Washington, D.C.— Last night the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) hosted its annual Capital Dinner for its members where Vice President Kamala Harris was featured as the keynote speaker. LCV was also joined by Senators Debbie Stabenow and Cory Booker, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Representatives Emilia Sykes, Gabe Vasquez, and Nikki Budzinski, and advocates to celebrate progress on addressing the climate crisis. The event recognized the Biden-Harris administration’s climate leadership from passing and implementing the landmark Inflation Reduction Act and to taking strong executive actions, the relentless advocacy of our climate champions in Congress, and the pioneering efforts at the state level. The event also honored LCV’s affiliate, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, for their successful campaign to pass 100% clean energy in Michigan.

LCV honors a state affiliate every year at the Capital Dinner with the John Hunting Winning for the Environment Award to celebrate state and local successes. This year, LCV honored Michigan League of Conservation Voters for their leadership and relentless work to combat the climate crisis in Michigan and playing a key role to pass Michigan’s historic legislation to commit to 100% clean energy last year.

“President Biden and I are proud to have enacted the largest climate investment in history while advancing environmental justice and taking on the climate crisis,” said Vice President Harris. “What we have accomplished could not have happened without the work that the leaders here and the advocates in communities across the country have been doing for years.”

“Over the last few years, the Conservation Voters Movement has made huge strides, especially with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act,” said Carol M. Browner, LCV Board Chair and former EPA administrator. “Hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy investments. The benefits of those investments are slashing climate pollution from the transportation sector — and soon — the power sector, improving lives across the country.”

“What Michigan achieved last year was truly transformational, moving our pivotal Rust Belt state to 100% clean energy by 2040 – the fastest build out of wind and solar in the Midwest,” said Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “We know that what we achieved in Michigan will have a ripple effect for clean energy and climate action across the country as we continue to push for clean air and water, good-paying jobs and a livable future for all.”

“I am so proud to partner with Michigan LCV on protecting our Great Lakes and addressing the climate crisis,” said Senator Stabenow (Michigan). “Michigan LCV knows how to get things done. They understand how the climate connects to our economy, our health, and our people. That’s how they got the Michigan Clean Energy and Jobs Act passed at the state level — the most substantive action for climate in history for the state of Michigan.”

“MAGA Republicans are actively attempting to gut the progress we have made in protecting our planet. We will defend climate progress always and forever,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries  (NY-08). “We’re not going backward, we’re going to keep moving forward for our climate, for our children, for our country, for our planet.”

“It’s been an honor to serve my hometown – the Birthplace of Champions – as a member of Congress for Ohio’s 13th Congressional District,” said Congresswoman Emilia Sykes (OH-13). “In just one year, I have introduced the WISE Act to support sustainable water infrastructure, the bipartisan Safe Drinking Water for Disadvantaged Communities Act to improve programs that help communities replace lead water pipelines with safer alternatives, secured more than $10 million for five water projects in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, and served as the only Ohioan on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the Vice-Chair of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee. I look forward to continuing to work with LCV to protect our environment and our democracy from Republican extremism.”

“New Mexico is home to the largest Chihuahuan desert grasslands in the country, it is home to 500,000 acres of protected acres in what is the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, it is home to what will soon be the next wild and scenic river in the Gila River, the last free-flowing river in the Southwest,” said Congressman Gabe Vasquez (NM-02). “Conservation means to me, that you can sit under a canopy of stars under the beautiful New Mexico sky, when those box turtles start to come in, and you realize there is something here to protect for the American people, for la gente, for people like me who had the opportunity to experience wild America and wilderness.”

“The transition to a clean energy economy is the biggest challenge and greatest opportunity of the 21st Century,” said Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13). “I’m proud to be working with the League of Conservation Voters to ensure that working people and family farmers are a part of this critical mission. Together, we can build a clean energy future that is powered by good-paying union jobs and ensure that the Inflation Reduction Act’s investments in climate-smart agriculture are protected in the next Farm Bill. I’m grateful to have strong partners in the League of Conservation Voters and their state affiliates in this work.”

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