Last Wednesday, river advocates from all over the state gathered at the State House to connect with one another and meet with legislators. After attendees dried out from a very wet commute, the day began with remarks from members of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and drought bill sponsors. (Oddly enough, the last Lobby for the Rivers Day had to be moved online due to snow and ice – apparently wet weather and drought advocacy go hand-in-hand for this group!)
Advocates then broke into smaller groups and met with legislators from their regions. NSRWA’s Becky Malamut, Gianna Kinsman, and Save the Bay’s Kate McPherson met with representatives from Sen. O’Connor, Rep Kearney and Rep Sweezey’s office. Legislators were encouraged to support the Drought Bill (S.586/H.1003), Nature for All Bill (H.901/S.2571), and a bill to officially codify the Division of Ecological Restoration (H.986/S.73). We also discussed how these bills may play into the Mass Ready Act/Environmental Bond Bill (S.2542) and the potential for earmarks to help fund NSRWA projects, and shared our continued support for the North River Commission. As a result of these conversations, Rep Kearney signed on as a co-sponsor of the Drought Bill and the team gained valuable insight into the legislative process. We hope to see you at the next one!
See more pictures from Lobby for the Rivers Day. (Photos from Massachusetts Rivers Alliance)