Elissa Slotkin Is A Climate Champion Who Will Protect Our Progress  

Representative Elissa Slotkin is a climate champion for Michigan. Slotkin called for taking “aggressive steps to mitigate the effects of climate change” and has been a strong supporter of the state’s growing clean energy economy. She voted to pass the clean energy plan, which has already spurred $26.63 billion in investment and has helped create 21,748 new clean energy jobs in the Great Lakes State. She also supported legislation that would help address the worst effects of the climate crisis, such as air and water pollution. Slotkin has also sought to hold Big Oil accountable, criticizing OPEC for putting profits first at the expense of Americans’ pocketbooks. 

In stark contrast, former Congressman Mike Rogers has made oil and gas production a centerpiece of his campaign for Senate. As a member of the House of Representatives, Rogers repeatedly obstructed efforts to address climate change – he sought to delay caps on carbon pollution levels, voted against mandatory limits on pollution, and voted to block the EPA from updating clean air safeguards. Rogers has also repeatedly spread misinformation about Democrats mandating electric vehicles and banning gas-powered engines – claims that have been repeatedly proven to be false. He’s a major ally of Big Oil, having taken over $400,000 from oil and gas throughout his career while voting to provide the industry with environmental exceptions and billions in tax breaks and to make it easier for the industry to skirt public health laws. He has pushed for expanding oil drilling, and once claimed oil could be drilled “in an environmentally-friendly way.”. 

Rogers is vastly out of touch with Michiganders. 73% of Michiganders support increasing the share of electricity that is produced from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, but Rogers has criticized Michigan’s clean energy transition, saying “big footed government isn’t getting it right.” In Michigan, the impacts of climate change and continued reliance on fossil fuels will mean more extremely hot days, more frequent heavy rainstorms, and ice cover on the Great Lakes forming later or melting sooner. 

• In the past decade, Michigan has experienced 31 billion-dollar climate-related disasters that caused $104.9 billion in damages and killed 371 people. 
• Climate change has caused Michigan to see an increase in temperatures and extreme heat events, putting people’s lives at risk. Michigan is the 15th-fastest warming state in the nation. By 2045, most counties in lower Michigan will experience one to two more weeks of extreme heat each summer.
• According to the 2024 State of the Air Report, eight counties in Michigan, Allegan, Berrien, Huron, Kent, Macomb, Muskegon, Ottawa, and Wayne, received F grades for the number of high-ozone days. Southwest Detroit has the highest levels of air pollution in Michigan and ranks among the top five percent in the country. 
• With 83,717, Detroit ranked fifth among the nation’s public water systems for the highest number of lead service lines. According to the EPA, there is no safe level of exposure to lead.  

Advancing Climate Action

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As of June 2024, Michigan has received over $12.9 billion in funding from the Slotkin-backed clean energy plan – that’s money going to communities all across the state to replace toxic lead pipes, promote climate resiliency, reduce pollution, and advance climate-smart agriculture.  Meanwhile, Rogers has repeatedly obstructed efforts to address climate change and even claimed oil could be drilled “in an environmentally friendly way.” 

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• Slotkin voted for the clean energy plan, which has already delivered over $12 billion in funding to Michigan – including $32.96 million to increase access to green spaces.  

• In 2019, Slotkin cosponsored a bill establishing requirements to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and setting a national goal of achieving a 100% clean economy. 
• In 2019, Slotkin cosponsored the Climate Change National Security Strategy Act, which requires the impacts of climate change to be identified and considered in the development and implementation of national security policies and plans.
• In 2019, Slotkin cosponsored the Climate Action Now Act, which required the President to develop and update annually a plan for the United States to meet its goals under the Paris Agreement on climate change.
• Slotkin said she has “long believed we need to bring a strong sense of urgency” to address climate change and that the U.S. needs “to take aggressive steps to mitigate the effects of climate change.”

• Rogers repeatedly obstructed efforts to address climate change – he sought to delay caps on greenhouse gas pollution and voted against mandatory limits on global warming pollution. 
• Rogers claimed oil could be drilled “in an environmentally friendly way.” 

Expanding The Clean Energy Economy

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The clean energy plan has already spurred $26.63 billion in investment and helped create 21,748 new clean energy jobs in the Great Lakes State. Clean energy means good-paying jobs for Michiganders, but Rogers is undermining climate action and our opportunity to build a clean energy future. 

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• In 2022, Slotkin voted for the clean energy plan, which has already spurred $26.63 billion in investment and helped create 21,748 new clean energy jobs in the Great Lakes State. 
• In 2019, Slotkin cosponsored a bill establishing requirements to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and setting a national goal of achieving a 100% clean economy. 
• In 2021, Slotkin cosponsored the Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act, a bill requiring the Department of Energy to establish a program to award grants and loans to support a solar component manufacturing supply chain.
• Slotkin supports transitioning to carbon-free, clean energy sources, including wind and solar.  

• In 2008, Rogers voted against a renewable electricity standard that mandated that 15% of American electricity come from clean energy sources by 2020.
• Rogers repeatedly spread misinformation about Democrats mandating electric vehicles and banning gas-powered engines – neither of which are true. 
• Rogers opposed the Gotion EV Battery Plant, claiming Democrats signed an NDA with a Chinese company that will take away Michigan jobs.
  • In truth, more Republicans than Democrats signed the nondisclosure agreement – including several members of Republican leadership. 
  • The nondisclosure agreements were signed with the Michigan Economic Development Corp., not Gotion, and Slotkin’s didn’t even reference the project. 
  • Nondisclosure agreements for projects are nothing new – over the last four years, over 30 current or former Michigan lawmakers have signed them. 

Air Pollution

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Michigan needs a leader who will work to decrease pollution and improve air quality in the state. While Elissa Slotkin has fought for clean air, Mike Rogers voted to block the EPA from updating clean air safeguards.

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• In 2021, Slotkin voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided the Lansing School District with 15 new electric and low-emission school buses, reducing harmful air pollution exposure for students and their communities.
• In 2022, Slotkin voted for the clean energy plan, which provided Michigan funding to implement community-driven solutions that tackle the climate crisis and reduce air pollution. 

• In 2004, Rogers voted for legislation that let states suspend the use of cleaner-burning fuels without stemming the resulting increases in air pollution. 
• In 2011, Rogers voted to block the EPA from updating clean air safeguards, a vote which would severely hinder the agency’s ability to protect public health from water and air pollution. 64% of voters in his district at the time opposed Rogers’ vote. 
• In his 2024 race for Senate, when asked about his plans to mitigate air pollution, Rogers said a carbon-free economy is “a long way in the future” and stressed that mandates were not the solution. 
• Rogers repeatedly opposed measures to make cars more fuel efficient – he voted against an amendment to increase fuel economy standards by closing the light truck loophole, an amendment to raise CAFE standards for cars and light trucks, and an amendment to reduce the amount of oil consumed by U.S. automobiles. 
• While today’s fuel economy standards save drivers hundreds of dollars in gasoline costs, Rogers previously said increasing fuel standards for automobiles was “the wrong direction”

Water Pollution

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Detroit ranked fifth among the public water systems in the nation with the most lead service lines, putting people’s health and lives at risk. Slotkin has worked to address water pollution by voting for a bill that delivered over $177 million for drinking water and clean water infrastructure, while Mike Rogers failed to answer how he plans to mitigate water pollution. 

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• In 2019, Slotkin introduced the PFAS Monitoring Act, a bill requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to test for PFAS in public water systems. 
• In 2021, Slotkin voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided Michigan with over $177 million for drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades. 
• In 2021, Slotkin cosponsored the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act, which addresses water infrastructure and the discharge of pollution into the United States’ waters.
• In 2023, Slotkin cosponsored the Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act, which increases funding for controlling water pollution or protecting drinking water.
• In 2023, Slotkin cosponsored the Healthy H2O Act, which directs the Department of Agriculture to establish a grant program for improving the quality of drinking water in rural areas.

• In 2024, Slotkin cosponsored a bill that addresses water pollution threats to the Great Lakes. 
• Slotkin applauded the Department of Defense’s efforts to address PFAS contamination in Michigan. 
• In his bid for Senate, when asked about his plans to mitigate water pollution, Rogers said a carbon-free economy is “a long way in the future” and stressed that mandates were not the solution. 

Holding Big Oil Accountable

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While Elissa Slotkin has criticized OPEC for putting profits first, Rogers has been a strong ally to Big Oil. He’s taken over $400,000 from oil and gas throughout his career while voting to hand the industry billions in tax breaks and make it easier for them to skirt public health laws and pollute our communities. Slotkin is in favor of protecting our Great Lakes from oil and gas exploration, while Rogers once opposed a Great Lakes oil and gas drilling ban. 

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• Slotkin criticized OPEC over gas prices, saying the group “has rejected any idea of being a helpful actor & chosen profit over aiding the world economy.” 

• Slotkin said she was strongly against any proposal that would allow drilling in the Great Lakes.
• Rogers took nearly $450,00 from the oil and gas industry throughout his career, the 9th most of any industry group. 
• In 2003, Rogers voted to provide the oil and gas industry with environmental exemptions and billions in tax breaks.
• In 2004, Rogers voted to make it easier for oil companies to skirt public health laws. 
• Rogers favored expanded oil drilling and repeatedly voted to allow drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, the Outer Continental Shelf, federal lands, national monuments, and other areas.
• Rogers opposed a ban on oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes.