WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held a hearing on the Outdoors for All Act, sponsored by Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) today, February 27, 2020. The important bipartisan bill would help communities around the country construct and improve parks and other outdoor recreational spaces, particularly in underserved communities that lack access to outdoor recreation areas. Witnesses included Allegra “Happy” Haynes, Executive Director of the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation and Denver Deputy Mayor.
“At a time when we need to rapidly transition away from dirty fossil fuels to 100% clean energy, this bill points us in the wrong direction. This bill includes a number of small bore proposals, some productive and some detrimental. It also incorporates some egregious non starters such as a provision to vastly expand the permitting of destructive mining operations, as well as an expansion of fracked gas exports.
RICHMOND, VA - Late last night, Virginia passed the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act (HB 981, SB 1027) that enables the Commonwealth to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), America’s landmark multi-state plan to limit pollution from dirty fossil fuel plants and accelerate the transition to clean energy. The bill’s passage is a watershed moment for environmentalists and communities who have been championing the successful and popular policy for years.
ALBANY -- In a unanimous vote, the New York State Senate passed the Outdoor Rx Act on February 26, 2020. The bill, sponsored by state Senator Brian Benjamin (NY-30) and Assemblymember Didi Barrett (NY-106), would lower barriers for veterans to access New York State’s scenic and restorative outdoor spaces. The bill now moves to the desk of Gov. Andrew Cuomo to await his signature.
In response to the 60-0 vote, Lt. Col. (retired) Aaron Leonard, Sierra Club Military Outdoors Campaign Representative, released the following statement:
The Hill informó hoy que el secretario del Interior, David Bernhardt seguirá adelante con una controvertida propuesta de eliminar requisitos científicos al considerar temas sobre la salud pública, el medio ambiente y otros aspectos cruciales en el funcionamiento de su departamento.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands will hold a hearing on the Outdoors for All Act, sponsored by Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-California) on Thursday, February 27, 2020, beginning at 10 a.m. The important bipartisan bill would help communities around the country construct and improve parks and other outdoor recreational spaces, particularly in underserved communities that lack access to outdoor recreation areas.
In a monumental victory for both public advocacy groups and local farmers, a California court today ruled that a Kern County oil and gas ordinance paid for and drafted by the oil industry violated the state’s foundational environmental law.
LANSING, MI– Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced an executive directive to create the Michigan Office of Future Mobility (which will be housed within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity) and an executive order creating the Michigan Council for Future Mobility and Electrification.
The Council for Future Mobility, led by a chief mobility officer who has yet to be nominated, will make recommendations on policy and will be focused around but not limited to:
A first-ever climate jobs and justice platform for Oakland County was unveiled Monday night with the support of the Sierra Club in partnership with Clean Water Action, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan Coalition of Human Rights, Michigan Interfaith Power and Light, Southeast Michigan Jobs with Justice and over 100 members of the community.