Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) earned a 100% rating in 2010 for his votes on environmental issues from the League of Conservation Voters.  Rep. Engel is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power.

“I am very proud of my environmental record, and I applaud the League of Conservation Voters for their tireless advocacy on behalf of the environment. I will continue fighting to protect our environment as well as all efforts of the Republicans in Congress to stop funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and turn back the clock to a time when corporations could pollute unchecked. I remain hopeful we can get back on track and achieve a national energy policy which focuses on halting and reversing the effects of climate change, and ending our nation’s dependence upon foreign oil,” said Rep. Engel.

Rep. Engel’s perfect score included a vote for a bill to respond to the oil spill disaster in the Gulf with unlimited liability for responsible parties and reforms to the drilling and regulatory process.  It also included votes to boost energy efficiency, prevent ocean acidification, reduce algae blooms, restore the Upper Mississippi River Basin, expand water education, and protect our estuaries. 

“Rising energy costs and falling energy security, both of which are directly tied to our overwhelming dependence foreign oil, are dangerous in both the short and long term for our country.  Our transportation sector relies heavily on oil, so rising prices at the pump affect businesses and every person who drives a car.  We can fix this by advancing the Open Fuel Standard Act – which I wrote and previously introduced – which would make alternative energy options standard in new vehicles,” added Rep. Engel.

Rep. Engel also introduced in the previous Congress, the Denial of Certain Tax Benefits to Offending Oil Polluters Act of 2010, which would prohibit oil polluters from receiving tax benefits for costs associated with cleaning up an oil spill.  BP claimed billions in tax benefits related to the costs of cleaning up their catastrophic spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

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