Contact PA Senators: We Need to Hold Scott Pruitt Accountable to the Mission of the EPA
From Pennsylvania Interfaith Power and Light (http://www.paipl.org):
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is set to appear before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday, January 31. Neither PA Senator is on that committee, but
Individuals are encouraged to consider signing this national e-letter from IPL at http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/50836/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=24037.
Still quick; Greater impact: Call or write Senator Toomey and Senator Casey and their energy and environment aides to ask them to reach out to their colleagues in support of the core charter and mission of the EPA, and to hold Administrator Pruitt accountable for effective work as the head of the agency. Read the available call script.
Find contact information:
- Senator Robert Casey: http://casey.senate.gov (Adam Tarr: Adam_Tarr@casey.senate.gov)
- Senator Pat Toomey: http://toomey.senate.gov (Tyler Minnich: Tyler_Minnich@toomey.senate.gov)
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is “to protect human health and the environment.”
Other News: Also, the Clean Power Plan (CPP) repeal review has a new comment deadline: April 26, 2018. Please submit testimony! Experts will write expert testimony. Citizen testimony may focus on personal and community impacts and religious convictions. Here is PA IPL’s testimony at the hearings on the final Clean Power Plan rules in 2014. Label your comments with “Comments on Docket #EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0355” Submit them online, via email, or by snail mail.
Federal courts have delayed the hearing for the climate change case brought by 21 youth, giving religious communities more time to teach, learn, and study about the Our Children’s Trust. Learn more about the case and the 1000 teachings religious initiative at paipl.org.
Tell Your State Senator: State Parks & Forests Must Remain Protected from Natural Gas Drilling
From PennFuture (http://www.pennfuture.org):
PennFuture unequivocally opposes a resolution making its way through the state Senate today that urges Gov. Tom Wolf to reverse his moratorium on new natural gas drilling leases in state parks and forests. The resolution claims it will allow drilling where there will be no surface disturbance. The measure, Senate Resolution 104 sponsored by Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington), was passed out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Tuesday along a party-line vote.
“Our state parks and forests must be protected and preserved for the natural resources that they are: green spaces that citizens can enjoy with their friends and families; spaces that contribute to what attracts people to our great Commonwealth,” said PennFuture Vice President and Chief of Staff Matthew Stepp. “Recreational opportunities within our state parks and the towns that hold them contribute to our economy in vast ways, and drilling in areas that should be treasured goes against the common sense notion that state parks should be protected.”
The moratorium on new natural gas leases in state parks and forestlands dates back to the very first days of the Wolf administration, implemented on January 29, 2015, via executive order.
“We applaud the governor for his early implementation of this moratorium on drilling in state parks and forests, and we urge him to stand firm against this resolution, which would have the potential to devastate Pennsylvania’s forests, including the Loyalsock community and so many more,” Stepp said.
Go to https://pennfuture.salsalabs.org/keep_moratorium_in_pa_state_parks/index.html to tell your State Senator to oppose lifting the moratorium on new drilling leases in state parks.
Tell Congress: Support a DREAM Act That Protects DREAMers (and doesn’t use them as a bargaining chip)
From the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (http://www.interfaithimmigration.org):
Today, Congress is negotiating legislation that would protect dreamers, but some proposals are using dreamers as a “bargaining chip” to separate families or undercut other community members. As Congress considers legislation to protect dreamers, it is critical that our national leaders prioritize proposals that reflect our commitment to family unity and offer a pathway to citizenship for as many dreamers as possible – without jeopardizing other immigrant populations. Our elected leaders also need to hear that their constituents urge them to oppose any proposal that would prevent family unification, deprive dreamers of an opportunity to pursue a pathway to citizenship, or increase the immigration detention, deportation, and border militarization machine.
Take action today at https://greateras1.org/urgent-action-today-tell-congress-oppose-anti-immigrant-bills-protect-dreamers-uphold-family-unity/ and tell Congress to support the Dream Act or another bipartisan legislative solution that protects as many dreamers possible – without compromising family unity or our immigrant neighbors. You will receive a phone call and be patched through to your 2 Senators and 1 Representative. Alternatively, you can call directly—find contact information:
- Senator Robert Casey: http://casey.senate.gov
- Senator Pat Toomey: http://toomey.senate.gov
- Your Representative: http://www.house.gov
Here’s a sample script: “I am your constituent from [CITY/TOWN], and [as a person of faith] I urge the Representative/Senator to oppose H.R. 4760, the Securing America’s Future Act, or any proposal that would create a permanent underclass in America, separate families, and remove protections for asylum seekers. Proposals that dismantle opportunities for family reunification are diametrically opposed to who we are as communities of faith. I urge your boss to support the Dream Act or another bipartisan legislative solution that offers a pathway to citizenship for as many dreamers as possible – without compromising family unity or other immigrant populations, such as H.R.4796, the Uniting and Securing America (USA) Act, which is narrowly tailored to protect dreamers and address a data-driven approach to border security. My community welcomes and values immigrants, and we urge you to do the same.”
Please call your Members of Congress today and tweet the same message! (Find Twitter handles for PA delegation below.) Sample posts below:
- [@legislator]: As a nation, we promised to protect dreamers and H.R.4760 fails to do so. Take a stand and pass the Dream Act or another bipartisan solution like the USA Act, and oppose any legislation that prevents family unification. #DreamActNow
- [@legislator]: As my representative, I urge you to reflect my community’s welcome for immigrants by opposing H.R.4760 and any legislation that harms and separates their families #HereToStay
- [@legislator]: The sanctity of family unity is a fundamental American value. We must oppose legislation that seeks to undermine it, and support solutions that protect dreamers and their families. #DreamActNow
- [@legislator]: 17,000 dreamers have already lost status, and 122 more will lose protections every day. We must pass a permanent legislative solution that protects them without jeopardizing other immigrant communities.
Please spread the word, and thank you for all your work and support!
PA Twitter handles
- Bob Casey: @SenBobCasey
- Pat Toomey: @SenToomey
- Bob Brady (PA-1): @RepBrady
- Dwight Evans (PA-2): @RepDwightEvans
- Mike Kelly (PA-3): @MikeKellyPA
- Scott Perry (PA-4): @RepScottPerry
- Glenn Thompson (PA-5): @CongressmanGT
- Ryan Costello (PA-6): @RepRyanCostello
- Pat Meehan (PA-7): @RepMeehan
- Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-8): @RepBrianFitz
- Bill Shuster (PA-9): @RepBillShuster
- Tom Marino (PA-10): @RepTomMarino
- Lou Barletta (PA-11): @RepLouBarletta
- Keith Rothfus (PA-12): @RepRothfus
- Brendan Boyle (PA-13): @CongBoyle
- Mike Doyle (PA-14): @USRepMikeDoyle
- Charlie Dent (PA-15): @RepCharlieDent
- Lloyd Smucker (PA-16): @RepSmucker
- Matt Cartwright (PA-17): @RepCartwright
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