Climate Action This Week: Undocumented Workers Fund; Cap and Invest; Climate Update to the GMA; Promoting Salmon Recovery; Reducing GHG Emissions from Fluorinated Gases; Permissible Use of Force; WA Strong

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We have five comment opportunities this week. For submitting written commentary please consider these tips:
  • You can submit written testimony up to 24 hours after the hearing ends.
  • Clearly state your position up front.
  • Keep it short.
  • Personalize or use data points if you can.
  • Be polite.

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* Your information

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* 1. Add Undocumented Workers Fund to State Budget

Undocumented workers, a group among the hardest hit by the pandemic, are not eligible for unemployment or federal stimulus checks. Washington State has provided minimal support but the need is much greater. An opportunity exists to include funds for undocumented residents in the budget.

Please contact all three of your legislators and ask them to support the inclusion of $350 million for undocumented workers in the budget.

Here are some talking points:
  • Immigrant communities have been disproportionately impacted by COVID, are more likely to work frontline jobs, and to lose their jobs due to COVID.  However, they are not eligible for unemployment or federal stimulus checks.
  • The fund Governor Inslee created to send payments to some undocumented residents falls far short of meeting the need. The majority of undocumented Washingtonians will not receive these funds; the amounts that were sent were paltry and far too late compared to the support unemployed citizens have received and continue to receive in the pandemic.
If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly and clearly.

  My Senator My Rep. #1 My Rep. #2
I called
I emailed

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* 2.  Oppose Cap and Invest: SB 5126

This bill creates a cap and trade program requiring large greenhouse gas emitters to buy allowances at auction for each metric ton of emissions above a gradually decreasing cap.

Evaluations of cap and trade (aka cap and invest) programs largely show that, due to offsets and allowances, success in reducing emissions is negligible. Moreover, offset and allowance schemes allow polluters to continue their emissions-producing activities in BIPOC and low-income communities, with resulting adverse impacts on health and wellness. 

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means on Monday, March 15, 4:00 PM and for executive session on Thursday March 18, 4:00 PM.

Please sign in here to oppose SB 5126, Cap and Invest before Monday, March 15, 3:00 PM and select “Con” in the position button.

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* If you have extra time, please email or call the following members of the Committee and ask them to vote NO to SB 5126.

Click here to send an email to six key members of the committee.

If the above link did not work, please address your emails to:

Vice-Chair Sen. David Frockt (D-46) – (360) 786-7690 – David.Frockt@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Jeannie Darneille (D-27) – (360) 786-7652 – Jeannie.Darneille@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-41) – (425) 301-8578 – Lisa.Wellman@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-45) – (360) 786-7672 – Manka.Dhingra@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-11) – (360) 786-7616 – Bob.Hasegawa@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Sam Hunt (D-22) – (360) 786-7642 – Sam.Hunt@leg.wa.gov

Script: I’m contacting you to ask that you vote NO on SB 5126 in Thursday’s Executive Session in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. It’s important that you understand why I oppose it.

Here are some talking points to include about why you oppose the bill:
  • Offsets and allowances allow polluters to continue their emissions-producing activities in BIPOC and low-income communities, with resulting adverse impacts on their health.
  • The trading program is complex and cumbersome, expensive to design and administer. 
  • Cap and Invest programs, like California’s, have failed to meaningfully reduce emissions. Instead they allow polluters to buy time to continue polluting.
  • Direct regulation of polluters would be a more effective way of reducing greenhouse gases and co-pollutants.
  • SB 5373 Washington Strong would be a more effective way of raising revenue and directing spending toward meaningful climate and resiliency investments.
If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly and clearly and say the bill number. And be sure to let them know if you are a constituent of their district!

  Vice-Chair Sen. David Frockt (D-46) Sen. Jeannie Darneille (D-27) Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-41) Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-45) Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-11) Sen. Sam Hunt (D-22)
I called
I emailed

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* 3. Climate Update to the GMA: HB 1099

This update to the Growth Management Act will support Washington’s biggest counties as they plan for a resilient future by adding climate change and resiliency as elements that must be included within their plans. This bill will play an important role in ensuring our cities reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and in protecting communities and natural resources from the accelerating impacts of a changing climate. 

Scheduled for public hearing  in the Senate Committee on Housing & Local Government Tuesday, March 16, 8:00 AM.

Follow this link to provide a written comment on Climate Update to the GMA, HB 1099 via the legislative website.

“Position” - please select “Pro”. The first sentence of the written comment should be: I strongly support HB 1099. 

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • Right now, Washington’s biggest cities and counties aren’t planning adequately for climate change.
  • We need to update the Growth Management Act to include climate change and resiliency elements before some of our largest counties begin to update their comprehensive plans within the next one to two years. 
  • This update will support Washington’s biggest cities and counties as they plan for a resilient future.

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* 4.  Promoting Salmon Recovery: HB 1117

This bill would add salmon recovery as a goal of the Growth Management Act and require the land use element of county and city comprehensive plans to include a strategy that achieves net ecological gain of salmon habitat. Net ecological gain is a stronger standard for ecological health and endangered species recovery than is currently used.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing & Local Government Tuesday, March 16, 8:00 AM.

Follow this link to provide a written comment on HB 1117, Promoting Salmon Recovery, via the legislative website.

“Position” - please select “Pro”. The first sentence of the written comment should be: I strongly support HB 1117.

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • Adding salmon recovery as a goal under the GMA should be enacted now so that salmon recovery is included when counties and cities update their comprehensive plans within the next one to two years.
  • The bill would require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to adopt rules that establish criteria for net ecological gain and consistency with regional salmon recovery plans.
  • Salmon are a historic underpinning of the economy in Washington. Ten out of 14 major wild salmon populations are either not keeping pace with recovery goals or are in crisis. Only two populations are meeting recovery goals. Significant change is needed to achieve salmon recovery. Incorporating salmon recovery into planning under the GMA is an important step towards doing this. 
  • This bill implements a key recommendation of the Orca Recovery Task Force.

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* 5. Reducing GHG Emissions from Fluorinated Gases: HB 1050

This bill strengthens the regulation of the super-potent greenhouse gases, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used in refrigeration and air conditioning and other ozone-depleting substances and substitutes. Among other things, it directs the Department of Ecology to establish a management program for large air conditioning and refrigerant systems, and to recommend a design process for end-of-life management and disposal of HFCs.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology on Tuesday, March 16, 10:30 AM.

Please sign in here to support HB 1050, Fluorinated Gases before Tuesday, March 16, 9:30 AM and select “Pro” in the position button.

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* 6.  Permissible Use of Force: HB 1310

This important bill establishes a clear state-wide standard for use of physical force by all Washington police and correction officers. All Washington law enforcement officers will be expected to use their de-escalation training, without resorting to use of force unless circumstances require it.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice on Tuesday, March 16, 10:30 AM.

Please sign in here to support HB 1310, Permissible Use of Force before Tuesday, March 16, 9:30 AM and select “Pro” in the position button.

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* 7. Washington Strong: SB 5373

The Washington Strong bill will immediately generate revenue dedicated to transition to a sustainable economy without leaving anyone behind. It will raise an estimated $16 billion over the first ten years, by issuing “green” bonds backed by an economy-wide carbon tax linked to the state’s emission reduction goals

This bill will be more effective at reducing our emissions, jumpstarting our economy, improving climate resiliency and helping frontline communities than the problematic Cap and Trade bill, SB 5126. However, the Chairman of the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee, Senator Reuven Carlyle, has still not scheduled SB 5373 for a vote while Cap and Trade is being moved forward. We need to escalate pressure on our Senators to move Washington Strong so it doesn’t die in committee. 

Please call or email to Senate President, Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, Majority Leader Senator Andy Billig and Majority Floor Leader Senator Liias, copying Sen. Carlyle and ask them to support SB 5373 and urge Senator Carlyle to hold an executive session and a vote on SB 5373. 

Click here to send an email to Senate President Heck, Majority Leader Billig, and Majority Floor Leader Sen. Liias, copying Sen. Carlyle.

If the above link did not work, please address your emails to:

Senate President Lt. Gov. Denny Heck – (360) 786-7700 – ltgov@ltgov.wa.gov
Majority Leader, Sen. Andy Billig (D-03) – (360) 786-7604 – Andy.Billig@leg.wa.gov
Majority Floor Leader, Sen. Marko Liias (D-21) – (360) 786-7640 – Marko.Liias@leg.wa.gov
Chair Sen. Reuven Carlyle (D-36) – (360) 786-7670 – Reuven.Carlyle@leg.wa.gov

If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly and clearly and say the bill number. And be sure to let them know if you are a constituent of their district!

Script: I’m contacting you to request that you urge Senator Carlyle to hold an executive session and a vote on SB 5373. 

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • WA Strong has the potential to create upwards of 150,000 jobs by providing much-needed local stimulus with a focus on rural economic development and frontline communities.
  • All investments are tied to climate resiliency and GHG emissions reductions. This bill makes billions of dollars available immediately for resilient infrastructure projects.
  • This bill saves money – and lives – by reducing the risk and impacts of future climate shocks and disasters.
  • The bill includes a cap on emissions using Clean Air Rule authority.
  • This bill would create thousands of family-wage jobs, invest in our hardest-hit communities, and jump-start our economic recovery. This economic policy puts environmental justice first, instead of increasing inequity and placing the burden on our most impacted communities.

  Senate President Lt. Gov. Denny Heck Majority Leader, Sen. Andy Billig (D-03) Majority Floor Leader, Sen. Marko Liias (D-21) Chair Sen. Reuven Carlyle (D-36)
I called
I emailed

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* Thanks for taking action with us!

-- The 350 WA Civic Action Team

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