Climate Champs Senators Tom Carper and Debbie Stabenow Receive CAC’s Climate Changemaker Award
For Immediate Release
DATE: September 10, 2024
CONTACT: Gabrielle Levy, Glevy@cacampaign.org, 562-673-6974
Ahead of their retirements, Senators Tom Carper and Debbie Stabenow recognized for decades of tireless work to address climate crisis
Washington, DC – Today, the Climate Action Campaign (CAC) announced the recipients of the third annual “Climate Changemaker” award: Senator Tom Carper (DE) and Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI). During their service in Congress, Senators Carper and Stabenow have been steadfast supporters of climate action. With their upcoming retirements in January 2025, the Senate will lose two of its most important voices for clean air, climate-smart agriculture, and a healthy environment.
As a long-serving member and Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Carper has played a central role in shaping policies – often in bipartisan fashion – that keep communities safe from harmful pollution and protect our environment. Through numerous bills and dogged work with the EPA to finalize pollution standards, he helped clean up our air, advance environmental justice, and saved Americans money at the gas pump and on their electric bills. That work culminated in the adoption of the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in climate and clean energy in history, which included programs championed by Senator Carper benefiting communities that had been overlooked and left-behind.
Through her leadership on the Senate Agriculture Committee, where she serves as the current Chair, and on the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Stabenow has been instrumental in crafting policies that cut climate pollution, create jobs in clean energy, and promote climate-smart agriculture. Her critical role in crafting the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills, which included substantial provisions for conservation and climate-smart agricultural practices, helped farmers in Michigan – and nationwide – reduce pollution and increase their resilience to climate change. Under her leadership, the Farm Bill evolved from a bill that never once mentioned climate change to one where climate pollution reduction was a core focus. Her focus on supporting rural communities carried over into the Inflation Reduction Act, where she secured historic investments that are boosting electric co-ops, farmers, and small businesses. Representing the home of the auto industry, she has made sure that Michigan is a leader on electric vehicles, revitalizing manufacturing, and creating good-paying jobs across the state.
“For nearly a quarter century, the Senate has known no stronger climate champions than Tom Carper and Debbie Stabenow. We are thrilled to present them with our Climate Changemaker Award in recognition of their record of service and success,” said Margie Alt, Director of the Climate Action Campaign. “Without their leadership, vital initiatives related to climate-smart agriculture, environmental justice, electric vehicles, and so many more crucial areas may never have been enacted. Their fierce advocacy for clean air and healthy families will be deeply missed, but we know their achievements will benefit communities in Delaware, Michigan, and across America for decades to come.”
Senator Tom Carper said: “As a senator from the lowest-lying state in the nation, Delawareans and I know all too well the existential threat that climate change poses to our way of life. Fortunately, we’ve made a lot of progress in the fight against climate change – in Delaware and across our nation. Over the years as member and later Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I have had the privilege of working with my colleagues to craft consequential climate, clean energy, and infrastructure legislation – from the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act and the AIM Act to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, just to name a few. I am grateful to the Climate Action Campaign and all its member organizations for this recognition and for being longtime partners in our shared work to protect our one and only planet.”
Senator Debbie Stabenow said: “This award represents all that we have accomplished together to reduce carbon pollution and move toward a clean energy future. We are creating good-paying jobs and providing our farmers and rural communities with the tools they need to be more resilient today and into the future. I’m honored to receive this award and look forward to continuing to work together to build a strong foundation for a healthy and prosperous future.”
CAC presented the awards on behalf of its coalition of major national environment, environmental justice, and public health groups, and dozens of state partners across the country. Previous recipients of the Climate Changemaker Award include: Senator Tina Smith (MN), Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Senator Jacky Rosen (NV), Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI), Representative Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Representative Summer Lee (PA-12), Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03), and Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07).
###
About the Climate Action Campaign
Climate Action Campaign (CAC) is a vibrant coalition of advocacy organizations working together to drive ambitious, durable federal action to cut carbon pollution, address the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and accelerate the transition to clean energy. Our goal is to reduce carbon pollution and accelerate the transition to clean energy through policies focused on climate, justice, and jobs and expanding opportunity for all.
