WASHINGTON, DC— The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, which works to elect candidates who will implement sound environmental policies, today announced its endorsement of Congressman Patrick Murphy for U.S. Senate from Florida. Patrick Murphy works to combat climate change and preserve open spaces and waterways. 

“Growing up in South Florida on the front lines of the climate crisis, Congressman Patrick Murphy understands firsthand how important it is to protect our environment. This commitment has been reflected in his record in the House and we are thrilled to be supporting him as he runs for Senate,” said LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. “From recognizing that we have a moral obligation to act on climate change to his commitment to advancing clean energy solutions, we are confident Murphy will be a key voice in the Senate for our environment for years to come.”

“Congressman Patrick Murphy works tirelessly for Florida’s families, economy and environment by always fighting to protect the Everglades, the Indian River Lagoon, and our precious coasts,” said Florida Conservation Voters Executive Director Aliki Moncrief. “From his efforts to protect our ocean from offshore drilling and seismic testing to pushing for more protections for our waterways, Floridians can count on Murphy to put us first.”

“I am extremely proud to receive the endorsement of the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and grateful for their work to protect our environment,” said Congressman Murphy. “In Florida, protecting our environment isn’t just smart policy, it is essential to preserving our economy, way of life, and future. From the Keys to Pensacola, Floridians are already feeling the impact of climate change, but Marco Rubio refuses to acknowledge that threat exists. Local issues like algae blooms on the Treasure Coast, flooding in Miami Beach, and coral bleaching in the Keys are devastating our communities and local economy. Yet Marco Rubio has been absent in the fight for solutions. 

“In the U.S. Senate, I will promote investment in green energy, oppose fracking and offshore drilling, and fight for policies and funding that will address local environmental crises. Floridians need a fighter who will stand with the League of Conservation Voters to protect our environment and I promise to be that Senator.”

A member of the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change and the Safe Climate Caucus, Congressman Murphy is a staunch supporter of climate action, including supporting the EPA’s Clean Power Plan – the single largest step our country has ever taken to tackle the carbon pollution driving climate change – and the historic international climate agreement reached in Paris. 

In Congress, Murphy has been a strong advocate for Florida’s environment. He has sponsored and co-sponsored bills to protect the Central Everglades and Indian River Lagoon, to stop seismic testing and drilling off Florida’s and the entire Atlantic coast and drilling in the Arctic Ocean, and to protect iconic public lands like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He has worked on issues like ocean acidification, protecting coral reefs, fighting invasive species and toxic algae, and safeguarding our drinking water. 

Congressman Murphy has earned an 80 percent lifetime score on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard. In contrast, Senator Marco Rubio has earned an abysmal 6 percent lifetime score on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard including a 0 percent score for 2015. The non-partisan Scorecard is a nationally accepted yardstick used to rate members of Congress on environmental and clean energy issues. Based on key environmental votes in the House and Senate, it is often used by the media to quickly describe a Member’s record. For more information, visit https://scorecard.lcv.org.  

Murphy is featured on LCV Action Fund’s GiveGreen website, the only bundling website devoted exclusively to raising money for environmental champions for federal office.

About LCV Action Fund

The League of Conservation Voters Action Fund (LCVAF), the connected federal political action committee (PAC) of the League of Conservation Voters, works to elect candidates who will implement sound environmental laws and policies, and defeat those who stand in the way of progress. Since the 1994 election cycle, LCVAF has helped elect and re-elect 69 U.S. Senators and 306 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.  In the 2013-2014 election cycle, LCVAF endorsed over 70 candidates and raised and donated almost $6 million dollars via GiveGreen. Over the last several years, our efforts have also helped elevate climate change and clean energy as critical issues in key elections. 

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Paid for by the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and authorized by Friends of Patrick Murphy.