The following are the votes upon which Vote Climate U.S. PAC has based our U.S. Senate score in the “Votes” category of our national, Climate Change Voter’s Guide. Descriptions of legislation and the votes were obtained from the League of Conservation Voters National Environmental Scorecard.

Methane Emissions

Resolution to Repeal Rule to Curb Emissions of Methane Vote

2017

Senate Roll Call Vote 125 (H. J. Res. 36 )

Issue: Climate Change

The Senate rejected efforts to roll back an Obama-era rule limiting methane emissions from energy production sites on federal land.

The Senate rejected the resolution by a vote of — 49-51 —, which would have repealed the Bureau of Land Management’s Methane Waste and Prevention Rule. NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL VOTE.

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00125

Climate Change Science

2015

Senate Roll Call Vote 12

Issue: Climate Change

Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) offered an amendment to S.1, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act, which expresses the sense of Congress that climate change is real and that man-made pollution is a significant contributor to climate change. 2014 and 2015 were the two hottest years on record, and this amendment references the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other scientific institutions. On January 21, the Senate rejected the Schatz amendment by a vote of 50-49 (60 votes were needed for passage; Senate roll call vote 12). YES IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL VOTE. http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2015-12-climate-change-science-0

International Climate Action

2015

Senate Roll Call Vote 20

Issue: Climate Change

Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) offered an amendment to S.1, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act, which undermines the United States’ ability to encourage other countries to address climate change and would be a significant setback in the global fight against climate change. The Blunt amendment seeks to undermine the November 2014 U.S.-China announcement that demonstrated both countries’ commitment to tackling this challenge and builds momentum toward a global solution to the climate crisis. On January 22, the Senate rejected the Blunt amendment by a vote of 51-46 (60 votes were needed for passage; Senate roll call vote 20). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2015-20-international-climate-action-0

Responding to the Threat of Climate Change

2015

Senate Roll Call Vote 115

Issue: Climate Change

Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) offered an amendment to S. Con. Res. 11, the Senate version of the FY16 budget, which would create a deficit-neutral reserve fund related to responding to the threat climate change poses to our economy and national security. The Bennet amendment encourages the adoption of clean energy, the increased use of energy efficiency, and a reduction in carbon emissions. On March 26, the Senate approved the Bennet amendment by a vote of 53-47 (Senate roll call vote 115). YES IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. The Bennet amendment was not included in the final Budget Conference Report that was approved by the House on April 30 and the Senate on May 5.

http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2015-115-responding-threat-climate-change-0

Climate Change Science Education

2015

Senate Roll Call Vote 238

Issue: Climate Change

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) offered an amendment to S. 1177, the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015, which would establish a K-12 climate change education grant program. Participating states would compete for grants in order to create climate change science and solutions curriculum, teacher trainings, and to achieve sustainable building standards. On July 15, the Senate rejected the Markey amendment by a vote of 44-53 (Senate roll call vote 238). YES IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.

http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2015-238-climate-change-science-education-0

Extreme Attack on Carbon Pollution Limits for New Power Plants (CRA)

2015

Senate Roll Call Vote 307

Issue: Climate Change

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) sponsored S.J. Res. 23, the Congressional Review Act “Resolution of Disapproval” that would block the Environmental Protection Agency’s carbon pollution standards for new and modified power plants. S.J. Res. 23 is an extreme measure would permanently block these clean air protections, putting our health at risk and slowing our country’s transition to an economy powered by clean energy. On November 17, the Senate approved S.J. Res. 23 by a vote of 52-46 (Senate roll call vote 307). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. Following its passage in the House, President Obama vetoed S.J. Res. 24 on December 18.

http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2015-307-extreme-attack-carbon-pollution-limits-new-power-plants-cra

Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline (KXL)

2014

Senate Roll Call Vote 280

Issues: Climate Change, Dirty Energy

Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) sponsored S. 2280, a bill to automatically approve the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, which would transport the world’s dirtiest oil through the American heartland to an international shipping port on the Gulf Coast where it would be exported. Keystone XL would lead to a significant expansion of tar sands development, unleashing massive amounts of carbon pollution and threatening surrounding communities, ecosystems, and watersheds including the Ogallala aquifer, which provides drinking water for millions of Americans. Despite these threats, Keystone XL would create just 35 permanent jobs and would not enhance American energy independence. S.2280 would short circuit the federal approval process, eliminating the State Department’s ability to assess whether the pipeline is in the national interest and the President’s authority to ultimately approve or reject the project. On November 18, the Senate rejected S. 2280 by a vote of 59-41 (60 votes were needed for passage; Senate roll call vote 280). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.

http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2015-12-climate-change-science-0

Pricing Carbon Pollution

2013

Senate Roll Call Vote 59

Issue: Climate Change

Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) sponsored an amendment to S. Con. Res. 8, the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Resolution, which would prevent Congress from enacting legislation that would place a federal tax or fee on carbon emissions. This amendment would limit Congress’s ability to address climate change, which poses a severe threat to our economy, health, and environment, and would rule out a promising source of revenue for the government. On March 22, the Senate rejected—by a vote of 53-46—a procedural motion that would allow a vote on the Blunt amendment (60 votes were needed for passage; Senate roll call vote 59). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.

http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-59-pricing-carbon-pollution