Pennsylvania's elected officials work on our behalf, and they must be held accountable. PennFuture regularly distributes action alerts asking our members to contact their elected officials about legislation moving in Harrisburg. Below is a list of the latest alerts we have distributed to our members concerning recent legislation.
Tell Your Elected Official: Vote NO on "Stream Maintenance" bills
Seven bills could be voted on soon under the guise of proactive “stream maintenance,” but these bills would instead undermine the work of our enforcement and environmental protection agencies who ensure our Commonwealth’s streams are protected, including the PA Fish & Boat Commission and the PA Department of Environmental Protection. This legislation also puts in jeopardy critical protections in place due to the Clean Water Act and Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams Law.
Tell Your State Senator: Vote NO on House Bill 1947!
The state Senate could vote on a bill that would limit and restrict local municipalities’ ability to choose for themselves what sources of energy should be available to local consumers. House Bill 1947 is nothing more than a solution in search of a problem that does not exist, and it is the product of powerful fracked gas groups that are pushing similar legislation successfully across the country.
Support Your Fellow Neighbors through the Whole Home Repairs Fund
SB1135 will create a Whole Home Repairs Fund, administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development, that would maximize existing local, state, and federal funding sources to help keep people safe and healthy in their homes.
Tell Your Legislators to Vote for an Equitable Clean Energy Transition
The RGGI Investments Act (SB15/HB1565) proposes to spend those proceeds on programs that would support workers and communities affected by the clean energy transition, investing specifically in frontline and environmental justice communities.
Tell Your State Senator to Support Gov. Wolf's veto of SCRRR1
Do your part and contact your state Senator today to tell them to support Gov. Wolf’s veto of SCRRR1, and to rebuff any attempt made to override that veto. The ability to enter into RGGI literally depends on it.
Tell Your Elected Officials to Support Growing Greener 3 and Clean Streams Fund!
Our state lawmakers received $7 billion in federal funding last year, and instead of using that money to better the lives of everyday Pennsylvanians, they stowed most of it away for a rainy day. Do your part today and contact your elected officials in both chambers of the General Assembly. Ask them to use this money for the common good by supporting SB 525/HB 2020 and SB 832/HB 1901, both of which would have significant positive impacts on clean water in Pennsylvania.
Tell Lawmakers to Vote NO on HB 637
House Bill 637 is an attempt to siphon votes away from lawmakers who support RGGI by dangling money for programs the legislature should largely be investing in anyway. It has nothing to do with our environment and conservation, and everything to do with a veiled attempt to kill the one program we can count on to lower carbon pollution in Pennsylvania.
Tell DEP to Deny Permit Renewals for the Mariner East 2 Pipeline!
In order to finish construction of its Mariner East 2 pipeline, Sunoco/Energy Transfer Partners needs extensions of its permits under Chapter 102 for erosion and sediment control. These permits are essential for continued construction. Please do your part and remind the DEP of its power to stop this notorious project, and urge the agency to deny the application to renew these permits.
Tell Your Elected Officials: Vote NO on House Bill 1947!
The state House could vote on a bill that would limit and restrict local municipalities’ ability to choose for themselves what sources of energy should be available to local consumers. Specifically, House Bill 1947 is nothing more than a solution in search of a problem that does not exist, and it is the product of powerful fracked gas groups that are pushing similar legislation successfully across the country.
Tell Your Elected Officials: Vote NO on House Bill 1842!
HB 1842 seeks to gut pieces of Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams Law, which was enacted in 1937 to protect our abundant water resources. Specifically, House Bill 1842 fundamentally alters current rules and regulations by handing over authority to polluters to decide if they need to report spills, discharges or releases of substances into the Commonwealth’s waterways.
Do Your Part to Promote Clean Water in Pennsylvania!
Clean water is an essential component of healthy and thriving communities around the world, and a constitutional right in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the promise of clean water does not exist for many of our residents. The problem ahead of us is enormous but not insurmountable. That’s why PennFuture has been working this fall to raise awareness of important legislation in Harrisburg that could bring significant investments in clean water to Pennsylvania.
Thank Your Elected Officials for Voting for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act!
We celebrated on Nov. 6 when Congress passed the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included $21 billion in environmental remediation, $7.5 billion to build out a national network of Electric Vehicle infrastructure, and $65 billion to upgrade our power infrastructure to facilitate the expansion of renewable energy, among many more.
Tell Your Elected Officials: Vote NO on Anti-RGGI bills
Just like last year, two bills are currently circulating in the General Assembly that would take away the power of the Department of Environmental Protection to enact a carbon reduction program that would allow us to link with RGGI.
Tell Your State Senator: Vote NO on SB 545
Senate Bill 545 fundamentally alters current rules and regulations by handing over authority to polluters to decide if they need to report spills, discharges or releases of substances into the Commonwealth’s waterways.
Tell Your Elected Officials to Support the "REVIVE the CCC Act"
This common-sense legislation, called the “REVIVE the CCC Act” in the Senate, would create tens of thousands of well-paying jobs at a time when we need it most, all while putting people to work restoring our shared outdoor spaces and natural resources.
Tell Your Senators: Support Growing Greener and Clean Streams Fund!
Please support two critical pieces of legislation that will be debated by lawmakers this fall in Harrisburg, both of which would use federal American Rescue Plan funds to bring about enormous positive change for clean water across Pennsylvania.
Tell Your Senators: Support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal!
Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are on the cusp of passing one of the most important pieces of legislation in recent history: the bipartisan infrastructure deal that could infuse $1.2 trillion over the next five years into roads and bridges, public transit and—most importantly— efforts to combat climate change.
Thank Sen. Casey for his Civilian Conservation Corps Bill!
On July 21, U.S. Senator Bob Casey introduced the “Revive the CCC Act,” which would create a modern-day Civilian Conservation Corps modeled after the extremely popular Depression-era program that put three million people to work and left a profound impact on the US economy, civilian workforce, and national and state park systems.
Tell Your Elected Officials to Support Water Projects, Programs in State Budget!
We’re advocating that at least $500 million be invested in our water resources which in turn supports jobs, a vibrant recreation economy, and supplies our drinking water. In addition, we are also advocating for dedicated funding through a program such as the creation of a Clean Streams Fund as well as a reinvigorated Growing Greener III program.
Act Now! Support the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program in Pa!
The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recently unanimously passed a bill that would create the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program to help farmers install conservation practices that improve and protect our rivers and streams. Senate Bill 465 would significantly improve the water quality impacted by nutrient pollution in Pennsylvania.
Tell Your Elected Officials to VOTE NO on House Bill 1144 and Senate Bill 534
HB 1144, and its companion bill in the state Senate called SB 534, would significantly change environmental requirements for conventional oil and gas drilling operators, putting Pennsylvanians’ clean air and pure water in jeopardy.
Tell Your Elected Officials to VOTE NO on House Bill 637 and Senate Bill 119
Contact your elected representative and demand they stand up for clean air and reduced carbon pollution in Pennsylvania. Act now and demand a NO vote on HB 637 and SB 119, both of which would take away the power of the Department of Environmental Protection to enact a carbon reduction program similar to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Tell your State Representative: Oppose Polluters’ Attempts to Weaken Protections
Instead of letting the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) do their jobs to develop common sense protections against pollution, these bills would allow decisions to be made based on political calculations rather than on sound science and engineering. If passed, they will put the systems that protect our health and environment at risk and further erode Pennsylvania’s conservation heritage.
Urge DEP to Protect Aquashicola Creek
Sign our letter of support calling on the DEP to review this redesignation application and produce a report recommending that Aquashicola Creek and its tributaries receive an Exceptional Value (EV) designation, the state’s highest level of protection.
Demand Better Protection from Coke Oven Emissions
The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has proposed revisions to the air pollution control regulations related to coke oven emissions. ACHD’s proposed coke oven regulations do not do enough to improve air quality or reduce coke oven emissions. Revisions to the ACHD coke oven regulations to reduce emissions are long overdue.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives could vote on a proposed constitutional amendment (House Bill 38) that would require state Supreme Court Justices, as well as Superior and Commonwealth Court judges, to run for election in gerrymandered political districts similar to those currently in place for state and federal elected officials.
Demand Removal of Sen. Doug Mastriano from Pennsylvania Senate
PennFuture, as advocates and as stewards of facts, science, and above all integrity in government, calls for the resignation of any Pennsylvania politician directly involved in or supportive of the violent insurrection last week in Washington, D.C., including State Senator Doug Mastriano, who was in attendance.
Pennsylvanians are scared and angry. Justice must be served, through legal and professional means, against those complicit in this violent sedition so that it never happens again.
Act Now: Hold Accountable the Pa. Congressman Who Undermined Our Election
We must hold accountable all who are complicit in the insurrection in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6. Eight Pennsylvania Congressmen helped create an atmosphere of mistrust and conspiracy around Pennsylvania’s election that helped foment the insurrection, and they must be held accountable. Join PennFuture in telling these elected members of Congress to acknowledge the legitimacy of the November election results and forsake the lies and fear they’re grifting on Pennsylvanians.
Submit Comments in Support of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative!
The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting written comments from the public in support of a carbon reduction program in Pennsylvania. It’s of paramount importance that state officials understand the popularity of this proposal. Do your part today to show support for a carbon reduction program in Pennsylvania!
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives could vote on House Bill 2025, a bill that would take away the power of the Department of Environmental Protection to enact a carbon reduction program similar to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
It’s clear that our elected officials must do everything in their power to reduce Pennsylvania’s carbon pollution and improve our air quality, yet a contingent of our lawmakers in Harrisburg are trying to block any attempt to implement a cap-and-invest carbon reduction program in the Commonwealth.
Now is not the time for political posturing and games. The climate crisis is worsening by the day, and Pennsylvanians are still in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic that attacks the respiratory system and is made exponentially worse by poor air quality and pollution.
Now is the time to contact your elected representative and demand they stand up for clean air and reduced carbon pollution in Pennsylvania. Act NOW and demand a NO vote on HB 2025!
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives could approve Senate Bill 790, a substantial rollback of environmental protections concerning the conventional oil and gas industry.
Our elected leaders should be working to protect the health of Pennsylvanians everywhere in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. Instead, they are more concerned with approving environmental rollbacks and weakening protections that keep us safe from pollution.
There is no good time to weaken or roll back environmental regulations, but a global health pandemic is precisely the wrong time. Contact your state representative and urge them to VOTE NO on rolling back Pennsylvania’s environmental protections!
Pennsylvanians are using outdoor spaces more than ever during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but that isn’t stopping legislators in Harrisburg from trying to permanently change how our parks, trails and shared spaces are funded.
Specifically, the state House of Representatives is currently debating House Bill 2004, sponsored by Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Allegheny/Washington), which would do irreparable harm to the Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation Fund.
We cannot stand by and allow our elected officials to permanently change how Pennsylvania funds our parks, trails, ballparks, and more.
The Keystone Fund has worked well for thirty years, and we cannot let the Legislature put this critical funding in jeopardy!
On April 17, House State Government Chair Garth Everett (R-Lycoming) introduced House Bill 2416, which would stop any proposed or final environmental regulation from being finalized until at least 90 days after the March 6th COVID-19 emergency declaration by the Governor is terminated.
This bill seeks to undermine the power of regulatory agencies that are tasked with protecting public health.
Our elected officials should not be using the ongoing pandemic is an excuse to block any proposed regulations that are meant to protect us and our shared environment.
Tell your elected official now to vote NO on House Bill 2416!
In late April, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 1822, an outrageous piece of legislation that would freeze funding that supports local parks, trails, environmental restoration projects, county conservation districts and other projects.
These funds, including the popular Growing Greener and Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund, are specifically set aside by law and are helping maintain and grow the green spaces Pennsylvanians are using at record numbers during the COVID-19 crisis.
Our elected officials should not be using the ongoing pandemic as cover to freeze necessary funding to help keep our air and water clean.
Tell your state senator now to vote NO on House Bill 1822!
House Bill 2415/Senate Bill 327
On April 17, House State Government Chair Garth Everett (R-Lycoming) introduced House Bill 2416, which would stop any proposed or final environmental regulation from being finalized until at least 90 days after the March 6th COVID-19 emergency declaration by the Governor is terminated.
In addition, the House Rules Committee added legislative language identical to HB 2416 in a fast-moving administrative code bill, Senate Bill 327. On April 27, the House passed SB 327 and sent it to the Senate for its approval.
These identical bills seek to undermine the power of regulatory agencies that are tasked with protecting public health.
Now is not the time to block new environmental regulations that could protect us from pollution!
On March 27th, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed HB 1100, an unconscionable bill that offers billions of dollars in taxpayer money to the gas and petrochemical industries to build more chemical and plastics factories in Pennsylvania.
HB 1100 will link Pennsylvania’s economy to the fossil fuel industry for a generation, which means more pollution and more environmental degradation across the state while we’re still cleaning up after a century of damages from the coal industry. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
Fortunately, Governor Wolf has vetoed this bad bill, but certain legislators are promising to attempt to override that veto in the General Assembly.