FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

SENATOR KUSHNER EARNS 100% SCORE ON 2024 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT CARD

DANBURY – State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) has received a perfect score of 100% from the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) based on her support of pro-environment legislation during the recently concluded 2024 legislative session.

The CTLCV’s annual scorecard, released Tuesday, assigned Connecticut legislators numerical grades based on their support or opposition to proposals to reduce pollution, promote climate resilience, or preserve natural resources. This year’s scorecard evaluated votes on more than a dozen environmental bills to generate the overall score.

2024 Scorecard – CTLCV

“Rainstorms and wildfires, hurricanes and heatwaves, rising insurance and building costs are all a reminder of the role that the environment plays in our daily lives. That’s why I am committed to supporting smart, pro-environment policies in Connecticut – so we can protect what we have now and preserve it for our children and grandchildren to enjoy in the decades to come,” Sen. Kushner said.

Sen. Kushner was one of just 18 senators — all of them Democrats — to receive a perfect score on this year’s environmental report card. Democratic state senators scored an average grade of 97% (an A+) for their votes to protect Connecticut’s environment, while Republican senators scored an average of 50% (an F), according to the CTLCV

Some new policies highlighted in this year’s scorecard include:

-SB 292, PFAS Ban: This law prohibits the use of toxic PFAS chemicals in a wide range of consumer products such as textiles, carpets, and children’s items.

-HB 5052, Supporting Solar Energy in Schools: This policy, adopted through state bonding, creates financing for solar energy and energy efficiency projects in public schools, reducing both energy costs and carbon emissions.

-HB 5219, Herbicides Along Railroads: This new law requires railroads to adhere to standards on the application of herbicides in railroad rights-of-way to protect water sources and wetlands.

-SB 301, Energy Efficiency Standards:  This policy, adopted through state bonding, updates Connecticut’s energy efficiency standards for consumer products and provides grants for retrofitting projects to reduce energy use and costs.