Climate Action This Week: WA Strong; Clean Cars 2030; Healthy Homes, Clean Buildings; GMA; Promoting Salmon Recovery; the HEAL Act.

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* Bonus! What is your best guess for what NTIB stands for?

The answer will be shown on the exit page once you’re finished with the actions!

Let’s rally this week and make sure important bills continue on this session!

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* Your information

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* 1. Washington Strong Act - Concerning carbon pollution - SB 5373

This is a revenue generating bill that would raise an estimated $16 billion over the first ten years. This would be done by issuing  “green” bonds backed by an economy-wide carbon tax linked to the state’s emission reduction goals. 

The Chair of the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee hasn’t given this bill a hearing and we think it deserves one!

Please call or email the following key members of the Committee and ask them to ensure SB 5373 gets a public hearing.

Click here to send an email to Chair Reuven Carlyle, Senator Andy Billig and Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck.

Chair, Sen. Reuven Carlyle (D-36) – (360) 786-7670 – reuven.carlyle@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Andy Billig (D-3) – (360) 786-7604 – andy.billig@leg.wa.gov
Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck – (360) 786-7700 – ltgov@ltgov.wa.gov

Script: I’m writing to ask that SB 5373 gets a public hearing in the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee.

Then choose from the points below or feel free to write your own:
  • This bill makes billions of dollars available immediately for resilient infrastructure projects.
  • This bill would create thousands of family-wage jobs, invest in our hardest-hit communities, and jump-starts our economic recovery.
  • This bill saves money – and lives – by reducing the risk and impacts of future climate shocks and disasters.
  • Taxing carbon pollution is the right way to transition to a clean energy economy.

  Chair, Sen. Reuven Carlyle (D-36) Sen. Andy Billig (D-3) Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck
I called
I emailed

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* 2. Concerning the electrification of transportation (Clean Cars 2030) - HB 1204

We are doubling down on this bill and asking for two actions! 

This bill would require all new cars and light trucks to be electric starting in 2030. This is a critical step for WA to transition away from fossil fuel pollution to cleaner electric vehicles! 

This bill has not been scheduled yet for a vote.

We took this action last week, but we haven't seen a result! Chair of the House Transportation Committee, Representative Jake Fey, still has not yet scheduled HB 1204 for a vote.

Please call or email the following key members of the Committee and ask them to hold an executive session and vote yes on HB 1204.

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

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

Chair Rep. Jake Fey (D-27) – (206) 653-9974 – Jake.Fey@leg.wa.gov
Vice-Chair Rep. Sharon Wylie (D-49) – (360) 786-7924 – Sharon.Wylie@leg.wa.gov
2nd Vice-Chair Rep. Dan Bronoske (D-28) – (360) 786-7958 – Dan.Bronoske@leg.wa.gov
2nd Vice-Chair Rep. Rill Ramos (D-5) – (425) 654-4402 – Bill.Ramos@leg.wa.gov

Script: I’m writing to ask Rep. [Name] to ensure HB 1204 gets an executive session.

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!

  Chair Rep. Jake Fey (D-27) Vice-Chair Rep. Sharon Wylie (D-49) 2nd Vice-Chair Rep. Dan Bronoske (D-28) 2nd Vice-Chair Rep. Rill Ramos (D-5)
I called
I emailed

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* Our second action on HB 1204:

Please click here to comment on the bill, and ask your legislators to support the bill and to urge the House Transportation Chair to move the bill out of committee.

“Position” - please select “Pro”. The first sentence of the written comment should be: I strongly support HB 1204 and urge you to request that House Transportation Chair Fey schedule an executive session for the bill. Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own:
  • By the time HB 1204, the Clean Cars Act, mandate goes into effect, electric cars will be comparable to combustion vehicles in initial price, and cheaper over the average life of the car.
  • States that lead on clean cars will be the first to develop robust used markets, which will make them more affordable, sooner.
  • The bill affects the sale of new cars, not used: people will still be able to drive, sell, and purchase older model gas cars under the bill after the year 2030.
  • Passing this bill will ensure that WA gets its share of EVs at all price points -- otherwise we could miss out on cheaper models that an everyday person will want to purchase.

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* 3. Promoting Healthy Homes and Clean Buildings - HB 1084

Residential and commercial buildings are one-fifth of Washington’s greenhouse gas emissions and is the fastest-growing sector of emissions in the state. This bill would move WA toward decarbonization of the building industry. Although two key provisions were removed, it’s still a strong bill, and should pass this year! 

This bill needs to be passed out of the Appropriations Committee by February 22. 

Please email the following members of the Committee and ask them to hold an executive session and vote yes on HB 1084.

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

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

Chair Rep. Timm Ormsby (D-3) – Timm.Ormsby@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Larry Springer (D-45) – Larry.Springer@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Pat Sullivan (D-47) – Pat.Sullivan@leg.wa.gov

Here are some talking points to include:
  • It's time for gas utilities to create plans to meet the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.
  • We need a heat pump and electrification program to support clean buildings, especially retrofits.
  • It’s important for our public utilities to invest in building electrification.
  • Removing historic preferences for fossil gas is a necessary step toward clean buildings.

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* 4. Improving the state’s climate response through updates to the state’s comprehensive planning framework (GMA) - HB 1099

This update to the Growth Management Act will support Washington’s biggest counties as they plan for a resilient future. This bill will play an important role of ensuring our cities reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and protect communities and natural resources from the accelerating impacts of a changing climate. 

Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday, February 16, 1:30 PM.

Follow this link to provide a written comment on 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.

Talking points:
  • Right now, Washington’s biggest counties aren’t planning adequately for climate change.
  • We need to update the Growth Management Act to address climate change before some of our largest counties undergo their next comprehensive plan updates.
  • This update will support Washington’s biggest counties as they plan for a resilient future.

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* 5. Promoting Salmon Recovery/Comprehensive Planning - HB 1117

This bill promotes salmon recovery by requiring 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 what is currently being used.

Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday, February 16, 1:30 PM.

Please sign in here to support HB 1117, Promoting Salmon Recovery and select “Pro” in the position button.

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* 6. Implements the recommendations of the Environmental Justice Task Force (The HEAL Act) - SB 5141

Where you live, your income, race, or language ability should not determine how healthy and safe you are. But we know that health and well-being varies significantly according to who you are and where you live. The HEAL Act aims to change this. This legislative session, we’re joining with allies to pass the HEAL Act which aims to center those most affected by pollution as Washington transitions to a greener and fairer economy.

Scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means on Wednesday January 17, 1:30 PM.

Please call or email the following members of the Committee and ask them to vote yes on SB 5141.

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

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

Vice Chair Sen. June Robinson (D-38) – (360) 786-7674 – june.robinson@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Mark Mullet (D-05) – (360) 786-7608 – Mark.Mullet@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-24) – (360) 786-7646 – Kevin.VanDeWege@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Steve Conway (D-29) – (360) 786-7656 – steve.conway@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 writing to ask that SB 5141 gets an executive session in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
  • It’s time to fully enforce our health protection laws and prioritize state spending in high need areas.
  • We need more equitable community participation in state agency planning, resource allocation, programs, and enforcement. 
  • State agencies need to use the Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map to identify communities most impacted by environmental effects and engage them in ways that make them safer and healthier.
  • When we improve the lives of those most affected by pollution, we all benefit.

  Vice Chair Sen. June Robinson (D-38) Sen. Mark Mullet (D-05) Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-24) Sen. Steve Conway (D-29)
I called
I emailed

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* Thanks for taking action with us! How did that go?

-- The 350 WA Civic Action Team

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