Press Releases

(Honolulu, HI) –  One of the country’s leading environmental watchdog organizations today released its 2020 National Environmental Scorecard and gave U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) its top ranking of 100%.

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV), whose motto is “Our Earth Is Worth Fighting For,” ranked Case’s record last year on key national initiatives to achieve climate action, environmental justice, clean air and water, a clean energy future and public and sacred resources protection.

“I truly treasure this recognition by the LCV of my record on this most basic of obligations, not just for my Hawai‘i but for our country and world,” said Case, who served in the 116th Congress (2019-2021) as a member of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources with jurisdiction over national environmental policy. 

Case also cited specific areas of focus, including:

·         As a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government, he advanced appropriations of $5.45 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including increased funding for the agency’s research and conservation work in our oceans, as well as world-leading climate change research at Mauna Loa Observatory;

·         He secured the inclusion of two measures he introduced, H.R. 3384, the Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act, and H.R. 6738, the Coral Reef Reauthorization Act of 2020, in the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis’ comprehensive report and recommendations;

·        He introduced the Hawai‘i Invasive Species Act (and re-introduced it this year) to protect the state’s unique ecosystems, natural resources and agricultural communities from the crippling effects of invasive species;

·         He partnered with his colleague Jared Huffman (CA-2), the Chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife on which Case also served, to conduct a national listening session on changes to our nation’s primary federal fisheries law, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, including a session which he chaired at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, and then to propose amendments to be addressed in the current Congress.

Case also secured reappointment for the current 117th Congress (2021-2023) to the House Natural Resources Committee and, yesterday, to the following three key subcommittees with jurisdiction over critical areas for Hawai‘i:

·        Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife, whose responsibilities include our nation’s and world’s oceans;

·        Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, whose responsibilities encompass protection and expansion of our nation’s crown jewels; and

·        Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States, whose responsibilities include Native Hawaiians.

“There is so much in my Natural Resources Committee and subcommittees of critical importance not just to our country but specifically to our Hawai‘i,” said Case. “I am truly looking forward to leveraging my position on Natural Resources and Appropriations and my relationships in and out of Congress to pursue and expand initiatives in all of these areas.”

NOTE: The LCV scorecard can be found here scorecard.lcv.org. 

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