for Oregon to lead.

We are calling on Oregon legislators to:

1. Defend Oregon from federal rollbacks. Take bold, proactive action to shield our state’s air, water, land, and communities from the devastating impacts of Trump’s agenda.
2. Center equity and climate in every major policy package. From transportation to revenue, climate justice must guide your decisions.
3. Fund Oregon’s future. Protect investments in natural resources, community resilience, and clean energy programs that are under attack at the federal level.
4. Deliver the climate progress Oregonians demand. The 2026 short session must not be a pause — it must be a launchpad.

It’s time to let our legislators know we are watching, that the people who breathe this air, drink this water, and call Oregon home are counting on them to rise to the challenge.

Even as federal protections crumble, Oregon can be — must be — a beacon. A place where we still believe in science, in stewardship, in justice, and in the power of people to make a difference.

Oregon’s future depends on what our legislators do next. Tell your legislators today that it’s time for them to lead boldly, protect what we love, and defend Oregon!

Sincerely,

Eliza Walton (she/they)

OLCV Coalition Director

Oregon League of Conservation Voters
1110 SE Alder Suite 220
Portland, OR 97214
United States

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