REP’s History:
This website archives the history, publications, policy statements and actions of a national grassroots movement that began in 1995 and ended sometime around 2010-2011.
In April of 1995, three Republican women, Aurie Kryzuda (CA), Martha Marks (IL), and Kim O’Keefe (FL), met for the first time at an environmental conference in Maryland. As they got to know one another, they decided there was a need for a GOP environmental organization and set out to make it happen. Thanks to the energy they brought to their new project, by autumn the name Republicans for Environmental Protection already had burst into the American consciousness.
Through individual word-of-mouth efforts, REP’s visibility and membership grew quickly across the country. Journalists began writing clever “man bites dog” stories. People of all parties cheered the notion of a genuine environmental organization for Republican voters. Especially since that organization and its members announced their intention to improve GOP policies. And aimed to persuade GOP elected officials to be better stewards. And began advocating for the GOP to fully protect America’s air, water, climate, public lands, and wildlife.
Editor’s Note: 4 Sep 2023. In reviewing this item about REP (Republicans for Environmental Protection). They became ConservAmerica in 2012 shortly after I ceased updating this Fracking Resource Guide. I am saddened by how our common interests, our non-partisan interests have been sacrificed. I welcome arguments against my opinion that Republicans will continue to gut ethics, oversight, science and stuff their pockets with cash. Sadly this is what has happened and is so stated by REP America on their website.
Sadly, there is nothing left for us “Green Republicans” in today’s GOP. But here, on this website, we’ve chosen to preserve the record of how for fifteen years we did our best to save both our country’s natural resources and our party’s long and proud tradition of protecting them.
REP America
Jay Newman. You’re kidding: Republicans for Environmental Protection? 1 Feb 2007. REP
We are Republicans. We share a deep concern for the environment.
We know that a healthy environment and a sound economy are both essential to our nation’s prosperity.
We believe that by working together, we can preserve both our environment and our economy for current and future generations of Americans.
We Want:
- Clean air and water
- Food free from harmful chemicals
- Clean, efficient businesses & industries
- A high quality of life in our cities & rural communities
- Strong, results-oriented enforcement of environmental laws
- Economic development for communities without the ravages of sprawl
- High priority for funding of natural resource stewardship & environmental protection
- Protection for posterity of our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, wild lands & waters
- Effective legal protection for threatened & endangered plants & animals in their native habitats
We support and vote for Republican elected officials and candidates who share these values and concerns.
A spinoff of REP, The Green Elephant Coalition supported Joe Biden for President in 2020.
Colleen Kendrick, President of the Deep River Clean Water Society, wrote to me on June 16 2011:
Hello,
https://www.facebook.com/people/Deep-River-Clean-Water-Society/100064594363712/
I am an organizer of a small group in central NC, where our legislature is opening the doors for industry within two years. The preliminary so-called “study bills” have passed both houses, which they would not have initiated unless they wanted to change existing laws preventing chemical injection and horizontal drilling…
We have a few folks in the movement who are Republicans, and I am glad to see your organization out there.
I am writing to you to ask your opinion on ideas to build this movement in NC as more of a bi-partisan issue. I, for one, see it as one of ultimately health as well as non-corporate control. My husband is an entrepreneur, so obviously i’m not vs. business! Yet, in a society, it seems foolish to allow corporations to go completely unregulated and leave the health of the citizenry and our food system at corporate feet.
If you have any advice or suggestions, I would greatly appreciate them.
Best of luck in you work, and thank you for taking this on and your website.
Regards,
Colleen Kendrick, Organizer
Deep River Clean Water SocietyColleen Kendrick
I responded:
Hello Colleen, 6/21/11
You are so right to keep your focus non-partisan. In fact, if I could think of a way to appeal mostly to Republican voters I would. Funny, how the public perception of Republicans is the politicians not the voters. A much higher percentage of Republican voters (based on a poll conducted by ? and heard on NPR today) don’t believe we need to address global warming.
This morning on NPR, the insight they shared was how Republicans are trying to keep global warming off the table. (Scott Horsley. In 2012 GOP Race, Climate Policy Is A Non-Issue. 21 Jun 2011. NPR
I’m glad you picked up on my comprehensive point of view – health, environmental justice, sound economic models, good science, fearless and well informed government regulation, an international press, and strong opinions. Have you read Wendell Berry from Kentucky? He talks about thinking little from a government perspective, he inspires me. Other inspirations are Max Shelby (if that’s his real name) of Alabama Corruption blogspot and Sharon Wilson of Bluedaze – Drilling Reform for Texas, the late Molly Ivins – I wish I could dish it the way she can.
We can all pull together, Democrats and Republicans (and Independents and small parties) to make our world safe for our children and make our nation a beacon of good common sense to every other nation.
A grassroots organization will make a mighty big difference.
We need populist resistance to this kind of republican politician ignorance. It can’t last. We can all share in a new era of green construction and renewable energy – no, we shouldn;t reject it just to spite Mr. Gore. You folks down south are brimming with nobel laureates – gore, carter – they may be democrats, but they’re also people in business – peanut farms and information.
A Facebook page is a good start, but you will want to consider paying a small fee each month to name yourself and get your organization hosted. Web site building can be tricky but I taught it to myself and Google’s blogspot and wordpress might work for you. I like Drupal and now do it professionally. I am working for a green construction company.
I love the idea of collective energy farms – where a community shares the power generated by wind, water, solar, etc. I think we have a bright future.
And, I hate the idea of seeing so much of our beautiful country wrecked by fracking so that we can export our natural resources to Asia.
Regards and best wishes,
Neil Zusman
See also: Colin Seeberger. The MAGA Scorecard: How House Republicans Vote With Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. 27 Jul 2023. American Progress.
See: Climate Zombies Now Run The House
See: House committee votes to deny climate change
See: Global Warning | The environment and national security
See: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Weston Wilson Whistle Blower Letter
