The following are the votes upon which Vote Climate U.S. PAC has based our 2020 U.S. House 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.
Climate Action Now Act
House Roll Call Vote 184
Issue: Climate Change
Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D, FL-14) sponsored H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, which would honor America’s commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement, recognize the urgency of tackling climate change, and lay the groundwork for further action. Climate change is already having devastating impacts on communities across the country. More extreme storms, record-breaking floods, and raging wildfires are hurting our families and devastating communities, and these impacts and the burden of toxic pollution hit lower income, communities of color, and Indigenous peoples first and worst. H.R. 9 is a strong rebuke of the Trump Administration’s denial of the climate crisis, efforts to undermine progress, and ill-conceived decision to become the only country in the world to reject the landmark Paris Climate Agreement. In response to this utter failure of leadership, governors, mayors, universities, businesses, faith leaders, and investors are stepping up to support climate action to meet this agreement. Just this year, six new governors have joined the U.S. Climate Alliance, bringing the total to 23 states committed to meeting the Paris Climate Agreement’s goals. On May 2, the House approved H.R. 9 by a vote of 231-190 (House roll call vote 184). YES IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.
http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2019-184-climate-action-now-act
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll184.xml
Restoring Protections for the Arctic Refuge
House Roll Call Vote 530
Issues: Dirty Energy, Lands/Forests, Drilling
Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) sponsored H.R. 1146, the Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act, which would reverse a 2017 tax bill provision that mandated the sale of oil and gas leases in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Coastal Plain is considered the cultural and biological heart of the Arctic Refuge: it is home to majestic wildlife such as the Porcupine Caribou (the Gwich’in people’s sacred animal), the polar bear, and the muskoxen. This bill is a major victory for Gwich’in rights and the protection of one of the wildest and most pristine areas in our country. On September 11, the House approved H.R. 1146 by a vote of 225–193 (House roll call vote 530). YES IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.
http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2019-530-restoring-protections-arctic-refuge
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll530.xml
Blocking EPA Enforcement of Methane Rules
House Roll Call Vote 385
Issue: Climate Change
Representative Mullin (R-OK) offered amendment #147 to H.R. 3055, the Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2020, which would have blocked the enforcement of rules for methane emissions from oil and gas operations. Methane is more than 84 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a climate pollutant. Climate change is already having devastating impacts on communities across the country and the costs are piling up. More extreme storms, record-breaking floods, and raging wildfires are hurting our families and devastating communities, and these impacts and the burden of toxic pollution hit lower income, communities of color, and Indigenous peoples first and worst. Unamended, H.R. 3055 is a strong rebuke of the Trump Administration’s denial of the climate crisis, efforts to undermine progress on clean energy solutions, and ill-conceived decisions to double down on dirty fossil fuels. On June 20, the House rejected the Mullin amendment by a vote of 191-241 (House roll call vote 385). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.
http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2019-385-blocking-epa-enforcement-methane-rules
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll385.xml
Stopping the Clean Power Plan and Carbon Pollution Limits for New Power Plants
House Roll Call Vote 381
Issue: Climate Change
Representative Duncan (R-SC) offered amendment #135 to H.R. 3055, the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies omnibus appropriations bill, which would stop enforcement of the Clean Power Plan for existing power plants and carbon pollution standards for new power plants. Climate change is already having devastating impacts on communities across the country. More extreme storms, record-breaking floods, and raging wildfires are hurting our families and devastating communities, and these impacts and the burden of toxic pollution hit lower income, communities of color, and Indigenous peoples first and worst. Unamended, H.R. 3055 is a strong rebuke of the Trump Administration’s denial of the climate crisis, efforts to undermine progress, and ill-conceived decisions to double down on dirty fossil fuels. On June 20, the House rejected the Duncan amendment by a vote of 192-240 (House roll call vote 381). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll381.xml
Stopping Oil and Gas Exploration off the Atlantic Coast
House Roll Call Vote 391
Issues: Drilling, Oceans
Representative Cunningham (D-SC) offered amendment #167 to H.R. 3055, the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies omnibus appropriations bill, which would block any oil and gas exploration off our Atlantic coast, including seismic airgun blasting that is believed to harm to whales and other ocean dwellers. In addition, seaside communities, businesses, and elected officials from both parties have consistently opposed risky offshore drilling because of the grave threat it poses to their way of life, our climate, and local economies that rely on tourism and fishing. This amendment, along with the rest of H.R. 3055, is a strong rebuke of the Trump Administration’s denial of the climate crisis, efforts to undermine progress to clean energy solutions, and ill-conceived decisions to double down on dirty fossil fuels. On June 20, the House adopted the Cunningham amendment by a vote of 245-187 (House roll call vote 391). YES IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.
http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2019-391-stopping-oil-and-gas-exploration-atlantic-coast
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll391.xml
Blocking EPA from Carrying Out Endangerment Finding for CO2
House Roll Call Vote 383
Issue: Climate Change
Representative Gosar (R-AZ) offered amendment #139 to H.R. 3055, the Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2020, which would have blocked the EPA carrying out the requirements of the endangerment finding for carbon dioxide (CO2). Climate change is already having devastating impacts on communities across the country and the costs are piling up. More extreme storms, record-breaking floods, and raging wildfires are hurting our families and devastating communities, and these impacts and the burden of toxic pollution hit lower income, communities of color, and Indigenous peoples first and worst. Unamended, H.R. 3055 is a strong rebuke of the Trump Administration’s denial of the climate crisis, efforts to undermine progress on clean energy solutions, and ill-conceived decisions to double down on dirty fossil fuels. On June 20, the House rejected the Gosar amendment by a vote of 178-254 (House roll call vote 383). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.
http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2019-383-blocking-epa-carrying-out-endangerment-finding-co2
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll383.xml
Blocking the Use of the Social Cost of Carbon in Agency Rules
House Roll Call Vote 362
Issue: Climate Change
Representative Mullin (R-OK) offered an amendment #89 to H.R. 2740, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020, which would have blocked the use of the most up-to-date Social Cost of Carbon during federal agency rulemaking. Climate change is already having devastating impacts on communities across the country and the costs are piling up. More extreme storms, record-breaking floods, and raging wildfires are hurting our families and devastating communities, and these impacts and the burden of toxic pollution hit lower income, communities of color, and Indigenous peoples first and worst. Unamended, H.R. 2740 is a strong rebuke of the Trump Administration’s denial of the climate crisis, efforts to undermine progress, and ill-conceived decision to become the only country in the world to reject the landmark Paris Climate Agreement. On June 19, the House rejected the Mullin amendment by a vote of 186-248 (House roll call vote 362). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.
http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2019-362-blocking-use-social-cost-carbon-agency-rules