FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 26, 2025
CONTACT: Cathy Breen, Director of Government Affairs, cathy@maineconservation.org, (207) 329-6142 (cell)
League of Conservation Voters Releases National Environmental Scorecard for Maine’s Delegation
AUGUSTA, ME – Today, Maine Conservation Voters released the Maine delegation’s scores for the League of Conservation Voters’ 2024 National Environmental Scorecard, highlighting that some members of Congress chose to champion the environment and protect our democracy, while others failed to do so. Since 1970, LCV’s Scorecard has been the primary yardstick for evaluating the environmental records of members of Congress. It is available here: https://www.lcv.org/congressional-scorecard.
The Maine delegation’s scores for 2024 are:
Senator Susan Collins – 0%
Senator Angus King – 100%
Representative Chellie Pingree – 100%
Representative Jared Golden – 42%
This year, the 2024 Scorecard includes eight Senate votes, half of which were confirmations of qualified, diverse judges and other nominees and half were attacks on environmental protections. In the House, LCV scored 33 votes,14 of which were poison pill policy amendments on government funding bills or the extreme underlying bills themselves, two of which were using or further weaponizing the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to block environmental safeguards, and the rest undermined programs and laws that advance a safe climate, environment, and democracy.
“In a year when Maine communities were dealt costly storm damage, flooding, and record-breaking extreme temperatures, Mainers should be proud to have leaders like Sen. Angus King and Rep. Chellie Pingree representing them in Washington. They both consistently stood up against big polluters and attacks on our environment – and have the scores to show for it,” said Cathy Breen, MCV’s Director of Government Affairs. “Unfortunately, Rep. Golden’s score continued to drop this year and we encourage him to do more to act on the climate crisis and protect clean air and water. Finally, Sen. Susan Collins, who received a score of 0% on the Scorecard, failed to stand up for Maine values, supporting attacks on our democracy and environmental protections and an agenda that catered to Big Polluters and corporate interests,” continued Breen.
“2024 saw the most extreme members of the House Republicans again manufacturing wasteful, cruel chaos at the expense of the health and safety of our environment, our democracy, and our economy,” said LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. “Unfortunately we must look at 2024’s mostly fruitless attempts to provide more giveaways to Big Oil and other polluters while leaving communities across the country less safe as a trial run for what Trump and his captured Congressional leadership will do in 2025.”
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.
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