Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate unveiled their budget proposal for fiscal year 2023. This proposal met ALL FIVE of our budget coalition's requests for increased funding for state environmental agencies! This success comes after we've spent months meeting with individual legislators and their staffs educating them on these agencies' needs. This advocacy is done in coalition with the Environmental League of Massachusetts, Mass Audubon, The Trustees of Reservations, The Nature Conservancy, Appalachian Mountain Club, and the Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists.
Mass Rivers is grateful to the Senate Committee on Ways & Means for prioritizing nature & climate. Thank you to Chair Rodrigues, Vice Chair Friedman, and members of the committee for their commitment to our environment.
What can you do? THANK your Senators (via email, on Twitter, anywhere!) for proposing increases to our state environmental agencies, who do critical work to protect our water, land, air, and way of life.
What's next? The Senate and House will negotiate to combine the two proposals into the final state budget. We'll keep you updated on the final numbers!
Our budget coalition's priorities:
Department of Environmental Protection Administration
Our request: $45M
Senate FY23: $45M
House FY23: $41M
Department of Conservation and Recreation State Parks
Our request: $80M
Senate FY23: $80M
House FY23: $78M
Division of Ecological Restoration
Our request: $4M
Senate FY23: $4M (+ a $250k earmark)
House FY23: $4M
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Climate Adaptation and Preparedness
Our request: $5M
Senate FY23: $5M
House FY23: $4.7M
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Environmental Justice
Our request: $1.3M
Senate FY23: $1.3M
House FY23: $1.3M