For Immediate Release
February 19, 2002

Contact:
David Willett, 202-675-6698



     33 Environmental Champions Crowned in First Round of Sierra Club
                               Endorsements


Washington, DC:  In the 2002 elections, voters will be concerned not only
with whether their public officials care about America, but how they plan
to care for America as well.  To protect America's clean air, clean water,
and precious public lands, the Sierra Club today announced its first round
of 33 endorsements of U.S. Senate and House candidates for the 2002
elections.  Protecting the homeland extends to safeguarding the land
Americans love, and the best hope for defending the environment from
pollution and destruction lies in the House and Senate.

The first round of endorsements includes incumbent Senators Max Cleland
(D-GA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Robert Torricelli (D-NJ), and Paul Wellstone
(D-MN).   Additional races of note are two open seat endorsements for
Hector De La Torre (D) in CA-39 and David Russo (R) in NJ-05.  A full list
of these initial endorsees is attached.  More endorsements will be
forthcoming throughout the year.

"America deserves leaders we can trust to protect our families from
pollution," said Margaret Conway, Sierra Club's Political Director.  "These
candidates have clearly and consistently earned our trust by safeguarding
our families' clean air, clean water and America's special places.  Sierra
Club members will be working in their communities to elect these and other
pro-environmental candidates.  We're committed to caring for the land that
we love, and to do that we must build pro-environment majorities in the
House and Senate."

At a time when Americans feel a special connection to our country, the Bush
Administration stands poised to ruin wild areas in our National Forests and
Monuments, weaken clean air standards, and open up the pristine Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.

"In November, voters will make clear choices: between candidates who will
stand up for our health, our safety, and our families, or those who cater
to big corporate interests at our families' expense," said Conway. "As
Americans learn how Enron influenced Vice President Cheney's energy policy,
people are increasingly leery of politicians who do the bidding of big
corporate polluters, and they want to know who they can trust."

The Sierra Club's endorsement is a two-step, volunteer-driven process.
Endorsement requests originate on the local level, where candidates are
thoroughly screened and often personally interviewed by Sierra Club
volunteers.  The state's volunteer political committee then votes on
whether to extend an endorsement at that time.  Once approved by the state
political committee, the endorsement is forwarded to the national volunteer
Sierra Club Political Committee, which then votes on whether to approve the
request at that time.  Once this committee approves the request, the
candidate is officially notified of their Sierra Club endorsement.

***Margaret Conway, Political Director of the Sierra Club, is available to
discuss Sierra Club's plans for the 2002 election cycle.  Please call
202-675-6698 to set up an interview.***


Full list of Endorsements:

Senate
GA: Sen. Max Cleland (D)
IA: Sen. Tom Harkin (D)
MN: Sen. Paul Wellstone (D)
SD: Sen. Tim Johnson (D)

House - Open Seats
CA-39: South Gate City Councilor Hector De La Torre (D)
NJ-05: Assemblyman David Russo (R)

House
CA-06: Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D)
CA-09: Rep. Barbara Lee (D)
CA-29: Rep. Adam Schiff (D)
CA-32: Rep. Hilda Solis (D)
CA-38: Rep. Grace Napolitano (D)
CA-35: Rep. Maxine Waters (D)
CA-36: Rep. Jane Harman (D)
CA-51: Rep. Bob Filner (D)
FL-03: Rep. Corrine Brown (D)
FL-17: Rep. Carrie Meek (D)
FL-19: Rep. Robert Wexler (D)
FL-20: Rep. Peter Deutsch (D)
FL-23: Rep. Alcee Hastings (D)
GA-04: Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D)
GA-05: Rep. John Lewis (D)
IN-01: Rep. Pete Visclosky (D)
IN-07: Rep. Julia Carson (D)
MN-03: Rep. Jim Ramstad (R)
MN-05: Rep. Martin Olav Sabo (D)
MN-06: Rep. Bill Luther (D)
NJ-01: Rep. Robert Andrews (D)
NJ-06: Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.(D)
NJ-08: Rep. William Pascrell, Jr.(D)
NJ-10: Rep. Donald Payne (D)
NJ-12: Rep. Rush Holt (D)
NJ-13: Rep. Robert Menendez (D)
TX-18: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D)

###


Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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