For Immediate Release: October 29th, 2024

Contact: Mark Morgenstein, Media Relations Director, [email protected], 303-573-5556

DENVER, Colorado – Environment America Action Fund announced that it is endorsing the election of Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. 

From district attorney to Attorney General and U.S. Senator, Kamala Harris has consistently made environmental protection a priority. She held fossil fuel industries accountable for their pollution, helped implement new energy efficiency retrofitting programs, and secured billions of dollars in grants to purchase electric school buses. Now is the time for solutions-oriented, effective environmental leadership, which is why Environment America Action Fund endorses Vice President Kamala Harris for President. 

Governor Tim Walz, too, is deeply committed to a greener future. His conservation work stretches across many fields, including a landmark Right to Repair bill that will help reduce e-waste, as well as working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food production. Gov. Walz understands the breadth of our environmental impacts and works tirelessly to minimize them. Therefore, Environment America Action Fund endorses Governor Tim Walz for Vice President. 

“Voters have two stark choices this November, and the ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz represents a greener vision for America,” said Wendy Wendlandt, Treasurer of Environment America Action Fund. “If elected, we look forward to working with the Harris-Walz administration to ensure the United States remains a stalwart custodian of its natural environment.”

Environment America Action Fund also endorsed 23 green champions running for Congress, who the organization determined would be the most effective in tackling the environmental problems facing our country.

Congressional Endorsements:

Arizona

• U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva – AZ-07

California

• U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman – CA-02
• CA Asm. Luz Maria Rivas – CA-29
• CA Asm. Laura Friedman – CA-30
• U.S. Rep. Mike Levin – CA-49

Colorado

• U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse – CO-02

Florida

• U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor – FL-14

• U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan – FL-16

New Jersey

• U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone – NJ-06
• U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill – NJ-11
• U.S. Rep. Andy Kim – NJ Senate

New Mexico

• U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich – NM Senate

New York

• U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko – NY-20

Ohio

• U.S. Rep. David Joyce – OH-14

Oregon

• U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici – OR-01

Pennsylvania

• U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick – PA-01
• U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon – PA-05
• U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean – PA-06
• U.S. Rep. Susan Wild – PA-07
• U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright – PA-08

Rhode Island

• U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner – RI-02
• U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse – RI Senate

Texas

• U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett – TX-37

Arizona:

Rep. Grijalva is a key leader on environmental protection. Serving as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Grijalva has pushed for reforms to mining law and greater oversight over offshore oil drilling. And when our most fundamental environmental protections come under attack, Rep. Grijalva leads the charge to defend them. Additionally, Grijalva supported tribes in their successful campaign to create the aaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. Thus, Environment America Action Fund endorses Raul Grijalva for the AZ-07 congressional district.

California: 

Rep. Huffman is one of our nation’s top environmental champions. While in Congress, he has led the charge to protect the pristine wilderness in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from risks from oil drilling. Additionally, Rep. Huffman authored provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act to electrify the U.S. Postal Service fleet and support crucial agencies including the National Forest System and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He helped secure a twenty-year ban on new mining projects in a critical Oregon watershed and expanded a coastal national monument to include the beautiful sea bluffs and arches off the Mendocino Coast in Northern California. While he was in the California State Legislature, Huffman led the charge for clean water, energy efficiency and residential solar. We are proud to endorse Jared Huffman for Congress.

Environment America Action Fund is endorsing state Assemblymember Luz Rivas for Congress. She has been a strong defender of the environment and public health in her time in the California state legislature. Asm. Rivas authored a bill to protect California’s ocean from deep sea mining, stood up to plastic polluters to ensure the state’s plastic reduction law was the strongest in the world, and has supported renewable energy including residential rooftop solar, offshore wind and other climate solutions. We are looking forward to work with her on Capitol Hill.

Asm. Laura Friedman is one of the strongest environmental leaders in the California State Legislature. She led the effort to protect Monarch butterflies, supported wildlife crossings, and serves as a member of the California Global Biodiversity Working group that brought lawmakers and NGO leaders together to support the global campaign for more nature. She also championed clean energy, including residential rooftop solar and reducing plastic pollution from online shopping. We are thrilled to endorse Asm. Friedman for Congress. 

Rep. Mike Levin has a long history of committed environmentalism. Before running for Congress, he practiced environmental law and served as vice president for the clean tech startup Better Energy Systems. In Congress, Rep. Levin has worked to protect California’s coast from offshore drilling, nuclear waste and climate change. In 2022, he helped secure our nation’s biggest-ever investment in clean energy via the Inflation Reduction Act, where he helped secure provisions to protect public lands and address droughts. He is also the lead sponsor of the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act (H.R. 7634), which would stop the dumping and spilling of certain microplastics into our waterways. Advocacy like this is sorely needed in Congress, and therefore, Environment America Action Fund is endorsing Mike Levin for CA-49.

Colorado:

Rep. Neguse is a strong, solutions-oriented advocate for our public lands and climate. He has supported developing the Civilian Conservation Corps, expanding endangered wildlife protections, protecting forests via the Roadless Area Conservation Act (H.R. 3853) and supporting and expanding natural lands like the Arapaho National Forest. Because he is such a powerful voice on these issues, Environment America Action Fund is again endorsing Joe Neguse for CO-02.

Florida:

Rep. Kathy Castor is a leader in fighting for climate action. As chair of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, she developed an ambitious climate action plan that became the basis of our nation’s landmark clean energy and climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, she knows the cleanest energy is the energy we never use in the first place, and has joined Environment America Action Fund in advocating for energy efficiency standards. For this vital work, Environment America Action Fund is endorsing Rep. Kathy Castor in the FL-14 congressional race.

Rep. Vern Buchanan co-chairs the bipartisan congressional Animal Protection Caucus. He advocates for endangered species, including the Florida panther and manatees. He has previously secured funding for environmental cleanups in Florida and helped overturn President George W. Bush’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 to expand the Army Corps of Engineers’ ability to study & protect waterways. Congress needs conservationist champions, so Environment America Action Fund is endorsing Rep. Vern Buchanan for FL-16.

New Jersey:

Rep. Mikie Sherill is a champion of environmental issues, from her bill to help pollinators and reduce flooding with native plants (H.R. 6832) to her cosponsorship of the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act (H.R. 7634). Additionally, as chair of the House Science Subcommittee on Environment, Rep. Sherrill held vital hearings on flood mitigation, drinking water contamination and climate resiliency. Therefore, Environment America Action Fund is endorsing Rep. Mikie Sherrill for re-election in NJ-11.

For more than two decades, Rep. Frank Pallone has shepherded environmental progress in Congress. He has been an influential advocate for key environmental legislation, from the Inflation Reduction Act to the COAST Anti-Drilling Act (H.R. 1320) and efforts to save endangered North Atlantic right whales. For this and his work to support Superfund cleanups, vessel speed rules, EV infrastructure, and methane emissions reduction, Environment America Action Fund is endorsing Pallone for re-election in NJ-06.

Rep. Andy Kim is a proven environmental advocate, having long pushed for conservation efforts and climate action. In a divided House of Representatives, Rep. Kim has been a voice of reason and bipartisanship. He  helped enact  the nation’s largest-ever investment in clean energy via the Inflation Reduction Act. He has also been a key figure in environmental disaster recovery as well as disaster insurance reform. With the threats of climate change on our heels, pragmatic voices such as Rep. Andy Kim are sorely needed, so Environment America Action Fund is endorsing him in New Jersey’s U.S. senate race.

New Mexico:

A self-identified environmentalist, Martin Heinrich has long been a green champ in and out of office. He founded the educational non-profit Cottonwood Gulch Foundation. Then, while on the Albuquerque City Council, he pushed for more renewable energy as the state’s Natural Resources Trustee. Heinrich also leads the Bicameral Electrification Caucus and has authored legislation to improve wildlife habitat connectivity (S. 4193) and use native plants to help pollinators (S. 3510). Therefore, Environment America Action Fund is endorsing Martin Heinrich for the New Mexico senate race.

New York:

Rep. Paul Tonko has served in a number of critical environmental roles. In the House Energy and Commerce Committee, he is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials and a member of the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security. In these positions and beyond, Rep. Tonko has been a significant green advocate, particularly in his work to support renewable energy, waterway improvements, and clean-ups of oil spills. He was also a key player in the historic Inflation Reduction Act, securing provisions for home electrification rebates and expanded offshore wind leasing. Environment America Action Fund is endorsing Rep. Paul Tonko for his NY-20 re-election campaign.

Oregon:

Rep. Bonamici is a well-respected climate and conservation leader. Currently serving on the House Science Subcommittee on Environment and a member of the Climate Solutions Caucus, she also served on the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. She helped shape the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act, introduced the bipartisan Coastal Restoration Act, and cosponsored the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act (H.R. 7634). We need people such as Rep. Suzanne Bonamici in Congress, so Environment America Action Fund is endorsing her for the OR-01 congressional race.

Rhode Island:

Rep. Magaziner has been a dedicated climate activist since serving as Rhode Island’s general treasurer, supporting clean energy projects and issuing class-action lawsuits against oil & gas companies for spills. While in Congress, he has supported the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act (S. 2337), the New England Coastal Protection Act (H.R. 9273) to prevent oil & gas leasing, and introduced his IMAGINE Act (H.R. 6411) to improve the climate resiliency of American infrastructure. Therefore, Environment America Action Fund endorses Seth Magaziner for re-election in RI-02.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is a proven champion for the environment, with his work ocean conservation and addressing climate change. Sen. Whitehouse supported the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, in which he secured clean energy incentives and a methane fee provision. Whitehouse also introduced a bill establishing a National Endowment for the Oceans (S. 973) and the REDUCE Act (S. 2844), which tackles the most wasteful single-use plastics. Due to his dedicated work and long relationship with Environment America Action Fund, we are endorsing Sen. Whitehouse for re-election in Rhode Island.

Texas:

Rep. Lloyd Doggett has long championed the values of conservation and environmentalism. His Farewell to Foam Act (H.R. 6654) tackles one of the most harmful types of single-use plastic: polystyrene foam cups and takeout containers. Rep. Doggett also supported the Inflation Reduction Act, where he authored provisions to create electric vehicle charger credits. Additionally, Rep. Doggett has supported more sustainable transportations options, including making streets safer for walking and biking and expanding transit service. Due to his unwavering commitment to strong climate and environmental action, Environment America Action
Fund is endorsing Rep. Lloyd Doggett for TX-37.

Environment America Action Fund works to protect our environment by supporting candidates for public office who champion clean air, clean water, wilderness preservation, and strong action to prevent global warming. The Environment America Action Fund is a part of the Environment America family of organizations.