Washington, DC - Environment America, a federation of environmental advocacy organizations, named Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) an Environmental Champion in their 2009 Congressional Scorecard report with a score of 100% on pro-environment votes. The 2009 Congressional Scorecard report was based on key environmental votes from May 2007 to September 2009. Congressman Dingell was among 144 representatives that took the pro-environment position on 100% of the votes tracked for the report. Other members of the Michigan delegation were also highlighted as Environmental Champions including Representatives Dale Kildee (D-MI05), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI13), Sander Levin (D-MI12), Gary Peters (D-MI09), and Mark Schauer (D-MI07), as well as Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
Environment America scored votes like designating $80 billion in funding for clean energy and green transportation through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the passage of a comprehensive clean energy and global warming bill through the House, and legislation to protect more than 2 million acres of public lands.
When told of his designation as an Environmental Champion Congressman Dingell said “Environment America and I share the goal of protecting America’s air, water, and open spaces. I am grateful for the important work Environment America does and am pleased to be named one of their Environmental Champions. I have worked tirelessly throughout my career to pass legislation that will protect and benefit the environment and am quite pleased with the progress that was able to be made over the last year and a half through some very important environmental votes in Congress. I look forward to further progress in cooperation with President Obama, like-minded Members of Congress, and organizations such as Environment America in the future.”
Environment America’s Washington Director, Anna Aurilio, said “We applaud 184 members of both the House and Senate for being champions of the environment. These members received a 100 percent scores for consistently voting to protect the environment.” She went on to say “while we’ve made good progress in the past year and a half, Congress has a lot of work ahead in 2010 to ensure clean air, safe drinking water and a healthy future…We urge other members of Congress to join with those Representatives and Senators who already stand up to special interests and put the environment first.”
To see the report, go to http://www.environmentamerica.org/uploads/e1/67/e1677f45ab0f0777a39917649773e9da/Env-America---Scorecard.pdf.
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