WASHINGTON, DC - February 14, 2000 - Congressman Jerry Kleczka tallied a 100 percent voting record on environmental issues in 1999, the non-profit League of Conservation Voters (LCV) announced.

The scorecard rates all members of Congress on issues ranging from anti-environmental riders to funding for programs that hurt and enhance conservation efforts. Members in both the House and Senate voted more often to weaken environmental protections. On average, House members voted on behalf of the environment only 46 percent of the time. Members of the Senate earned an average score of 41 percent.

"Protecting the environment in the Republican-controlled Congress has become a near, full-time job," Kleczka said. "Each member of Congress who is concerned about the environment must be constantly aware of attempts to water down or strip environmental protections by those trying to sneak so-called ‘riders' into important bills."

Members of Congress unable to advance anti-environment proposals on their own merits have frequently sought to attach these proposals as unrelated riders to appropriations bills. The LCV commended Kleczka for supporting an amendment that would have expanded opportunities for open debate over bills that weaken or roll back health, safety or environmental protections.

One such rider which Kleczka opposed in the Interior appropriations bill would have allowed unlimited dumping of hard rock mining waste on public lands. The provision and other anti-environmental riders in the bill ultimately were dropped or revised drawing praise from the LCV.

"In an era when the majority of Americans want their elected officials to strengthen health and environmental protections, Representative Kleczka is playing an important role in addressing these concerns in Congress," said LCV President Deb Callahan.  "If more legislators followed his lead, we could rest assured that our natural resources, air and water would be protected for generations to come."

Kleczka also was credited for supporting the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which uses revenues from offshore oil and gas drilling leases to purchase public lands for open space and outdoor recreation, and he opposed funds for government predator control, which each year kills more than 100,000 coyotes, black bears, mountain lions and other predators.