Senator Brown and Congresswoman Beatty Are Environmental Champions

SENATOR BROWN AND CONGRESSWOMAN BEATTY ARE ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS

Columbus -- Today, Environment Ohio gave Senator Brown and Representative Beatty an Environmental Champion Award for their commitments to protecting our environment and public health. They received a 100% on the environmental scorecard for their overwhelming support of clean air, clean water, and open spaces.

"Senator Brown and Congresswoman Beatty are at the top of the class when it comes to keeping our air and water clean, protecting our special places, and ensuring a healthy climate," said Sam Gerard, campaign organizer with Environment Ohio. "That's why we are proud to present them with our Environmental Champion Awards."

Environment Ohio staff and volunteers presented staff members of Senator Brown and Congresswoman Beatty with posters featuring photographs of Columbus residents thanking them for their commitment to the environment.

According to Gerard, "Recently, Congress has fallen short in standing up for our families' health and our environment. On average, a member of Congress only voted to uphold protections for our environment and families' health 43% of the time, while members of the Senate averaged 47%. That's abysmal. Some have called this the most anti-environmental congress we've ever seen."

"Senator Brown and Congresswoman Beatty's environmental leadership stands in stark contrast to the Trump Administration's proposals to gut our environmental protections. These rollbacks include our withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and EPA funding cuts for Lake Erie and the Scioto River. This week, members of Congress announced plans to revoke the Clean Water Rule that protects the drinking water sources for 1 in 3 Americans," added Gerard.

"Senator Brown and Congresswoman Beatty are just the champions we need in Congress to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the places we love," said Gerard. "The vast majority of Americans oppose moving backwards on climate or selling off our public lands to the highest bidder. We're counting on our environmental champions like Senator Brown and Congresswoman Beatty to do everything in their power to protect our health and the planet."

In a written statement, Senator Brown said, "As a proud Eagle Scout, I believe in the Boy Scout Outdoor Code to always leave your campsite in better condition than when you arrived. All of us have a responsibility to protect our clean air, safe drinking water and open spaces for future generations."

Likewise, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty stated, "Protecting the environment is of critical importance. We have the moral obligation and duty to ensure the air we breathe and the water we drink is clean today, tomorrow, and for future generations. I am proud to have the support of Environment Ohio, and will continue to support conservation and environmental programs."

Matt Stephens-Rich from Clean Fuels Ohio spoke at the event and said, "Representative Joyce Beatty and Senator Sherrod Brown have both remained adamant champions for clean air and energy legislation, supporting efforts to curb harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Not only do these initiatives reduce emissions, but also promote American job growth in clean energy and related sectors."

This press release first appeared on Environment Ohio's website on June 29, 2017.