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Rep Diana DeGette
Colorado - 1st District
www.degette.com
About the Candidate
Representative Diana DeGette is serving her seventh term in Congress. During her tenure serving the Denver metro region, she has established herself as a leader for progressive change on health care, reproductive rights, food safety, consumer protection, and the environment.
In 2005, Diana was promoted to the House Democratic leadership as chief deputy whip, a critical role in ensuring passage of key pieces of legislation. She serves as vice chair of the powerful Committee on Energy and Commerce, where she has used her position to improve health care, expand medical research, reform corporate business and accounting practices, take on global climate change, and move America toward energy independence. In 2009, Diana was appointed to the Natural Resources Committee, where she has worked on land policy to protect our public lands in Colorado and across the country.
Diana received her B.A. magna cum laude from Colorado College and her J.D. from New York University School of Law. She served two terms in the Colorado House of Representatives serving as assistant minority leader from 1993 to 1995.
About the Race
Diana coasted to victory again in 2010, winning 67 percent of the vote. We are glad to have her back in Congress!
On Environmental Issues
Diana has long been a champion for the environment. In December 2009, she traveled to Copenhagen as part of the bi-partisan Congressional delegation representing the United States at the UN climate change negotiations. She authored the Colorado Wilderness Act, which, if passed, would protect 1.6 million acres of land in Colorado. She has a lifetime League of Conservation Voters score of 97 percent and has been endorsed by both the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund and the Sierra Club in 2010.
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Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D)
Maryland - 4th District
www.donnaedwardsforcongress.com/
P.O. Box 441153
Fort Washington, MD 20749
About the Candidate
Representative Donna Edwards represents Maryland’s 4th Congressional District comprising portions of Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. She was sworn in as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 110th Congress in June 2008, and began her first full-term in the 111th Congress in 2009.
Currently, Donna serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure and Science and Technology Committees. Through her subcommittee assignments, she works on transit, water resources, economic development, and technology issues.
Donna has worked in both the nonprofit and private sectors. Just prior to serving in Congress, she was the executive director of the Arca Foundation in Washington, DC. She also co-founded and led the National Network to End Domestic Violence, where she spearheaded the effort to pass The Violence Against Women Act of 1994. Rep. Edwards completed her undergraduate studies at Wake Forest University and received her Juris Doctor from Franklin Pierce Law Center.
About the Race
Donna was easily re-elected in 2010, earning 87 percent of the vote in this suburban D.C. district. We are so pleased to welcome her back to the 112th Congress!
On Environmental Issues
Donna is a leader on environmental issues in Congress. She has a perfect 100 percent lifetime League of Conservation Voters (LCV) score and has been endorsed by LCV, Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, and the Sierra Club in the 2010 election. She voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act and has been a vocal proponent of developing clean energy technology to create jobs and reduce carbon pollution. She serves as vice chair on the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, a position which holds considerable influence over our nation’s water quality. In the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, she is a champion of public transportation to reduce gasoline consumption and pollution.
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Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D)
Maine - 1st District
www.chelliepingree.com
PO Box 17613
Portland, ME 04112
About the Candidate
Representative Chellie Pingree has enjoyed a varied career in business, farming, and public service. From 1992 to 2000, she was a Maine state Senator, serving as Senate Majority Leader from 1996 to 2000. During her tenure, she was known for winning important legislative battles over health care, economic development, and the environment and earned several awards, including Consumer Health Advocate of the Year. In 2002, she was a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, and while not successful, she garnered 42 percent of the vote against a popular incumbent. Chellie then became president and CEO of Common Cause, a position she held through spring 2007, when she resigned to run for this open seat being vacated by Representative Tom Allen.
In Congress, Chellie serves on the Armed Services and Rules Committees.
Prior to public service, Chellie was active in the tiny island community of North Haven, where she was chair of the school board and founder of the North Haven Arts and Enrichment Association.
About the Race
Chellie won her bid for a second term in Congress with 57 percent of the vote. We are proud to welcome her back for the 112th Congress!
On Environmental Issues
In Congress, Chellie has been a champion of environmental issues, earning a 100 percent voting record from the League of Conservation Voters. She believes that investing in a green economy will reduce our energy consumption and end our dependence on fossil fuels. She has been endorsed by Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund and the Sierra Club.
During her tenure as a Maine state Senator and Senate majority leader, she championed environmental causes and fought to preserve and protect Maine's natural resources. Chellie's commitment and efforts have been widely acknowledged by environmental groups. Her state LCV rating during her last four years in the Senate was a perfect 100 percent.
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Candidate Colleen Hanabusa (D)
Hawaii - 1st District
www.hanabusa2010.com/
P.O. Box 1416
Honolulu, HI 96806
About the Candidate
In November 1998, in her first run for public office, Colleen Hanabusa was elected to the state Senate. In her freshman legislative year, Senator Hanabusa served as chair of the Senate Committee on Water, Land & Hawaiian Affairs. She was also named vice president of the State Senate and vice chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, appointed co-chair of the Joint Senate-House Investigative Committee concerning the Felix Consent Decree, co-chair of the Joint House-Senate Task Force on Ice and Drug Abatement, chair of the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee, and majority leader. In November 2006, she was elected President of the Senate, the first woman to lead either house in the Hawai‘i legislature. Colleen has been recognized for her work as a State Senator including being named outstanding legislator by several organizations.
In addition to serving as a state senator, Colleen is a practicing attorney with more than 30 years of experience. She has been recognized in “The Best Lawyers in America” for ten years in a row. In 2009, she received the American Bar Association’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity “Spirit of Excellence” Award.
Colleen graduated from St. Andrew’s Priory and then attended the University of Hawai’i at Manoa where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Sociology in 1973 and Master of Arts in Sociology in 1975. In 1977, she received her law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law.
About the Race
Colleen upset the incumbent Rep. Charles Djou, bringing in 53 percent of the vote! Congratulations Colleen, and welcome to Congress!
On Environmental Issues
Colleen’s goal in Congress is to bring federal resources to Hawaii to develop a center of alternative energy innovation at the University of Hawai’i. She notes that Hawai’i’s renewable energy resources are abundant, with solar, wind, wave, and geothermal energy potential that need only to be harnessed. The Sierra Club has endorsed Colleen in the 2010 election.
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Rachel's Action Network is proud to feature a list of women candidates who are fighting for the environment. Some already wield power on Capitol Hill, others are newcomers to the national scene, but all are working to advance the issues important to us.
Below, read the profiles of these promising candidates and legislators, and the races into which they are pouring their energy and enthusiasm. We encourage you to use the power of your checkbook by directly contributing to at least three women candidates. The maximum donation allowed per candidate, per election is $2,400.00.
Click on the candidate photos to learn more about these leaders and lend them your support!
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