Methow Valley Citizens Council Action Fund has been tracking federal and state legislative bills with a focus on climate. The Washington State legislature is moving quickly through an exciting agenda addressing climate and environmental justice. We are asking you to engage with our legislators around a slate of bills that are currently being debated – many will be having floor votes soon.

Methow Valley Citizens Council Action Fund

Action Alert

March 14, 2021

Action #1   Thank our US Senators for supporting the American Rescue Act.

 We start this week with gratitude. The American Rescue Act, the Covid Relief Bill has been passed by Congress and will have a huge impact on us all. The state of Washington will receive $10 billion for the state budget, counties and cities. Okanogan County is expected to receive $8,192,772. (Okanogan County’s total budget is $103,468,132 so this is a huge addition to the County’s resources.) Your voices helped make this happen. We thank you and ask you to thank our Senators.

 And when you call, if you haven’t already, please join the growing chorus to eliminate the filibuster so we can protect our democracy with the For the People Act SB 1 and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act HR4

 Please call or email:

•  Senator Maria Cantwell (202) 224-3441; email at cantwell.senate.gov
•  Senator Patty Murray (202) 224-2621; email through website: https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/mobile/contactme

And if you haven’t yet voiced your support for eliminating the filibuster with Senator Schumer, here is how to do it:

The Honorable Charles E Schumer  

Majority Leader, United States Senate

322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Phone: (202) 224-6542

Email: https://www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/email-chuck

Sample letter: https://www.methowaction.org/letter_to_schumer_on_sb1_for_the_people_act

Action #2 Thank Representative Goehner for Address Water Issues

 In Washington, the legislation that you have supported to address climate action and climate justice is continuing to move forward. Our representatives are listening. Please thank Representative Goehner for bringing forward HR 1385 To Prohibit Out of Basin Water Rights addressing the critical issues of local water bank development and stopping out of basin water transfers. This bill will not become law this year. There is time to refine and improve it. But thanks to Representative Goehner this will be addressed in next year’s legislative session.

Please call or email Representative Keith Goehner: keith.goehner@leg.wa.gov ; (509) 664-1274

“Hello Representative Goehner. My name is ______and I live in ______. Thank you for your leadership in helping the Methow address its water issues with HR 1385 and supporting two budget provisos to create an agricultural water bank and to initiate a stakeholder process around important water issues.”

Action #3 Thank Senator Brad Hawkins for voting in support of SB 5159 and register in support of the bill in the House Committee on Rural Development

Senator Brad Hawkins’ vote in support of SB 5159 was critical – which helped it pass the Senate last week. The bill will bring necessary revenue from WDFW lands to local governments. The bill now moves on to the House where it is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources on Wednesday March 17^th at 10:00 AM.

Please call or email Senator Brad Hawkins:

brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov

(360) 786-7622
Toll-free: (800) 562-600

“Hello Senator Hawkins. My name is ______. I live in ______. I am calling to thank you for your support of SB 5159. This revenue is so important to our local government. Thank you.”

To register in support of the bill: 

• Select under Committee drop down: House Committee on Rural Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources
• Select under Meetings drop down: 3/17/2021 10:00AM
• Select Bill SB 5159
• Select Type of Testimony “I would like my position noted for the legislative record”

 To read the bill:

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5159&Initiative=false&Year=2021

Other important bills in committees this week:

Again, we are not asking you to testify but to make your voice heard by registering in support of these bills prior to the hearing day and time. You will have a big impact in this setting.

Action #4 The Climate Commitment Act (SB 5126) has a hearing MONDAY 3/15/21 AT 4:00PM.

It is designed to deliver emissions reduction with certainty while achieving critical co-benefits that create a more prosperous and more resilient Washington. In 2020, the Washington State legislature increased ambition for limiting Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emitted in the state to align with the best scientific guidance.  The updated limits are now 45% below 1990 levels by 2030, 70% below 1990 levels by 2040, and 95% below 1990 levels by 2050.  In order to meet these limits, the Legislature seeks to initiate a comprehensive program that Caps and Reduces emissions from large emitters (those with over 25,000 metric tons of GHGs per year). The program would fund investments consistent with the transition to an equitable, prosperous, and resilient net-zero emissions state by 2050.

To register in support of the bill:

    Go to https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSIRemote/Senate

• Select under Committee drop down: Ways and Means
• Select under Meetings drop down: 3/15/2021 4:00PM
• Select Bill SB 5126
• Select Type of Testimony “I would like my position noted for the legislative record”

To read the bill: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5126&Initiative=false&Year=2021

To learn more about the bill:

https://www.cleanprosperouswa.com/climate-commitment-act-sb-5126-bill-summary/

 Action #5 A bill to reduce emissions from fluorinated gases (SB 1050) has a hearing Tuesday 3/16/21 AT 10:30am in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy and Technology.

This bill would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fluorinated gases and:

• Establishes a maximum global warming potential threshold for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used in stationary air conditioning, stationary refrigeration, and ice rinks.
• Applies certain existing regulations addressing emissions of ozone- depleting substances to HFCs.
• Directs the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to establish a refrigerant management program to address refrigerant emissions from large air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
• Requires Ecology to provide recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2021, regarding the design of a program to address the end- of-life management and disposal of refrigerants.
• Establishes a state purchasing and procurement preference for recycled refrigerants. Requires consideration of HFC emissions in mandatory utility conservation activities and in codes adopted by the State Building Code Council.

To register in support of the bill:

https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSIRemote/Senate

• Select under Committee drop down: Senate Committee on Environment, Energy and Technology
• Select under Meetings drop down: 3/16/2021 10:30
• Select Bill SB 1050
• Select Type of Testimony “I would like my position noted for the legislative record”

To read the bill: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1050-S.pdf?q=20210227102159

Action #6 Concerning Working Families Tax Exemption (HB 1297/SB 5387) has a hearing on Tuesday March 16^th, 2021 at 1:30AM in the Senate Committee for Human Services, Reentry and Rehabilitation.

Washington state has the most upside-down tax code in the nation, with families living on the lowest incomes paying up to six times more as a share of their income in taxes compared with the wealthiest Washingtonians. The bill would refund a portion of the state sales tax, advancing racial equity, deepening support for immigrant communities, and providing a boost to Washington state’s economy. The credit would provide those eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and those that file their taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) with a $500 direct payment plus an additional amount for those with children. During the 2021 Legislative Session, your lawmakers have the opportunity to vote on the Recovery Rebate.

To register in support of the bill:

https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSIRemote/Senate

• Select under Committee drop down: Senate Committee for Human Services, Reentry and Rehab
• Select under Meetings drop down: 3/16/2021 at 1:30AM
• Select Bill HB 1297 Concerning Working families Tax Exemption
• Select Type of Testimony “I would like my position noted for the legislative record”

To read the bill:

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5387&Initiative=false&Year=2021

To learn more about the bill:

https://povertyaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/WFTC-Recovery-Rebate-2021.pdf

Action #7 The Clean and Just Transportation Bill (HB 1287) has a hearing Thursday 3/18/21 AT 10:30am in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy and Technology.

This bill aims to increase preparedness for a zero-emissions transportation future. This bill requires:

• The Department of Commerce to develop and maintain publicly available information and locations of vehicle charging and refueling infrastructure.
• Utilities to plan and put in place additional building codes to support the anticipated increase in zero-emission vehicles.

To register in support of the bill:

https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSIRemote/Senate

• Select under Committee drop down: Senate Committee for Environment, Energy and Technology
• Select under Meetings drop down: 3/18/2021 at 10:30AM
• Select Bill HB 1287 Clean and Just Transportation
• Select Type of Testimony “I would like my position noted for the legislative record”

To read the bill: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1287&Year=2021&Initiative=false

To learn more about the bill: https://earthministry.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Clean-and-Just-Transportation-One-Pager.pdf