How does that old saying go, April advocacy brings May policy? Event invitations bring policy legislation? Something like that. The point is, IRWA is investing time this Spring in planting and cultivating its legislative agenda to bring about change, and you are invited! We are so excited to expand our advocacy footprint on Beacon Hill, but we can’t do it without you. Lawmakers need to see that their constituents want change, and IRWA is organizing not one but two events to give our members the space to speak up.
The first event is the Legislative Breakfast, where legislators from across the Watershed will descend on Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton on March 11th from 8:30am – 10:30am to hear from their constituents. This is a prime opportunity to get in front of your elected officials and share with them why the river is so important to you, and what you’d like to see done to protect it. Tickets are going fast, so be sure to register today!
It is critical to invite legislators to our Watershed, but it is equally important to meet them at the State House! The second event is a lobby day on Beacon Hill with the WATER Coalition, or Watershed Associations Tackling Environmental Resilience.
This event will take place on April 3rd from 11:00am – 2:00pm in room 437 on Beacon Hill. While it is important to speak with our local representatives, their support unfortunately is not always enough. To effect meaningful change at a state level, you need a majority of the entire state legislature on board. WATER Coalition Lobby Day is a lobby day spearheaded by IRWA in partnership with our friends at the Charles River Watershed Association and will bring together legislators with representatives from watershed organizations across the state.
While there, we will:
- Advocate for the crucial Drought Bill that aims to improve water conservation by giving the state the power to mandate outdoor watering restrictions during times of drought.
- Lobby for legislation filed by Representative Kassner to recalculate safe yield levels based on seasonal changes as well as legislation to identify missing data on private wells.
- Lobby for an increase in the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness funding from the $20 million/year it is currently allocated to $100 million.
If you would like to sign up to lobby with us, visit the event page here!