FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 2, 2022

MCV Announces Montana Congressional Delegation Scores in LCV’s 2021 National Environmental Scorecard

(BOZEMAN, Mont.) – Today, Montana Conservation Voters unveiled scores for the Montana congressional delegation in the League of Conservation Voters’ 2021 National Environmental Scorecard. The Scorecard is the primary yardstick for evaluating the environmental records of members of Congress since 1970.

2021 was an unprecedented year. We endured heightened federal attacks on the foundation of our democracy and, in Montana, we continue to face the staggering costs of climate change and the losses from an ongoing global pandemic. The 2021 National Environmental Scorecard had a historically high percentage of votes related to democracy and justice in both chambers, reflecting these intersecting challenges. Those critical democracy-related votes combined with the record number of diverse Biden nominees resulted in a record number of scored votes in the U.S. Senate.

“We are proud to have a Senator that will fight for Montana’s future,” said Montana Conservation Voters’ Executive Director Whitney Tawney. “Time and time again, Senator Jon Tester has stood up for Montana’s health and environment. Unfortunately, Senator Steve Daines and Representative Matt Rosendale continued to side with corporate polluters and refused to protect our right to vote at a critical moment for the country. Montana needs our delegation to work with their colleagues in Congress to pass strong clean energy policies like those in the Build Back Better Act to ensure our state’s healthy and sustainable future.”

Pro-environment and pro-democracy leaders across both chambers and the White House undid much of the damage from the Trump administration and made progress in key areas. While the Build Back Better Act and vital democracy reforms passed the House, they remain stalled in the Senate by unanimous Republican opposition.

In the past 50 years, LCV has never felt it necessary to score the basic votes that uphold our country’s peaceful transfer of power and electoral outcomes. This year was different. With the unprecedented January 6 insurrection and so many attacks by Republican members of Congress on the fundamental tenets of our country’s governance, LCV scored these votes, in both chambers.

“While 2021 was an incredibly difficult year for our democracy and our climate, it was a sea change from the Trump presidency,” said LCV Senior Director of Government Affairs Matthew Davis. “Our pro-environment, pro-democracy trifecta made strides toward an equitable clean energy future in 2021. Senator Jon Tester is a clear champion for our environment and democracy while Senator Steve Daines and Representative Matt Rosendale are not delivering for their communities at a critical time. We see the last year as the foundation for accomplishing the transformational change we need in 2022. The Biden-Harris administration took bold steps towards tackling the interwoven climate and racial justice crises, the House passed the Build Back Better Act and democracy reforms, and now it’s up to the Senate to pass the transformational investments needed to combat the climate crisis and protect our democracy.”

The 2021 Scorecard includes 22 House votes, half of which were justice and democracy-related votes such as the vitally important voting rights bills. The 34 Senate votes include six justice and democracy votes. This reflects the need to safeguard the fundamentals of our governance from numerous federal judiciary and state and local policy attacks on our democracy and voting rights which primarily target people of color.

The full Montana delegation’s scores for 2021 are:

Senator Jon Tester – 94 percent

Senator Steve Daines – 21 percent

Representative Matt Rosendale – 0 percent

LCV has published a National Environmental Scorecard every Congress since 1970. The Scorecard represents the consensus of experts from more than 20 respected environmental and conservation organizations who selected the key votes on which members of Congress should be scored. LCV scores votes on the most important issues of the year, including energy, climate change, environmental justice, public health, public lands and wildlife conservation, democracy, and spending for environmental programs. The votes included in the Scorecard presented members of Congress with a real choice to distinguish which legislators are working for environmental protection.

For more information, visit scorecard.lcv.org.