Take action: SB 525 Could Boost GG by $500M

Senate Bill 525 was introduced late last week. It would boost the Environmental Stewardship Fund (Growing Greener) by $500 million with American Rescue Plan monies. This one-time boost could make possible and accelerate new conservation, restoration, and recreation projects by nonprofits and local governments across the state.

Call or email your state senator and representative TODAY (and if not today, then ASAP this week), and urge them to advocate with their fellow legislators for SB 525’s boost to the Environmental Stewardship Fund THIS JUNE before the General Assembly wraps up the budget and leave’s town for the summer (which could happen in less than a week). Impress upon them the importance of acting now.

You might also:

1. Explain to them that SB 525’s $500 million boost can make new great projects happen in your community now—whether your focus is ensuring water quality; preventing flood damage; restoring streams, wetlands, and other wildlife habitat; improving outdoor recreational opportunities, or other conservation-related efforts.
2. Remind them that past state investments in specific conservation, restoration, or and/or recreation projects are still benefiting your community.
3. Tell them that many other states—red (Florida, Indiana, etc.) and blue (Michigan, California, etc.)—are using American Rescue Plan monies for these types of projects, so they will have plenty of company.
4.  Point out that a great advantage of spending on these projects is that it doesn’t require state money for operations going forward. (Many legislators are concerned about creating new long-term operational expenses for the state when spending American Rescue Plan dollars.)

Although the above messages are more than enough, you can find more talking points to reinforce your message on the urgency of funding PA’s pressing needs.

These next few days present a brief window to greatly benefit Pennsylvanians for generations to come. Please act now to help turn opportunity into reality.

Andy Loza
Chair, Growing Greener Coalition
Executive Director, WeConservePA