IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karla Raettig, 202-674-3174 (c)
January 11, 2017 Email: kraettig@mdlcv.org
MARYLAND LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS ANNOUNCES LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 2017 MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION
Environmental Group Outlines Legislative Priorities Beneficial to All Marylanders
Annapolis, MD – On the first day of the 2017 Maryland General Assembly Legislative session, Maryland League of Conservation Voters (Maryland LCV) announces their environmental priorities. They will work with diverse coalitions across the state, made up of other environmental advocates, faith leaders, labor unions, business leaders, and social justice groups.
“We look forward to working with the General Assembly this session to aggressively address issues of climate change, water pollution, environmental justice, and trash,” says Karla Raettig, executive director of Maryland LCV. “Maryland legislators have a responsibility to their constituents and all Marylanders to protect the environment for generations to come.”
In conjunction with the statewide Maryland Climate Coalition and legislative champions in both chambers, Maryland LCV is working to override Governor Hogan’s veto of the 2016 Clean Energy Jobs Act, a bill ensuring that Maryland gets 25% of its electricity from renewable energy sources like wind and solar by 2020. Additionally, Maryland LCV has prioritized banning hydraulic fracturing in the state, a practice that has been linked to disastrous water and air pollution along with serious public health hazards.
The organization is lending its support to limiting the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in livestock to stop the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria. These bacteria sicken millions of Americans every year and kill tens of thousands. Maryland LCV will also be working on banning styrofoam statewide. This would be mean no establishment or institution can serve on styrofoam materials, including restaurants and bans the sale styrofoam containers or packaging peanuts.
Finally, Maryland LCV joins with its partners to protect smart growth policies related to septics regulations in reaction to the Governor’s statement this summer rolling back Chesapeake Bay restoration.
Related to all environmental legislation, Maryland LCV will be defending the budget for environmental agencies and enforcement of current environmental laws.
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The Maryland League of Conservation Voters (Maryland LCV) is a state-wide, nonpartisan organization that uses political action and education to protect our air, land and water. Maryland LCV endorses and elects pro-conservation candidates and holds elected officials accountable through legislative scorecards. A leading legislative watchdog in Annapolis, we have advocated for smart environmental policies for more than 35 years, working to make Maryland a healthy and prosperous place for families and communities. Maryland LCV protects public health by fighting for restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and local waters, preserving green spaces, promoting smarter growth and increasing Maryland’s investment in clean energy.