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Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup - 2/13/09
Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations
Jennifer Ryan, Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs
This Week:
Legislative Committees Assigned
The 2009-2010 Committee and Leadership assignments for the House and Senate were announced on February 12. The Chairs of the Senate and House Committees on Environmental, Natural Resources and Agriculture are Senator Anthony Petruccelli (D-Suffolk)and Representative William Straus (D-Bristol), respectively. Representative Frank Smizik (D-Brookline), former chair of the Environment Committee, heads up a new House committee on Global Warming. Congratulations to all the legislators on their assignments!
Economic Recovery Update
As part of the Massachusetts Recovery and Reinvestment plan, ten task forces established by the Governor to plan the investment of federal stimulus funding have posted their final Task Force Reports on the state's new economic recovery website. Also available on the site is the list of projects -- including many involving clean energy and Department of Conservation and Recreation properties -- from which recipients of funding from the federal stimulus package will be chosen.
Green Communities Act Regulations
Mass Audubon has submitted comments on proposed final regulations 225 CMR 14.00 and 15.00 for Class I and II of the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) defined in The Green Communities Act. We believe that the proposed regulations will help ensure that hydropower facilities comply with the Act, as well as prevent environmental degradation and provide incentives for renewable energy developers. Our recommendations for improvement to these regulations include expanding the definition of watersheds impacted by hydroelectric facilities, including the Department of Fish and Game in the third party certification process, and ensuring that carbon sequestration value of forests be included in evaluation of biomass facilities.
Calendar
The Great Marsh Symposium: A Coastal Treasure in our Backyard
Saturday, April 11, 2009
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters
6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport
$15, registration required
To register, please call 978-462-9998, or download a registration form. Mass Audubon's 17th Annual Birders Meeting
Saturday, March 7, 2009
8:30 a.m. -- 4:45 p.m. Worcester Technical High School, Worcester, MA This annual meeting, sponsored by The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Mass Audubon, will feature presentations on topics including birds and climate change, avian research on wildlife refuges, and invasive plants and birds, vendor tables, and reflections by author Kenn Kaufman and Lee Allen Peterson, son of "America's Greatest Naturalist," Roger Tory Peterson. Registration required. For more information, please visit the Birders Meeting website or contact Linda Cocca at 781-259-2150.
Please contact us if you have any questions at: action@massaudubon.org.
About The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup
The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup tracks the legislative priorities of Mass Audubon, focusing on the protection of the nature of Massachusetts. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to friends, family, and colleagues and to enlist their support.
If you are not already a member of Mass Audubon's Action Network, we encourage you to join by filling out our online form or by e-mailing us. Membership dues provide vital support for Mass Audubon's advocacy work on Beacon Hill and across the state. If you are not already a Mass Audubon member please join today.
Legislative Tool Kit
Stay In Touch
Senators and Representatives need to hear from their constituents! Contact your legislators and share with them the environmental issues that are important to you.
Find out who represents you in the Senate and House.
Senate and House Sessions Go Live
Consistent with the theme that decision-makers act differently when they know they are being watched, House and Senate sessions are now available on live webcast. Tune in to view live web stream broadcastings of the Senate and House and watch as the Massachusetts legislative process unfolds!
Current Legislation
Access the text of current legislation, bill histories and Massachusetts General Law by visiting one site. We encourage you to visit The General Court's website frequently as it is an important tool for conservation advocates like you!
How to Lobby
Discover effective ways to convey your environmental interests to your Senator or Representative.
View Mass Audubon’s How to Lobby document, and get started now!
How the Law is Made
Learn about the steps a bill takes before becoming law. You can also use our graphic charts to guide you through the life of a bill, from when it is first filed, to when it is signed into law.
 Mass Audubon Advocacy
6 Beacon Street, Suite 1025
Boston, MA 02108
617-523-8448 (phone)
617-523-4183 (fax)
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