June is when all the decisions get made about the state budget. This year is special because $1.7 billion in federal American Rescue Fund monies have yet to be allocated for any purpose.
In addition, state government finds itself in the position of collecting record state revenues as a result of an expanding economy. Read more here.
There has never been a better time to invest in Pennsylvania’s environment, without going into debt.
The Growing Greener Coalition, PA Parks and Forests Foundation and many other groups are supporting efforts to allocate a significant portion of these funds-- $500 million or more would be best-- to support local environmental restoration, recreation and State Park and Forest projects.
These funds will not only work to support local jobs and businesses, but permanently improve Pennsylvania’s environment and recreational opportunities that are critical to the economic and physical wellbeing of Pennsylvanians.
Click Here to find your legislators.
What To Support
There is language in bipartisan legislation that would allocate $500 million from American Rescue Fund monies for these purposes and set up a special cost-share program for farm conservation installation--
-- $500 Million For Growing Greener Projects: Senators John Gordner (R-Columbia), Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery), Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) and others have introduced bipartisan legislation proposing to allocate $500 million from the federal American Rescue Plan to fund Growing Greener watershed, farm conservation, mine reclamation, recreation projects, State Park and Forest safety and maintenance projects in Senate Bill 525. Read more here.
Companion legislation-- House Bill 2020-- is pending in the House sponsored by Reps. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Northumberland), Nancy Guenst (D-Montgomery) and many others.
-- Farm Conservation Cost-Share: Senate Bill 465 (Yaw-R-Lycoming, Comitta-D-Chester), another bipartisan bill, establishes a new program to pay for on-farm conservation measures administered by the State Conservation Commission. Read more here.
More Background
Visit the Growing Greener Coalition and PA Parks and Forests Foundation websites for more information on this critical budget issue.
Below are just a few of the recent articles from PA Environment Digest on the need for funding.
Check Your Own Streams
If you still question the need for making these investments, check DEP’s 2022 Water Quality Report.
You can zoom in on your own neighborhood to check the water quality in streams near you-- remember RED is bad, and there’s a lot of RED.
In fact, one-third of Pennsylvania’s streams-- 27,886 miles-- still don’t meet water quality standards. Read more here.
We have an historic opportunity to really make a difference in Pennsylvania’s environment-- but only if you ACT NOW!
Click Here to find your legislators.
Related Articles:
-- Two-Thirds Of Pennsylvanians Support Increased Funding For PA State Parks, Forests
-- Guest Essay: Funding Crucial For The Future Of Clean Water In Pennsylvania
[Posted: May 23, 2022] PA Environment Digest
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