Today, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) released the Vermont Congressional delegation’s scores for the League of Conservation Voters’ 2023 National Environmental Scorecard, which highlights our state’s leaders’ work to protect our environment and democracy. Since 1970, LCV’s Scorecard has been the primary yardstick for evaluating the environmental records of members of Congress. It is available for download at: scorecard.lcv.org.
The 2023 Scorecard shows how Vermont’s delegation fought back against attacks on our democracy and environmental protections unleashed by a chaotic Republican-led House. In the House alone, there were hundreds of dangerous votes to cater to Big Polluters and the most extreme MAGA wing of the Republican party.
This was a dramatic change from 2022, when climate champions led both the House and Senate, and they passed the Inflation Reduction Act – the most significant climate and clean energy investments in American history. This year, our state’s delegation led efforts to help local communities lower energy costs, protect the most vulnerable, and tackle the climate crisis. Unfortunately, gridlock and chaos led to one of the least productive Congresses ever.
“Vermonters should be proud to have leaders who stand up against big polluters and attacks on our environment,” said Lauren Hierl, VCV Executive Director. “Our Scorecard shows that Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, and Representative Balint are working every day to protect our air and water and build a clean energy future. The future of our planet and our democracy are truly at stake. Here in Vermont, we still have to pass priority legislation that builds flood resilience, expands our commitment to renewable energy, allows more smart growth housing, protects our natural resources, and ensures we implement and invest federal dollars so it benefits every community. At the same time, we need leaders like Vermont’s to hold the line for us in Congress.”
“Following the most productive Congress in history for climate action, 2023 was not only the hottest year on record, it was one of the least productive legislative years ever because of MAGA House Republicans’ extreme leadership,” said LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Tiernan Sittenfeld. “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. 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.”
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 forward-looking 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 catastrophic floods that continue to affect Vermont communities require an all-of-government approach that the Biden-Harris administration and Congress helped deliver, despite relentless attempts by the fossil fuel industry and other entrenched interests to put their profits over Vermont.
The 2023 Scorecard includes a near record-high 36 votes in the House, over a dozen of which were messaging amendments offered on major funding bills that had no path to enactment. The Senate in contrast approved four bipartisan appropriations bills and 69 lifetime federal judges with exceptional environmental records.
The full Vermont federal delegation’s scores for 2023 are:
Senator Bernie Sanders (I) – 94% (91% lifetime)
Senator Peter Welch (D) – 100% (95% lifetime)
Representative Becca Balint (D) – 97% (97% lifetime)
###
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.