U.S. Congressional Delegation at Climate Talks Dominated by Americas Most Anti-Environmental Legislators
Report Details "Gang of Eights" Records of Environmental Degradation
WASHINGTON (November 20, 2000) - Eight of the 12 members of the U.S. Congress attending climate negotiations at The Hague rank among the most anti-environmental members of the House and Senate, according to a report released today by two U.S. environmental organizations. In addition, the report found the eight legislators collectively received more than $1.7 million during the last election cycle from U.S. industries that oppose ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. The report, which was compiled by NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and the National Environmental Trust (NET), is based on non-partisan ratings and campaign contribution filings.
"This delegation is out of step not only with the American public, but with most of the U.S. Congress," said Alyssondra Campaigne, NRDCs legislative director of NRDC. "Six of the Gang of Eight failed to support the environment on any major vote this year. Meanwhile, the average member of Congress voted for the environment 47 percent of the time."
"This isnt a delegation from the U.S. Congress, its a delegation representing Americas worst polluting industries," added Philip Clapp, president of the National Environmental Trust.
Legislators environmental ratings are compiled annually by the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), a non-profit, non-partisan organization. According to LCV, the average environmental voting score for the "Gang of Eight" during the 1999-2000 106th Congress was 4 percent, meaning that on average they voted to protect the environment only 4 percent of the time.
The eight anti-environmental legislators at The Hague climate meeting include Larry Craig (R-Idaho), Mike B. Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) from the Senate, and Joe Barton (R-Texas), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), Joseph Knollenberg (R-Mich.) and James F. Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) from the House of Representatives.
The "Gang of Eight" has consistently opposed taking action to address global warming, but their colleagues in both houses recently have begun to take steps to deal with the problem. Over the past year, for example, many leading Senate Republicans have proposed a range of common-sense solutions. And in the House, a bipartisan effort was able to remove Rep. Joseph Knollenbergs anti-Kyoto Protocol language from three measures this year.