In a 231-190 vote on June 14, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA).
This legislation will dedicate $1.4 billion annually to proactive, locally-led efforts to recover thousands of at-risk wildlife species, while creating jobs and prioritizing the outdoor recreation economy at a time when our country and planet are facing a biodiversity crisis.
The below testimony from Kelly Knutson, Director of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, was submitted for both hearing records in the Senate Environment and Public Works committee along with the House Natural Resource subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
On behalf of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, I write in support of S. 3767 ― the Delaware River Basin Conservation Reauthorization Act ― which provides a framework and resources for advancing protection and restoration of the ecologically and economically significant Delaware River Basin.
By High Garst, State Policy Advocate, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed
Budget season in Harrisburg, PA is often marked by the busy hustle and bustle of the Capitol Building filled with advocates, lawmakers, citizens, and staff. Significant budget surplus in this year’s budget has left room to ensure funding of a number of projects in the state, but on June 8, people in Harrisburg turned their attention to the necessity of clean water funding in this year’s budget.
What Rainbow-washing Means:
Every June, in honor of Pride, companies and organizations are quick to turn their logos rainbow to express their “allyship” of the LGBTQ+ community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus).
This passive gesture, however, isn’t showcasing how brands actually support and advance LGBTQ+ rights, or promote inclusivity in their marketing, programmatic efforts, overall structure and more. This empty proclamation has a name, rainbow-washing, which alludes to promoting “equality” online while demonstrating minimal commitments to reducing oppressive policies posed onto marginalized communities.
Hello CDRW community!
My name is High Garst, and I am so excited to be coming on as the new State Policy Advocate for the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed! As a lover of the outdoors, I am thrilled to begin working together with you all to advocate for the watershed’s protection in an inclusive and proactive way.
PA joins the other Basin states (NY,NJ,DE) and eight others in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI/”Reggie”). “Reggie” is a multi-state cap and investment program designed to reduce carbon emissions generated by fossil-fuel fired power plants. Under this program, power plants pay "allowances" for the amount of emissions they create, and the revenue generated from those allowances gets reinvested in local communities impacted by power generation.
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month- a time to uplift voices in the AANHPI communities. In celebration of the month, CDRW is highlighting AANHPI environmental leaders and environmental organizations. Join us in celebrating and acknowledging the impact the AANHPI communities have on the environmental movement this month and every month!
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