See how Oregon’s leaders in Congress voted to protect our health, air, and water in LCV’s 2020 National Environmental Scorecard >>

John —

2020 was a challenging and unprecedented year. To fully grasp how our elected officials responded to the multiple crises we faced (and continue to face), our partners at the national League of Conservation Voters (LCV) just released the 2020 National Environmental Scorecard. It tells the story of a nation in crisis and how Congress responded: How the diverse, pro-environment majority in the House of Representatives took action to address the coronavirus pandemic while also laying the groundwork for a more just, equitable, and sustainable society, and how the Republican-controlled Senate blocked aid at almost every turn. 

2020 also saw the most widespread demands for racial justice in a generation. For the first time, the 2020 National Environmental Scorecard includes votes on removing public monuments to racism, as well as policing and criminal justice reform. That’s because the political and economic forces that perpetuate police violence against Black communities are the same as those that expose communities of color to higher levels of toxic air pollution. LCV and OLCV believe that broken, racist systems must be reformed.

We were so excited to see that Oregon leaders Senators Wyden and Merkley, with identical scores of 92%, continue to fight for us in the senate. Click here to thank Senators Wyden and Merkley! And with perfect scores of 100%, Representatives DeFazio, Blumenauer, and Bonamici led the fight to ensure that the health and environment for the people of Oregon were put first in Congress. Click here to thank Representatives DeFazio, Blumenauer, and Bonamici!

As chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure committee, we also want to acknowledge Chair DeFazio for sponsoring H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, which would reauthorize surface transportation programs, fund water infrastructure improvements, and help tackle climate change and environmental justice through numerous different programs. This wide-ranging infrastructure package would help directly confront environmental racism by, among other policies, replacing lead pipes and reducing the roadway air pollution that exposes Black, Indigenous, and people of color to higher levels of toxic pollution.

Thank you to all our champions!

Knowing exactly what politicians do in Washington, D.C. is core to a functioning democracy. That’s why we invite you to dive into the 2020 National Environmental Scorecard — knowing how our members of Congress voted on issues that impact our families, our communities, and the democracy we all live in is key in holding our elected officials accountable.  

Did Oregon’s senators and representatives fight for you in 2020? Check out LCV’s newly released 2020 National Environmental Scorecard »

How does LCV come up with these numbers? In the House, they scored 21 votes that advanced pro-environment and pro-democracy bills, provisions, and government funding thanks to strong leadership from Speaker Pelosi and others. In the Senate, they scored 13 votes that were largely efforts to confirm President Trump’s radical nominees to the federal judiciary and the executive branch. Sen. Mitch McConnell refused to bring to a vote much needed democracy reforms; climate, water infrastructure, and clean energy investments; and aid to people that the House passed. 

2021 ushered in a new day in Washington, D.C. and slowly the change is beginning to be felt across the nation. Now it’s up to our pro-environment trifecta — President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader Schumer — to enact bold legislation that puts our economy on a path to recovery by making transformative investments in healthy, equitable, safe communities powered by clean energy. It’s time to get our country back on track. 

To make sure that leaders from Oregon continue to step up and fight for our environment, it’s critical that we know how they voted on our behalf in the highest levels of government. It all starts with showing our elected officials that we are paying attention, and that's exactly what LCV's Scorecard has done since 1970. Thank you for being a key part of the democratic process.

View the entire Scorecard online: http://scorecard.lcv.org/ »

Thank you,
Doug Moore, Executive Director OLCV