Coalition for the Environmental Bond

NEXT HEARING DATE: The Environmental Bond Bill will be heard by the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Wednesday, March 19, 1:00 pm in room 222 at the State House

Please send testimony before March 19, 2008.  Sample testimony and information on who to send the testimony to is below.

TESTIMONY CAN BE SENT TO:

1. Your legislators (if you do not know who they are you can find out by going to www.wheredoivotema.com)
    
2. Representative David Flynn
   House Chair, Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
   State House
   Room 466
   Boston, MA 02133
   FAX: (617) 722-2813
   email: Rep.DavidFlynn@hou.state.ma.us
   
   
3. Senator Mark C. Montigny
   Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
   State House
   Room 511-A
   Boston, MA 02133
   FAX: (617) 722-1068
   email: Mark.Montigny@state.ma.us

SAMPLE WRITTEN TESTIMONY

The testimony below can be used verbatim or adapted as you see appropriate. The areas highlighted in yellow should be filled in with the appropriate information.

The Honorable INSERT LEGISLATOR NAME HERE

State House

Dear INSERT TITLE/NAME HERE:

It has been six years since the Commonwealth last approved an Environmental Bond Bill. Since then much has changed but the need to protect our open spaces, the fabric of our communities, the quality and quantity of our water supplies, our municipalities from outdated dams, the productivity and viability of our seaports, our tourist economy – the third largest industry in the state -- and other items the bill addresses remain just as important as ever.

The Environmental Bond Bill (H4561) must pass this session. Several important programs funded by the 2002 Environmental Bond are either out of funding or perilously close to it leaving communities, our economy and (in cases such as failing dams, DCR roads and bridges, etc.) our personal safety at risk.

As you may be aware INSERT YOUR ORGANIZATION NAME HERE is a member of the Coalition for the Environmental Bond. We are working with more than 240 other organizations across the state to pass a strong Environmental Bond Bill this session because funding for critical environmental programs across the Commonwealth is running out.

As the Environmental Bond Bill is heard by the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets I hope you will work with legislative leadership to move the legislation through swiftly.

The last Environmental Bond bill passed in 2002 – so passage this session of a new Environmental Bond is vitally important.

You can see more information about the Environmental Bond, why it is so important, and the list of more than 250 endorsing organizations at the Coalition’s website at www.envirobond.org.

Thank you.