Take a minute to help bring more funding for climate resilience in Massachusetts
This spring’s American Rescue Plan act sent emergency funding to families across the country struggling to make ends meet. Did you know it also gave billions to each state with local control over how it would be spent?
Massachusetts has already received $5.3 billion in state and local recovery funds. In addition to critical investments in housing, healthcare, and economic and workforce development, we have a one-in-a-generation opportunity to invest some of the funds in building more resilient communities.
The hearings start on Tuesday, July 20th, so now is the time to make calls to your legislators encouraging them to use this funding to prepare for climate-related flooding and extreme heat while providing good-paying local jobs.
PLEASE EMAIL OR CALL YOUR STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES ASKING THEM TO SUPPORT:
$400 million for water and sewer infrastructure. When Tropical Storm Elsa dumped torrential rain on Massachusetts in early July, it was too much for our aging infrastructure, which dumped millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Mystic River and Boston Harbor. This money will help communities upgrade their drinking water and wastewater systems against both torrential rains and droughts.
$300 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program. This program, currently funded at $10 million to $20 million per year, is the only statewide grant program available to cities and towns to help people and places become more climate resilient. With 351 communities in Massachusetts, even $300 million won’t go far enough.
$100 million for State Park facilities, Although big storms and wildfires get more attention, heat waves kill far more people. Our state parks have been underfunded for years, leaving many of them with run down facilities that are unwelcoming and even unsafe. This funding will allow many more people who can’t afford air conditioning or travel to stay cool in public parks for free.
This is a game-changing amount of funding. Legislators get very few phone calls from voters. Your call will make a difference. If you have any questions, please email Julie Wormser, Deputy Director at the Mystic River Watershed Association.
Here's a sample call script or email you can use!
Hi. My name is ___ and I’m a constituent. I heard that the legislature is holding public hearings on how to spend the American Rescue Plan Act money and I’d like to give my opinion.
[pause for them to respond]
I would like to see at least $800 million spent on local climate resilience: $400 million for water and sewer infrastructure, $300 million for Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grants, and $100 for state park facilities. Thank you very much!
