Can we count on John McCain to stand up for our environment? John McCain has served in the Senate for far longer than Barack Obama, but, as you can see, his voting record on environmental issues hasn’t changed much since the early 90s. While McCain has had many opportunities to improve his record in recent years, he simply hasn’t been a reliable voice for our environment: Sen. McCain has been absent for 11 key environmental votes since June 2005, compared to a single absence for Sen. Obama. Click here to see a head-to-head comparison.
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LIFETIME
SCORE
86% |
LIFETIME
SCORE
30% |
H.R. 5140 (Roll Call #8)
2/6/08 |
Energy: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced an amendment including clean energy incentives to the Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008. The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on Sen. Reid's (D-NV) amendment by a 58-41 vote.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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MISSED
VOTE |
H.R. 6 (Roll Call #425)
12/13/07 |
Energy: The renewable energy production tax credit, the solar energy production tax credit and other clean energy investments are set to expire in 2008. The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture on an energy bill that combines renewable tax incentives and fuel economy standards 59-40.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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MISSED
VOTE |
H.R. 6 (Roll Call #416)
12/7/07 |
Energy: A national Renewable Electricity Standard will substantially reduce global warming pollution while sparking a clean energy boom across the country. The Senate failed to invoke cloture on an energy bill that included a RES, renewable tax incentives and increased fuel economy 53-42.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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MISSED
VOTE |
H.R. 6 (Roll Call #225)
6/21/07 |
Energy: The Senate voted to invoke cloture on the Energy bill that included an increase in CAFE standards 62-32.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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MISSED
VOTE |
H.R. 6 (Roll Call #226)
6/21/07 |
Energy: The Senate passed an Energy bill that included an increase in CAFÉ standards 65-27.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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MISSED
VOTE |
H.R. 6; S. Amdt. 1704 (Roll Call #223)
6/21/07 |
Energy: The Energy Advancement and Investment Act of 2007 was added as an amendment to the energy bill. It reduced tax breaks to oil and gas companies by $13 billion and extended $21.8 billion in tax credits to energy efficiency and renewables. The Senate failed to invoke cloture 57-36.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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MISSED
VOTE |
H.R. 6; S. Amdt. 1628 (Roll Call #213)
6/19/07 |
Energy: Converting coal to a liquid transportation fuel is a dirty process that creates more than twice the greenhouse gas emissions of conventional oil. The Senate defeated an amendment by Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) to the energy bill that would have mandated 6 billion barrels of liquid coal by 2022 by a vote of 39-55.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
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MISSED
VOTE |
H.R. 6 (Roll Call #211)
6/14/07 |
Energy: The Senate rejected an amendment by Sen. Mitch McConnell for Sen. Peter Domenici that would have introduced a Renewable Electricity Standard that included nuclear, fossil fuels and other dirty energy sources in its definition of renewables. The Senate voted to table the amendment 56-39.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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MISSED
VOTE |
H.R. 6 (Roll Call #212)
6/14/07 |
Oceans: Sen. John Warner (R-VA) attempted to modify the offshore drilling moratorium by allowing the Governor of Virginia to petition the Secretary of the Interior to allow natural gas exploration at least 50 miles from the coast. The amendment was defeated 43-44.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
MISSED
VOTE |
MISSED
VOTE |
H.R. 1495 (Roll Call #166)
5/15/07 |
Global Warming: Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) offered an amendment to require the Army Corps of Engineers to consider the short- and long-term effects of global warming in planning water resource projects. The amendment failed 51-42 (need 60 votes to pass).
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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MISSED
VOTE |
H.R. 2863 (Roll Call #364)
12/21/05 |
Arctic Refuge: Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) inserted drilling language into the Defense Appropriations bill. The must-pass bill included funds for both U.S. troops and hurricane relief. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and other drilling opponents led an effort to remove the drilling language from the Defense bill and filibustered. The Senate voted 56-44 to end debate on the bill, short of the 60 votes necessary to move the bill forward. The House and Senate then approved a revised conference report that included other drilling provisions but left ANWR intact.
PRO ENVIRONMENTAL VOTE: NO |
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S. 2020 (Roll Call #332)
11/17/05 |
Energy: In 2005, the oil industry enjoyed record profits because of high oil and gasoline prices. At the same time, the Congressional Research Service has stated that the oil industry pays taxes at a rate significantly lower than any other industry. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) offered an amendment to the tax reconciliation bill to repeal a tax break worth $2.4 billion over five years to the oil and gas industry. The Senate voted 48-51 against the amendment.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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S. 1932 (Roll Call #303)
11/3/05 |
Arctic Refuge: In March 2005, the Senate voted to include language in the Senate Budget resolution that counted revenue from oil and gas leasing and drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge. The Senate voted 52-47 to approve the budget reconciliation package, which included this “assumption of revenue” language.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
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H.R. 3010 (Roll Call #270)
10/26/05 |
Energy: Even before Hurricane Katrina hit, natural gas prices were climbing. After Katrina, natural gas prices skyrocketed to the highest in more than a decade. During consideration of the Senate budget resolution, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) offered an amendment to increase low income heating assistance by $2.92 billion. Opponents of the amendment raised a procedural issue to require a two-thirds majority vote. The Senate voted 54-43 to approve the amendment, which was not enough to overcome the procedural hurdle. PUBLIC INTEREST VOTE: YES |
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S.J. Res.20 (Roll Call #225)
9/13/05 |
Clean Air: Mercury can affect the way children think, learn, and grow, causing problems ranging from learning disabilities to mental retardation. In March 2005, the Bush administration finalized new rules to give power plants, the largest U.S. source of mercury emissions, until 2018 to reduce their mercury emissions. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced a rare Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Bush rule. The Senate rejected the resolution by a 47-51 vote.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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H.R. 6 (Roll Call #213)
7/29/05 |
Energy: After the House passed its energy bill, the Senate passed a slightly better energy bill that included a requirement to increase renewable energy production and acknowledged the need for a mandatory limit on global warming pollution. However, when the House-Senate energy conference committee convened in the summer of 2005, it abandoned these few positive Senate provisions. The Senate approved the weaker conference report for by a vote of 74-26.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
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H.R. 2361 (Roll Call #164)
6/29/05 |
Preservation: In June 2005, the Senate voted on a bill to build taxpayer subsidized roads in the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska, the world’s largest remaining old-growth temperate rainforest. The construction of roads is a prelude to logging and development. During consideration of the Interior Appropriations bill, Senators John Sununu (R-NH) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced an amendment to end taxpayer subsidies for new commercial logging roads in the Tongass. Their amendment failed by a 39-59 vote.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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H.R. 6 (Roll Call #155)
6/23/05 |
Energy: The Senate energy bill contained $8.8 billion in subsidies for the nuclear industry, $5.6 billion for the coal industry, and $7.4 billion for the oil and gas industry. These subsidies disproportionately benefit capital intensive industries such as coal and nuclear power. Sens. John Sununu (R-NH) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) offered an amendment to strip these subsidies from the energy bill. The Senate rejected the amendment 21-76 .
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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H.R. 6 (Roll Call #157)
6/23/05 |
Global Warming and Energy: During consideration of the Senate energy bill, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) proposed an amendment to raise the CAFE standard for cars and light trucks to 40 mpg by 2016. The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 28-67.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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H.R. 6 (Roll Call #146)
6/22/05 |
Energy: Liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals pose potential safety hazards for local communities; an explosion at an LNG facility could kill and injure people within three-quarters of a mile. In its original form the energy bill contained a provision that preempted all state authority and made the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the main decision maker for siting these facilities. By a 52-45 vote the Senate voted to table an amendment offered by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to strike the provision.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
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H.R. 6 (Roll Call #149)
6/22/05 |
Global Warming: Global warming is the one of the most pressing issues our country faces, but the federal government does not limit global warming emissions. As part of its 2005 energy bill deliberations, the Senate considered a non-binding “Sense of the Senate” resolution calling for a mandatory program to “slow, stop, and reverse” global warming emissions. The motion to table failed by a vote of 44-53.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
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H.R. 6 (Roll Call #141)
6/16/05 |
Energy: A renewable energy standard requires power companies to generate an increasing percentage of electricity from clean renewable sources, such as solar and wind. During Senate consideration of the energy bill, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) offered an amendment to set a national renewable energy standard of 10% by 2020. The Senate adopted the amendment by a vote of 52-48.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
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S. Con. Res.18 (Roll Call #52)
3/16/05 |
Arctic Refuge: In 2005, the Senate Budget Committee, led by chairman Pete Domenici (R-NM), included language in the Budget Resolution that counted revenue from oil and gas leasing and drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced an amendment to remove the “assumption of revenue” language from the Budget Resolution. The Senate rejected the amendment 49-51.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 2400 (Roll Call #107)
6/3/04 |
Nuclear Waste: The Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for cleaning up millions of gallons of highly radioactive wastes from nuclear weapons sites around the country. The 2004 defense authorization bill contained a provision to reclassify certain nuclear waste, allowing it to be left onsite. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) offered an amendment to strike this provision, which was defeated 48-48.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 150 (Roll Call #74)
4/29/04 |
Energy: In November 2003, a bipartisan group of Senators rejected the final energy conference report, which included more than $37 billion in subsidies for the oil, gas, coal and nuclear industries and would have weakened environmental and consumer protections. Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) reintroduced the same energy bill but without a liability waiver for gasoline producers, hoping that this one change would garner enough support to pass the bill. The vote failed to end debate on the bill 55-43.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 6 (Roll Call #456)
11/21/03 |
Energy: The conference energy bill included provisions that did not pass either the House or Senate. Provisions would weaken the Clean Air Act by delaying cleanup of air pollution in smoggy areas and weaken important drinking water and surface water protection. During Senate consideration, several Senators mounted a filibuster to block its passage. On November 21, 2003, the Senate failed to invoke cloture to stop the filibuster by a vote of 57-40 (60 votes needed to proceed).
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 1904 (Roll Call #426)
10/30/03 |
Environmental Preservation: The Healthy Forests Restoration Act weakens the National Environmental Policy Act by gutting the NEPA requirement that agencies consider a full range of alternatives regarding environmental impacts. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced an amendment to restore the adequate-range-of alternatives standard required by NEPA when conducting environmental reviews of forest thinning projects. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) offered a motion to table the Cantwell amendment. The Senate tabled the amendment 57-34.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 1904 (Roll Call #428)
10/30/03 |
Environmental Preservation: The Senate voted in favor of a modified version of the House-passed Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003. The Senate-passed bill weakens environmental protections, interferes with the independent judiciary, and undermines public participation in decisions that affect our public lands. The Senate passed the bill 80-14.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 139 (Roll Call #420)
10/30/03 |
Global Warming: Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) refused to let the Senate energy bill proceed to a House-Senate conference committee without an agreement to debate and hold an up-or-down vote on their global warming proposal, the Climate Stewardship Act. The legislation would require major industries to collectively reduce U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases to 2000 emission levels by the year 2010. The Senate defeated the McCain-Lieberman legislation 43-55.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 2691 (Roll Call #359)
9/23/03 |
Protect Tongass Rainforest: Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) added a rider to the FY04 Interior Appropriations bill in committee that would make it much harder for citizens to go to court to stop logging projects by allowing only 30 days to file lawsuits on about 40 logging projects in the Tongass. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) offered an amendment to strike the Stevens rider. Sen. Stevens then offered a motion to table Senator Boxer’s amendment. The Senate voted to table the Boxer amendment by a vote of 52-44.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 14 (Roll Call #309)
7/29/03 |
Global Warming: During consideration of the Senate energy bill, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) proposed an amendment to raise the CAFE standard for cars and light trucks to 40 miles per gallon by 2015. The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 32-65.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 14 (Roll Call #221)
6/12/03 |
Oceans Protection: The 2003 Senate energy bill originally included language that would require that the Department of Interior conduct an inventory of potential oil and gas resources of the entire OCS. In an effort to protect the integrity of our fragile ocean ecosystems, Sens. Bob Graham (D-FL) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) proposed an amendment that would have struck the provision requiring the Interior Secretary to conduct the OCS inventory. The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 45-53.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 14 (Roll Call #214)
6/10/03 |
Polluter Subsidies: In an attempt to jump-start the construction of new nuclear reactors, Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) inserted language into the Senate energy bill authorizing federal loan guarantees to finance half the cost of bringing an additional 8,400 megawatts of nuclear power on line (approximately 8 new plants). According to the Congressional Research Service, this provision would cost taxpayers between $14 and $16 billion. During floor consideration of the energy bill, Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and John Sununu (R-NH) offered an amendment to strike this provision. The Senate rejected the amendment 48-50.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 14 (Roll Call #208)
6/5/03 |
Clean Water: The 2003 Senate energy bill would have shielded the
oil, chemical, and ethanol industries from liability for problems caused by renewable fuels and fuel additives, including companies’ failure to warn the public of a product’s risks. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
offered an amendment to the energy bill that would ensure that companies remain fully liable for problems caused by their fuels and fuel additives. The Senate rejected the amendment 38-57.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1050 (Roll Call #190)
5/21/03 |
Environmental Preservation: During consideration of the Defense Authorization bill, the Senate Armed Services Committee inserted a provision exempting the military from habitat protection provisions of the Endangered Species Act. These exemptions are unnecessary; under the Act, the Secretary of Defense already has the authority to waive regulations on a case-by-case basis in the interest of national security. In response to the proposed exemption, Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and Jim Jeffords (I-VT) introduced an amendment to require the Interior Secretary to assure that the lands in question were adequately protected before the Endangered Species Act could be waived. The Senate approved the amendment 51-48.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. Con. Res.23 (Roll Call #97)
3/25/03 |
Toxic Waste Cleanup: In 1995, Superfund's polluter pays fees expired. Since then, the burden of paying for abandoned toxic waste site cleanups has shifted from polluting industries to taxpayers. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) offered an amendment to the FY04 budget resolution that would have reinstated the Superfund polluter pays fees. The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 43-56.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. Con. Res.23 (Roll Call #59)
3/19/03 |
Arctic Refuge: In 2003, the Senate Budget Committee, led by chairman Pete Domenici (R-NM), included language in the Budget Resolution that counted revenue from oil and gas leasing and drilling in the coastal plain of the ANWR. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced an amendment to remove the “assumption of revenue” language from the Budget Resolution. The Senate approved the amendment 52-48.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.J. Res. 2 (Roll Call #12)
1/22/03 |
Clean Air: On December 31, 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the most significant rollback of clean air rules since the Clean Air Act was adopted 30 years ago. On January 21, 2003, Sens Edwards (D-NC) and Lieberman (D-CT) introduced an amendment that would have prevented EPA's implementation of the rule changes until their health impacts were studied. The amendment failed 46-50.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S.J. Res. 34 (Roll Call #167)
7/9/02 |
Polluter Subsidies: The Bush administration weakened standards for a nuclear waste dump and designated a site at Yucca Mountain, NV. The government's own studies show the site will leak radioactive waste into groundwater, and no one has adequately studied the risks of transporting 150,000 shipments of this lethal material. The Senate approved Yucca Mountain as the nation's nuclear waste dump 60-39.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 517 (Roll Call #87)
4/25/02 |
Make Polluters Pay: The Senate energy bill exempts renewable fuels and fuel additives from federal and state product liability protections. Sens Boxer (D-CA) and Feinstein (D-CA) offered an amendment to the energy bill to ensure that oil companies are fully liable for problems caused by fuels and fuel additives. Sen. Reid (D-NV) introduced a motion to table the amendment, which passed 57-42.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 517 (Roll Call #89)
4/25/02 |
Global Warming/Energy Efficiency: The Department of Energy under the Clinton administration set a standard calling for a 30% increase in efficiency for central air conditioners and heat pumps. In May 2002, the DOE released a rule that allows air conditioner manufacturers to meet lower efficiency requirements. Sen. Bingaman (D-NM) mandated a 30% increase in air conditioner efficiency in the Senate energy bill. However, during Senate floor consideration of the bill, Sen. Harkin (D-IA) introduced an amendment that struck the 30% increase from the bill. The Senate approved the Harkin amendment 52-47.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 517 (Roll Call #90)
4/25/02 |
Global Warming/Energy Efficiency: Sens Carper (D-DE) and Specter (R-PA) offered an amendment to the Senate Energy bill to require the Department of Transportation to reduce oil consumption by 1 million barrels a day by 2015. Sen. Levin (D-MI) moved to table the Carper amendment. The Senate tabled the Carper amendment 57-42.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S.517 (Roll Call #84)
4/24/02 |
Global Warming/Clean Energy: The Senate energy bill contains a provision requiring the largest investor-owned electric utilities to generate at least 10% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Recognizing this provision’s potential economic boon, advocates for the garbage incineration industry argue that incinerators should be defined as a renewable energy source. Sen. Fitzgerald (R-IL) introduced an amendment to make clear that garbage incineration is not a renewable energy source. Sen. Bingaman (D-NM) successfully moved to table the Fitzgerald amendment, by a 50-46 vote.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 517 (Roll Call #71)
4/18/02 |
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-AK) introduced an amendment to the Senate energy bill to open the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge drilling and development. Arctic champions Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT) filibustered the Murkowski amendment. The Senate voted 46-54 not to end the filibuster.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 517 (Roll Call #55)
3/21/02 |
Global Warming/Clean Energy: Sen. Kyl (R-AZ) proposed an amendment to strip the 10% renewable energy provision from the Energy bill and replace it with a voluntary state program that would allow consumers to be charged more for “green energy.” The Senate rejected the Kyl amendment 40-58.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 517 (Roll Call #50)
3/14/02 |
Global Warming/Clean Energy: The Senate energy bill drafted by Sens. Daschle (D-SD) and Bingaman (D-NM) included a 10% national renewable energy standard. Sen. Jeffords (I-VT) offered an amendment to increase this percentage to 20 percent of power generation by 2020. The Senate rejected the Jeffords amendment 29-70.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 517 (Roll Call #47)
3/13/02 |
Increase Auto Fuel Economy Standards: Fuel economy standards are the best way that America can reduce its dependence on oil. However, Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI) and Christopher Bond (R-MO) offered an amendment to remove language in the Senate energy bill that would have raised fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2013. The Senate passed the Levin-Bond amendment 62-38.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 517 (Roll Call #48)
3/13/02 |
Global Warming/Energy Efficiency: Sen. Miller (D-GA) offered an amendment to the Senate energy bill to exempt pickup trucks from Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements. The Miller amendment passed the Senate 56-44.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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Roll Call #43
3/7/02 |
Safe Drinking Water/Oppose Exemptions for Oil and Gas: Sens Bingaman (D-NM) and Inhofe (R-OK) offered an amendment that weakens Safe Drinking Water Act requirements in order to expand oil and gas exploration and development using hydraulic fracturing. The Senate passed the amendment 78-21.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 517 (Roll Call #42)
3/7/02 |
Polluter Subsidies: The 1957 Price-Anderson Act limits the liability of the nuclear industry in the event of a nuclear accident. The Act caps liability at $9 billion. The Act constitutes a subsidy to the nuclear power industry by reducing the cost of obtaining liability insurance. Sen. Voinovich (R-OH) offered an amendment to the energy bill to reauthorize the Act for ten years. The Senate adopted the amendment 78-21.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1731 (Roll Call #15)
2/6/02 |
Clean Water: During the Farm Bill debate, Sen. Wellstone (D-MN) offered an amendment that would have restricted funds under the Environmental Quality Incentive Program going to new or expanding factory farms. The Senate defeated the amendment 44-52.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
MISSED
VOTE |
S. 1731 (Roll Call #365)
12/13/01 |
Regulatory Reform: Sen. Bond (R-MO) offered an amendment to allow the secretary of Agriculture to weaken environmental protections if they were likely to affect profits for agribusiness. The Senate tabled the amendment 54-43.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 2217 (Roll Call #231)
7/12/01 |
Environmental Preservation: Sen. Nelson (D-FL) offered an amendment to the FY 2002 Interior Appropriations bill to delay new oil and gas leasing off of Florida’s coastline. The Senate voted to table the Nelson amendment 67-33.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 2217 (Roll Call #232)
7/12/01 |
Endangered Species: Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2002 Interior Appropriations bill that would have rolled back Endangered Species Act protections for the Coho salmon and for the endangered lake fish in the Klamath Basin. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced a motion to table the Smith amendment. The Senate voted to table the Smith amendment 52-48.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 2217 (Roll Call #229)
7/11/01 |
Environmental Preservation: Sen. Durbin (D-IL) offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2002 Interior Appropriations bill that would prohibit the Interior Secretary from issuing oil, gas, coal, and geothermal leases on national monuments. When Sen. Durbin offered his amendment, Sen. Burns (R-MT) introduced a motion to table the amendment. The Burns motion was rejected 42-57.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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Roll Call #6
1/30/01 |
Environmental Preservation: Gale Norton’s nomination to be the Secretary of the Interior galvanized strong opposition from the environmental community. The Senate voted confirmed Norton 75-24.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1287
2/10/00 |
Nuclear Waste Transport: The Nuclear Waste Policy Act Amendments of 2000 needlessly mandated transit of nuclear waste through 43 states. The Senate approved the bill 64-34.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
MISSED
VOTE |
2000 Scorecard Sen#3
11/18/99 |
Mountaintop Removal: Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) offered an amendment to the FY 2000 Appropriations bill exempting coal mining companies from portions of the Clean Water and Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). The rider was approved 56-33.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
MISSED
VOTE |
2000 Scorecard Sen#8
9/23/99 |
Make Polluters Pay: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) formulated new rules to address oil companies' underpayment of royalties—as they had been doing by at least $66 million a year. Three riders were attached to the FY 2000 Interior Appropriations bill preventing final passage of these rules. A further amendment was offered to delay the MMS rules, and was adopted 51-47.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
MISSED
VOTE |
2000 Scorecard Sen#9
9/23/99 |
Make Polluters Pay: Before voting on the final amendment delaying the MMS rules, Sen. Boxer (D-CA) attempted to block its passage through a filibuster. Cloture was invoked to prevent her from continuing to filibuster by a vote of 60-39.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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2000 Scorecard Sen#5
9/15/99 |
Global Warming/Energy Efficiency: A rider placed on the Transportation Appropriations bill prevented the DOE from considering updated fuel efficiency standards and close a loophole for SUVs. An amendment was offered to reject the rider, but failed 40-55.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
MISSED
VOTE |
2000 Scorecard Sen#6
9/14/99 |
National Forests: An amendment to the FY 2000 Interior appropriations bill cut $34 million from the timber subsidy, and shifted $21 million to fish and wildlife habitat protection. Motion to table the amendment was adopted 54-43.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
MISSED
VOTE |
2000 Scorecard Sen#1
9/9/99 |
Stop Anti-Forest/Anti-Wildlife Amendment: Sens Craig (R-ID) and Gorton (R-WA) proposed a rider to the FY 2000 Appropriations bill allowing the Bureau of Land Management to violate their own rules and disregard wildlife impacts. Sens Robb (D-VA) and Cleland (D-GA) offered an amendment striking the Craig-Gorton rider from the bill, which failed 45-52.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
MISSED
VOTE |
2000 Scorecard Sen#2
7/27/99 |
Mine Waste: Sen. Craig (R-ID) attached a rider to the FY 2000 Appropriations bill removing mining companies from responsibilities to pay royalties or cleanup costs. An amendment to remove the Craig rider was tabled 55-41.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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2000 Scorecard Sen#4
6/16/99 |
Global Warming/Clean Energy: Sen. Jim Jeffords (R-VT) was prepared to offer an amendment to the Energy and Water appropriations bill adding $62 million to the DOE's solar and renewable energy program. The Senate, in a procedural vote, blocked consideration of the amendment by 60-39.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1092
10/1/98 |
Alaska Wilderness: Sens Murkowski and Stevens (AK) introduced a bill to bulldoze a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area in Alaska. The bill passed 59-38.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 2237
9/15/98 |
Public Lands: A rider to the FY 1999 Interior Appropriations bill that would delay the enactment of new regulations on the hardrock mining industry. Sens Bumpers (D-AR), Feingold (D-WI) and Landrieu (D-LA) offered an amendment removing the rider. The Senate voted to table the amendment 58-40.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 2271
7/13/98 |
Environmental Preservation: Sen. Hatch (R-UT) introduced a bill that would have weakened all existing environmental laws by allowing polluters to challenge long settled environmental protection decisions. A cloture motion failed 52-42 (60 votes were necessary).
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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1999 Scorecard Sen#4
9/17/97 |
National Forests: An amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill cut $60 million from the road-building budget failed 49-51.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 672
5/7/97 |
Wilderness Preservation: During debate on emergency spending on flood relief, Sen. Stevens (R-AK) attached a rider allowing states to pave roads in national parks, monuments, wildlife refuges and wilderness areas. Sen. Bumpers (D-AR) offered an amendment to remove the rider, and Sen. Stevens countered with a motion to table Sen. Bumpers' amendment. The motion was adopted 51-49.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 104
4/15/97 |
Nuclear Waste Transport: The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1998 would needlessly mandate transport through 43 states. The Senate approved the bill 65-34.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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1997 Scorecard Sen#13
7/30/96 |
Stop Wasteful Dam: Sen. Feingold (D-WI) offered an amendment to cut funding for a dam that would cause continuous Clean Water Act violations in New Mexico. Motion to table accepted 65-33.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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1997 Scorecard Sen#14
7/30/96 |
End Dangerous Nuclear Program: Sens. McCain (R-AZ), Feingold (D-WI), Gregg (R-NH), Bumpers (D-AR) and Kerry (D-MA) offered an amendment to eliminate funding on the Advanced Light Water Reactor (ALWR) program. Sen. Domenici (R-NM) moved to table the amendment. Motion accepted 53-45.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 1296
3/27/96 |
Utah Wilderness: The controversial Utah Public Lands Management Act (S.884), which proposed rolling back environmental protections and creating exceptions to the Wilderness Act, was incorporated into the Omnibus Parks Bill by Sen. Murkowski (R-AK). In response, Sen. Bradley (D-NJ) started a filibuster. Motion to invoke cloture (end the filibuster) rejected 51-49 (60 votes were needed).
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1459
3/21/96 |
Environmental Defense Campaign: Circumvent National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) in regards to implications of grazing fees. Bill passed 50-47.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1459
3/21/96 |
Grazing Fees: Amendment to increase the federal grazing fee for federal government permits to the equivalent of state grazing fees. Motion adopted 52 -47.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 3019 (Roll Call #33)
3/14/96 |
Environmental Defense Campaign: Exempting logging companies from environmental laws. Sen. Murray (D-WA) offered an amendment to end this exemption. Amendment rejected 42-54.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 3019 (Roll Call #30)
3/13/96 |
Environmental Defense Campaign: An amendment offered by Sen. Hutchinson (R-TX) would restrict protection of endangered species to emergency situations, leaving over 240 species in danger. Motion to table the amendment rejected 49-51.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1541
2/7/96 |
Sugar Subsidy Reform: Sen. Gregg (R-NH) Proposed an amendment to end a sugar subsidy program that gives an extra $1.4 billion annually to sugar companies from consumers. The amendment failed 35-61.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1316 (Roll Call #587)
11/29/95 |
Safe Drinking Water: An amendment was proposed to the Safe Drinking Water Act to require water utilities to send an annual report to citizens detailing contaminant found in their tap. Motion to table the amendment passed 59-40.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1357 (Roll Call #525)
10/27/95 |
Environmental Defense Campaign: Amendment to remove drilling in ANWR provision. Motion to table amendment passed 51-48.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 2099
9/27/95 |
Environmental Defense Campaign: Slashing the EPA's budget, with additional detrimental amendments to weaken the Clean Air and Water Acts. The bill passed 55-45.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 1977 (Roll Call #372)
8/8/95 |
Mining Reform: Continue 'patenting' moratorium for one year, prohibiting the sale of mining lands for as little as $2.50 an acre with no cleanup costs. Bill rejected 46-51.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 1905 (Roll Call #347)
8/1/95 |
Dirty Energy: An amendment was offered to the FY 1996 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill cutting the $12 million subsidy for gas-cooled nuclear technology. Amendment passed 62-38.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 343
7/20/95 |
Environmental Defense Campaign: Undercutting the Clean Air and Water Acts. Debate on these provisions lasted 11 days, second motion to invoke cloture (end debate) failed 58-40.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 343
7/18/95 |
Environmental Defense Campaign: Undercutting the Clean Air and Water Acts. Debate on these provisions lasted 11 days, motion to invoke cloture (end debate) failed 53-47.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 343
/13/957 |
Environmental Defense Campaign: Opposing the Right to Know rollback effort. The proposed 'Regulatory Reform Bill' would allow polluters to avoid reporting on up to 90 percent of chemicals currently reported. Sen. Lautenberg (D-NJ) offered an amendment to strike the provision. Motion to table the amendment passed 50-48.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 343
7/12/95 |
Environmental Defense Campaign: The parasite cryptosporidium contaminated Milwaukee, Wisconsin's drinking water in 1993; 400,000 people were sickened and over 100 people died. Several other cryptosporidium outbreaks have occurred since. Cryptosporidium is not currently regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA is developing health standards to address the threat of cryptosporidium in drinking water. Sen. Kohl (D-WI) offered an amendment to exempt regulations for cryptosporidium and other drinking water contaminants from the requirements and delays of the "regulatory reform" proposal. Motion to table the Kohl amendment adopted 50-48.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R 3450
11/20/93 |
North American Free Trade Agreement: Environmental laws could be challenged as barriers to NAFTA. Environment America supported laws such as those protecting air and water quality standards which would be subject to international challenge. Passed 61-38.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 2520
10/28/93 |
Grazing Fees: Low grazing fees lead to serious degradation of public lands. Sen. Domenici led a filibuster on the FY 1994 Interior Dept budget that would have included changes to federal land-management policies. Motion to end filibuster failed 54-44.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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H.R. 2445
9/30/93 |
Nuclear Energy: Amendment to terminate the Energy Dept's Advanced Liquid Metal Reactor ("Breeder") Program. Motion to table adopted 53-45.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 921
5/6/93 |
Endangered Species Act: The amendments of 1993 would strengthen protection of species by making the law more proactive and ecosystem oriented. CO-SPONSORSHIP IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL POSITION |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. Con Res 18
3/25/93 |
Mining Reform: Eliminate proposed increases in royalties from mining on public lands, essentially giving more money away to mining companies. Motion to table adopted 57-41.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 2166
2/6/92 |
Dirty Energy: Re-introduced National Energy Security Act. Restrict public hearings of nuclear licensing. Amendment introduced to reinstate citizen's rights to participate in these decisions. Motion to table adopted 52-43.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1220
11/1/91 |
Dirty Energy: National Energy Security Act. Allow Drilling in ANWR, limit public hearings of nuclear plant licensing and weaken air quality standards. Several-environment Senators organized a filibuster to keep the bill from the Senate floor. Motion to end filibuster failed 50-44.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1224
9/25/90 |
Fuel Efficiency: 40 percent improvement in automobile and light truck fuel efficiency by 2000. Bush Administration and auto industry forces organized a filibuster. Motion to end filibuster failed 57-42.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: YES |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1630
4/3/90 |
Clean Air Enforcement: An amendment shielding polluters from cleanup requirements, repealed existing air quality monitoring requirements, and eliminating citizens right to sue to enforce clean air laws. Motion to reconsider failed 49-51.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1630
3/21/90 |
Urban Smog: An amendment reinstating the federal mandate to step in when states fail to carry out their clean air responsibilities. Motion to table adopted 53-46.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1630
3/20/90 |
Clean Cars: Reduce emissions through second round of tailpipe emissions standards. Create alternative fuels programs for the most populated cities. Motion to table adopted 52-46.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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S. 1630
3/8/90 |
Air Toxics: Exempting toxic motor vehicle emissions from EPA regulation. Motion to table (defeat) adopted 65-33.
PRO ENVIRONMENT VOTE: NO |
NOT IN
U.S. SENATE |
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