5 STEPS TO HELP RESTORE THE EVERGLADES
1) CALL THE NEXT SENATE COMMITTEE STOP THIS WEEK FOR SENATE BILL 10
On Wednesday, March 8, the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources will vote on Senate Bill 10. The bill, intended to protect the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries is Senate President Negron’s initiative to purchase land in the Everglades Agricultural Area to build a reservoir to store and clean the polluted water before sending it south to the Everglades and Florida and Biscayne Bays.
Please take action to help protect our water and Everglades restoration. We ask you to please call the list of legislators below this Monday and Tuesday and encourage them to support Senator Bradley’s Bill SB10.
Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources Members:
Broward: Senator Lauren Frances Book: District 32: (850) 487-5032
Broward/Miami Dade: Senator Oscar Braynon: District 35: (850) 487-5035
Brevard/Volusia: Senator Dorothy L. Hukill: District 14: (850) 487-5014
Brevard/ India River: Senator Debbie Mayfield: District 17: (850) 487-5017
Volusia/ Flagler/ St. Johns: Senator Travis Hutson: District 7: (850) 487-5007
Orange: Senator Linda Stewart: District 13: (850) 487-5013
2) SEND A LETTER TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 761
We have made this process easy by starting a letter for you (Draft Letter), it will be more effective if you make this letter your own by adding your reasons for loving the Everglades and why it is important to you, then mail to your representative this first week of session. (Look up my representative)
3) SIGN THE NOW OR NEVERGLADES DECLARATION FORM
By signing the below declaration you’re joining more than 200 scientists, Floridians and Everglades warriors, who believe that increased storage, treatment and transportation of water south of Lake Okeechobee in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) is essential to the following:
- Stopping the damaging discharges to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers and estuaries;
- Restoring the flow of clean, fresh water to the Everglades. Florida Bay and the Florida Keys; and,
- Protecting the drinking water for 8 million Floridians and tourists.
Take Action: It is Now or Neverglades. Please sign the Declaration today and share it with your network and get them to sign and take action. www.gladesdeclaration.org
4) CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
Now that you have sent a letter to your representative (Look up my representative), call their office and follow up on that letter, if possible ask to make a phone appointment with the member or aide who is responsible for environmental issues. Use the following talking points and have a conversation with them about the importance of this bill. (Talking Points)
5) JOIN US FOR EVERGLADES ACTION DAY
Join the Everglades Coalition for our annual day of action in Tallahassee on April 4. This is an opportunity for passionate people throughout the state to join together and speak with elected leaders about the need for clean water for America’s Everglades.
No policy expertise needed! Bring your passion and your desire to influence the democratic process by having your voice heard during this year’s state legislative session. This is all about letting your state elected leaders hear from YOU!
Schedule as follows:
Monday 4/3 travel to Tallahassee
Monday 4/3 group dinner and short lobby training
Tuesday 4/4 morning and early afternoon team meetings at the Florida Capitol with elected leaders and policy staff which will be set up by EVCO volunteers, with appropriate materials provided.
Tuesday 4/4 travel and arrive home by the evening.
In all, the event will take two days. Travel assistance may be available. Group hotel reservation into forthcoming. Contact info@evergladescoalition.org for more information.
