In This Issue: Action You Can Take This Week Capitol Hill Updates Beacon Hill Updates Protecting Wildlife Programs, Events, & Workshops Quotation of the Week The climate is changing. That’s not the debate. The debate is how do we know what the ideal surface temperature is in 2100? - EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt; The Guardian, Jan 17, 2018 as reported by Reuters News Service the week of Jan. 8, 2018 Poll of the Week A new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll (see page 12) found that 44% of voters support drilling on the East and West coasts, while only 37% oppose it. This means we have a lot of work to do spreading the word about why expanding offshore drilling is a bad idea. Mass Audubon Advocacy Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations Karen Heymann, Legislative Director Christina Wiseman, Advocacy Associate Heidi Ricci, Assistant Director of Advocacy Stefanie Covino, Coordinator, Shaping the Future of Your Community Dan Brown, Climate Change Education and Outreach Coordinator   Support Our Advocacy Efforts About The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup tracks the legislative priorities of Mass Audubon, focusing on the protection of the nature of Massachusetts. Send us an email to sign up.   Advocacy Resources Political Landscapes Blog Want to learn more about proceedings in the House and Senate? Read our Legislative Primer Find your legislators based on your home address View live streaming and archived video of House and Senate sessions Register to vote online   Join Mass Audubon

January 22, 2018     Action You Can Take This Week: Help CAMP Bill Move Forward     © Aislinn Dewey We are rallying support around our priority legislation, S.2196, which would establish a comprehensive adaptation management plan (CAMP) for climate change impacts in Massachusetts. Please contact your state representative in support of CAMP! This is especially helpful if your representative is a member of the House leadership team. Even if they aren’t, ask them to reach out to leadership in support of CAMP. Not sure who your state representative is? Find out here. Let them know that Massachusetts must take action now to reduce our vulnerability to climate change impacts, which will affect our economy, public health and safety, and infrastructure. Capitol Hill Updates     © Center for American Progress Oil & Gas Drilling News Due to the Federal Government shutdown, the US Department of the Interior has postponed this Wednesday’s public listening session in Boston on their five-year expansion plan for oil and gas drilling, which includes areas off the New England Coast. In the meantime, and as we said last week, the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation has joined with their colleagues throughout New England in filing legislation to permanently ban drilling off the New England Coast. This infographic gives a sense of the damage that offshore drilling could cause our region. See the larger version on our blog. Mass Audubon’s Response to MBTA Changes As mentioned in a previous Roundup, last month the US Department of the Interior (DOI) made a decision to cripple The Migratory Bird Treaty Act by limiting the types of bird deaths that can result in prosecution. Here’s what we said to DOI expressing our disagreement and strong concerns over their decision. Senator Markey Demands Answers from EPA Last week, Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey wrote to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt requesting justification for key decisions made regarding climate change, fuel efficiency standards, EPA’s budget, and toxic chemicals. In his letter, Senator Markey noted that many of these decisions run directly counter to EPA’s stated mission to protect “human health and the environment”. Learn more. Mass Audubon Offers Free Admission for Federal Employees In this time of uncertainty and stress for federal employees, Mass Audubon is offering some respite. Admission to all Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries are free to all current federal employees and their families for the duration of the federal shutdown. We hope it provides a chance to find some peace in nature during this time. Beacon Hill Updates   New Leadership at DER The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game has announced the appointment of Beth Lambert to lead the Division of Ecological Restoration (DER). Beth previously served DER in other roles including overseeing their river, wetland, and salt marsh restoration projects. Congratulations Beth, we look forward to working with you! Protecting Wildlife Downtown       Post Office Square park © Wikimedia Commons user NewtonCourt Mass Audubon submitted comments to the City of Boston last week regarding their planned renovation for One Post Office Square. We encouraged the Boston Planning and Development Agency to consider building façade and landscaping designs that minimize bird collision hazards. Boston is located along a major migratory bird pathway and these migrants utilize small urban parks, including Post Office Square, as ‘stopover’ or resting habitat during migration. As birds are not able to distinguish reflective glass as a barrier, they are at risk of often-fatal collisions. Upcoming Programs, Events, & Workshops  Mass Green Network Summit Since its start in October 2015, Mass Audubon and our friends at the Mass Green Network have helped passed over 60 local laws to reduce plastic waste like single-use plastic bags and polystyrene. The Network 3rd annual summit will reflect on the lessons of the past year and offer new resources, both for passing regulations and for implementing those that have been adopted. This all-day summit will take place Saturday, February 3, 2018, at Emerson College in Boston. Learn more and register.