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Environmental Bond Bill Released
Great news – the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets released the Environmental Bond Bill today. We are grateful the work that Co-Chairs Senator Montigny, Representative Flynn, other members of the Committee and their staff put into this. Please consider dropping the Co-Chairs a "Thank you note". They will help shepherd the bill through their respective chambers, so your acknowledgement of their hard work is well-deserved and important to the Legislature's approval of the Bond.
As soon as we have a copy of the bill as passed through Committee we will post it, as well as a summary of changes, on our Bond Bill Text page.
THIS IS NOT, HOWEVER, THE TIME TO RELAX.
This is an important and positive step forward but is only one of several steps the bill needs to take before it reaches the Governor's desk for his signature and the money is made available for agencies to use in our local communities. The next step the Environmental Bond takes is down the hall to the Ways and Means Committees (House and Senate) and approval by both branches.
Contact Your Legislators
Please take a moment to contact your legislators and ask them to speak
with the House and Senate Chairs of Ways and Means to request quick passage of
the Environmental Bond.
The end of the legislative session is July 31; a few short weeks away. Speedy passage by the committees is imperative if we are going to see the Bond pass and not lose an entire season of work. If you or your members do not know who your legislator is or how to contact them they can go to http://www.wheredoivotema.com.
BACKGROUND ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOND
We're also still looking to place op-eds and letters to the editor in media statewide. Several have run already and can be seen on our News page. We've also placed a number of background information items on the web site that can help you. You can also make use of our Why Now points; some of the most important reasons the legislature needs to pass the Environmental Bond this session.
Please let us know if you have placed items in your local newspaper or
spoken with your legislators about the Environmental Bond by emailing us at info@envirobond.org. As always, feel
free to contact us with any questions you may have. We will let you know when
there is further legislative action.
The Coalition for the Environmental Bond, representing more
than 250 groups and businesses, a combined membership of more than 400,000
Massachusetts families, have united to advocate for passage this legislative
session before money for all the programs runs out.