EDF Action Names Los Angeles Congressman Steve Knight To List of Politicians Who Have Failed to Keep Commitments on Pollution & Climate Change

U.S. Representative Steve Knight today was named to a list of 5 members of Congress who have not lived up to their promises to pursue climate change solutions—and have instead repeatedly opposed actions to address the growing threat, while making no proposals of their own.

EDF Action today launched a multi-state public education, media and advertising campaign urging Knight and the others to take the kinds of real steps that their constituents—from both parties—are demanding.

“It’s time for action, not just words,” said Joe Bonfiglio, President of EDF Action.  “Congressman Knight says that he wants to address climate change, but he’s repeatedly failed to do anything about it.”

Climate change is associated with a growing number of threats to the health and welfare of California’s families, including devastating wildfires, crippling heatwaves, droughts that harm farmers, air pollution that causes asthma attacks, and greater energy demands.

EDF Action’s campaign follows a series of “Just Say No to Climate” votes, including votes against first ever limits on dangerous climate pollutants, votes to cut EPA funding, and votes against solutions to require polluters to pay for the costs they impose on society. 

Knight has even ignored the first serious Republican climate solutions bill introduced in almost 10 years, the MARKET CHOICE Act, which seeks to harness market forces to reduce climate pollution.

“Knight and the other Members of Congress have been given so many opportunities to show they’re in step with their constituents about addressing pollution and climate change—but time after time, they’ve stepped back instead of stepping up.  The time for talking is done.  Californians deserve to know, what is Knight’s plan? ” added Bonfiglio.

Recent opinion surveys show that Americans are demanding action, not words:

• A 2018 survey by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication shows that a majority of Americans are worried about harm that climate change will do to their community, including extreme heat, droughts, flooding and water shortages.  
• A recent Gallup survey shows that 62 of Americans currently say the government is doing too little to protect the environment—the highest in 12 years.

In addition to Rep. Knight, the members targeted by EDF’s campaign represent districts across the country where families are under increasing threat of climate change:

• Mike Coffman (Denver, CO)
• Bruce Poliquin (Bangor, ME)
• Henry Cuellar (San Antonio, TX)
• Tom MacArthur (Trenton, NJ)