NEWARK, N.J. – Today, Environment New Jersey, a nonprofit, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization, announced U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) had received a 100 percent score on its annual Congressional Scorecard.  Sen. Lautenberg received the same perfect score from the group in 2007.

    “Over the past eight years, the Bush Administration has staged an assault on the environmental protections that provide us with the clean air and water we need.  Together, we have fought hard against the special interests to win major battles in the effort to protect our environment, and I stand ready for the fights to come,” Sen. Lautenberg said.  “I am proud to receive such a positive rating from Environment New Jersey and am eager to continuing to work together to preserve our planet, tackle global warming and create the smart, clean energy policies our country needs.”

    Environment New Jersey’s Congressional Scorecard tracked members’ votes on key environmental issues, such as water and air quality protection, increased mileage standards for vehicles and promotion of clean, renewable energy through tax credits.  The group was appreciative of the delegation’s efforts to strengthen environmental quality and reduce the causes of global warming.

    “New Jersey’s Senators and a majority of our Congressmen time and again have stood up for the environment and pushed real clean energy solutions for our energy crisis,” said Dena Mottola Jaborska, Environment New Jersey’s executive director.  “Being green in the Garden State is a bipartisan issue and we applaud our delegation’s environmental heroes, especially the leadership from Sen. Menendez and Sen. Lautenberg.”

      The full scorecard can be found at http://www.environmentnewjersey.org/issues/at-the-statehouse/2008-legislative-scorecard.

    Sen. Lautenberg has taken a lead role on environmental issues as a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) and chairman of the subcommittee that has jurisdiction over coastal protection; environmental laws protecting rivers, streams and lakes; and the safety of drinking water.

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