February 20
113 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis (in the high school)
We need people to register to attend, so we know which actual lobby appointments to arrange and to have the right amount of food for the light dinner being provided by ST. Mary’s. Here is the link to register for attending the Teach-In and Lobby Evening:
Our rough agenda for the afternoon and early evening is as follows:
3:30 PM Opening prayer and welcome from the Pastor at St. Mary’s
3:35 PM Introduction to the “teach-in”
3:40 PM Why advocating for the environment is an important thing for Catholics to do 3:50 PM Panel: Voices of the affected future (e.g., a panel of young adults whose lives will be affected by the climate crisis) 4:10 PM Presentation of basic information on the legislative priorities, and how to briefly describe them to others 4:30 PM Q&A on the bills 4:40 PM Break 4:55 PM Presentation on the basic etiquette of a lobby visit 5:10 PM Share information on groupings and specific appointment times that have been arranged 5:15 PM Light dinner in small groups arranged by who will be in specific lobby appointments 5:55 PM Take a group picture at Marian Hall
6:05 PM Walk over to the State Capitol legislative office buildings, and pass through the security screening (it will be twilight–sunset on February 20 will be at 5:48pm in Annapolis, but there will still be a fair amount of light outside while we are walking over) 6:30 PM Target time for first appointments to start (appointment times will vary, depending on what is arranged)
Based on previous emails, Steve Cleghorn, Bill Dinges, and Mychelle Farmer will be recruiting a total of 5 college students from Loyola of MD, Catholic U, and Morgan State (respectively) to make up the panel at 3:50 pm. If each student speaks for 4 minutes, that’s 20 minutes. If people think we need more panelists or time than that, let’s chat about adjustments to the schedule (we could cut back on the 3:40 pm item, for example).
Here is the final list of our priority bills, sorted into five broad categories. We are missing bill numbers on the bills that have not yet been introduced. Here also is a link to the online version of our Petition of Support for these bills. It is brief and memorable, but you can also forward it to people: bit.ly/MCCH-2023
1. Clean Transportation. Improve access to public transportation by lower-income Marylanders (HB 9 / SB 19 – Transportation Equity Act) and clean up emissions from heavy trucks, which affect low-income communities (HB 230 / SB 224 – Zero Emission Truck Act of 2023).
2. Access to Improved Energy Efficiency. Reform Maryland’s energy efficiency program for energy consumers to direct more resources to low-income Marylanders (HB 169 / SB 144 – Energy Performance Targets and Low-Income Housing) and to combat climate change more effectively (EmPOWER Reform Act).
3. Clean Electricity. Stop providing subsidies to polluting forms of energy in Maryland’s renewable electricity program (Reclaim Renewable Energy Act). Make permanent Maryland’s Community Solar Pilot Program, which dedicates a minimum percentage of solar power to low-income households (Community Solar Pilot Program – Make Permanent Act). Promote the construction of offshore wind energy farms to deliver clean electricity to Maryland (Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources [POWER] Act)
4. Protecting Maryland’s Residents, Lands, and Waters. Accelerate the adoption of green stormwater infrastructure in Maryland to respond to increases in flooding, sewage overflows, and other damage (Climate Resilience via Green Stormwater Infrastructure Act). Strictly limit the presence of toxic so-called “forever chemicals” (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS) in pesticides sold or used in Maryland (HB 319 / SB 158 – Pesticide Registration – PFAS Testing – Requirements Act).
5. Climate and Environmental Equity. Recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Maryland Environmental Policy Act [MEPA], which acknowledged “each person’s fundamental and inalienable right to a healthful environment” (MEPA-50 Resolution) and ensure that state agencies meaningfully consider climate impacts, environmental justice issues, health impacts, and labor implications resulting from their actions (Climate Equity Act)