arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)
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National Environmental Trust by posted by Luc Schrijvers Friday November 24, 2000 at 03:25 PM |
| lucschrijvers@hotmail.com |
U.S. Congressional Delegation to Climate Talks Dominated by America's Most Anti-Environment Legislators THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - Eight of the 12 members of the U.S. Congress attending climate negotiations here rank among the most anti-environment members of the House and Senate, U.S. environmental organizations said today, based on non-partisan ratings.
In addition, the groups said, the eight split more than $1.7 million in campaign contributions during the last
election cycle from U.S. industries that are fighting the Kyoto Protocol.
"This isn't a delegation from the U.S. Congress. It's a delegation
representing America's worst polluting industries," Philip Clapp, president
of the National Environmental Trust, said today.
The report was compiled by the National Environmental Trust (NET) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
"This delegation is way out of step not only with the American public, but with most of the U.S. Congress," Alyssondra Campaigne, legislative director of NRDC, said. "Six of the 'Gang of Eight' supported the pro-environment side on not one single major vote this year. The average member of Congress voted for the environment 47 percent of the time."
The ratings are compiled annually by the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) a non-profit, non-partisan environmental organization. According to LCV, the
average environmental voting score for the "Gang of Eight" during the 1999-2000 106th Congress is four percent.
Senate members of the "Gang of Eight" include Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho),
Sen. Mike B. Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.). House members include Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), Rep. Joseph Knollenberg (R-Mich.) and Rep. James F.Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.).
While the "Gang of Eight" has opposed taking concrete action to address
global warming, their colleagues are beginning to take steps to deal with the problem. In the past 12 months, many leading Republicans in the Senate have started to move forward with common-sense solutions to global warming.
In the House, a bipartisan effort defeated anti-Kyoto Protocol language three times this year sponsored by Rep. Joseph Knollenberg (R-Mich.), a leading critic of the Kyoto Protocol.
Bron :
For more information, contact: Racine Tucker-Hamilton
Deputy Communications Director
National Environmental Trust
202-887-8800
rhamilton@environet.org
web site : http://www.environet.org