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Dear Friend,
Maryland Sierra Club Sets a Bold Legislative Agenda for 2019
This issue of the Chapter Newsletter describes our exciting plans for the 2019 session of the Maryland General Assembly, which begins on January 9 and runs until April 8. We are focusing in 2019 on five ambitious legislative priorities:
We also will be supporting other significant bills, including (but not limited to) bills to extend the community solar pilot project, promote clean transportation initiatives, ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos (a dangerous neurotoxin), strengthen restrictions on antibiotic use in farm animals, and strengthen protections for Maryland’s forests.
Volunteer to Help Achieve Major Environmental Victories
Our tens of thousands of members and supporters can wield tremendous influence in Annapolis with the members of the General Assembly. There is truly power in grassroots numbers.
Here are just some of the ways you can help:
• Attend Lobby Night! We will be holding our annual Lobby Night on Monday evening, February 25, where you get to speak directly with your legislators. Register here to attend! • Respond to Chapter Action Alerts to write to your legislators asking them to support our priority bills, as well as other important bills! We will have Action Alerts up on our website in early January.
Put Maryland On The Path To 100% Clean Energy
Achieving 100% clean renewable energy grows ever more urgent. The General Assembly should act decisively in 2019 to put our state firmly on the necessary pathway. Read more here.
Moving Maryland Beyond Coal
It is clear that it is time for Maryland to prepare for, and undertake, the transition away from coal-fired power plants. In doing so, we must support impacted communities and workers in defining and implementing strategies which provide certainty for a transition timeline. Read more here.
Clean Transportation Yes, Widening Major Highways No
It is vitally important for the General Assembly to shift our State to creating a 21st Century, climate-friendly, clean transportation sector. Significant highway expansion is antithetical to accomplishing this, and the Maryland Sierra Club opposes Governor Hogan’s wrong-headed highway building plan and supports action by the General Assembly to address it. Read more here.
Ask Congress to Renew Funding Parks and Protecting Special Places
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (or LWCF) is an enormously popular program established in 1964 to fund conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives. It enjoys widespread support among Democrats and Republicans because it has paid for projects in just about every community in America – without using taxpayer dollars. In MD it has saved important natural places like Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.
Call Representative Steny H. Hoyer at (202) 225-4131, Senator Chris Van Hollen at (202) 224-4654, and Senator Benjamin L. Cardin at (202) 224-4524. Ask them to support continued funding from oil royalties for public recreational lands, forests, and wildlife refuges. More info from theWilderness Society and our local Audubon Naturalist Society.
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