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National Environmental Group Awards Hoyer High Marks


Hoyer Recently Met with Local Environmental Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, October 12, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC – The League of Conservation Voters, a national bipartisan organization devoted to educating citizens about the environmental voting records of federally elected officials, released today their annual Congressional Scorecard for 2006. Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD-05) received a 100% rating, which is a testament to his efforts to protect the environment and promote progressive energy policies.

“It is critical that we protect our environment and pursue responsible energy policies for the good of future generations,” said Hoyer. “I am pleased to have received a positive rating from the LCV again this year.”

Rep. Hoyer met just last week with environmental leaders from throughout Maryland during a luncheon at the Accokeek Foundation to discuss the major challenges facing the region.

“Maryland and the 5th Congressional District are blessed with a number of natural resources and I am committed to their protection,” Hoyer said. “I was pleased to meet with some of the finest environmental leaders in our state last week to discuss the best ways to keep our land, air and water clean.”

Hoyer has led the fight to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent, Potomac, Anacostia, and St. Mary's Rivers. During the 109th Congress, he helped secure $20.8 million for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program Office to address a variety of restoration and water quality issues. Meanwhile, President Bush requested significant budget cuts for the same office.

Hoyer secured funding to enable the purchase of 8,000 acres to add to the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge and 221 additional acres to expand the National Park Service’s Piscataway Park. This acreage preserves green space in Charles and Prince George’s Counties and protects the historic viewshed from George Washington’s Mt. Vernon.

Hoyer has also been an environmental leader on the national level. In July, he introduced the Program for Energy Security (PROGRESS) Act, a comprehensive energy bill that would constitute a major national effort to make substantial gains in technology, conservation and vehicle efficiency, in order to end our dependence on foreign oil and strengthen our economy.

"Congressman Hoyer's perfect 100 percent score in 2006 reflects his deep commitment to protecting the environment for his constituents and the nation as a whole," said LCV President Gene Karpinski. "He understand that Maryland and our nation can help build a new energy economy based on new, alternative and clean sources of energy. Congress can use another hundred Steny Hoyers."

LCV Legislative Director Tiernan Sittenfeld said in a release accompanying the report, "As the American people continue to urge their leaders to help create a clean energy future, unfortunately the last session of Congress only moved us further away from those goals. It's more clear than ever before that Americans are ready for a change when it comes to energy, the environment and public health."

To view the Scorecard, visit www.lcv.org/scorecard.

The Scorecard examines twelve House votes on a range of issues, including offshore drilling, opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, clean water and food safety.

The LCV has published a National Environmental Scorecard every Congress since 1970, the year it was founded by leaders of the environmental movement following the first Earth Day. The national average was 48 percent for House members and 45 percent for Senators.




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