PEC praises passage of SB 1155

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council applauds the House members for passing Senate Bill 1155, in particular House Majority Leader Todd Eachus and Rep. Kate Harper who amended the bill to include more funding for the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund. This revenue will allow the Growing Greener initiative to continue benefitting local communities throughout the Commonwealth and help us clean up Pennsylvania’s 19,000 miles of polluted streams.

“Growing Greener is an essential program that helps communities restore the environment,” said Don Welsh, PEC President and CEO. “I applaud the House and the efforts of individual members for their efforts. While we may not agree with every provision in the bill, it is a huge step forward in helping to guarantee funding for key environmental programs.”

But our work does not end with the House passage.

Now our attention turns toward the Senate, where we have heard encouraging statements in support of funding for Growing Greener and other environmental priorities. PEC has been and will continue to be directly engaged in a dialogue with members of the Senate, other environmental groups, industry and local governments in hopes of developing a strong severance tax proposal acceptable to all sides.

Between now and October 12, when the Senate returns to voting session, please contact your member of the Senate to help ensure this issue is addressed before they adjourn for the year. If they don’t, then all bills die and there will be no severance tax or support for environmental programs.