Right now, there are just a few more weeks left in the MA State Legislature’s legislative session. Legislators are currently finalizing legislation and voting on various bills. As they do so, our advocacy is critical in ensuring our Legislature passes bold climate legislation that centers environmental justice communities and puts the Commonwealth on the path to a just transition.

The situation is moving quickly. Here’s a bit of what’s happening and how you can help, as of Monday evening.

Environmental Justice Priorities

The MA Environmental Justice Legislative Table, or EJ Table, is made up of frontline, environmental justice organizations and supportive allies with influence in the Legislature.

Last week, the Senate passed their climate bill. While the bill made some progress on the transition towards clean heat, it did not meaningfully further environmental justice. “The more than 90-page bill, which was released, debated and approved in less than two week’s time, did not include a single meaningful mention of environmental justice populations, who the state must, by law, serve and protect.” (EJ Table). You can read more from the EJ Table here.

Now, the State House of Representatives is finalizing it’s own climate bill. The House must prioritize environmental justice with an expansive bill.

Take action: let your Representative know you want a bold climate bill. You can read a joint letter from many groups across the state, including BCAN, here. You can also join Mothers Out Front’s Climate Action Call at 12 PM on Tuesday, July 8 here.

Labor Justice Priorities

BCAN is also part of the Green Justice Coalition, which brings together community and labor to fight for environmental justice, equity and good careers. We support strong Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) with career pathways in the Economic Development Bill that the Senate is taking up this Thursday. PLAs on public projects will ensure the climate infrastructure we need…

• is cost-effective, well-built, and finished safely, and on-time
• bolsters equity by opening new pathways for people who have too often been left on the economic sidelines.
• increases pathways to strong careers for women, people of color, and working-class residents through strengthening proven “earn while you learn” registered apprenticeship training programs by setting apprenticeship standards.
• increases the use of minority business enterprises (MBEs) and women business enterprises (WBEs) on state projects.

We understand that Senator Mark will be filing an amendment to Economic Development bill with the language we need to empower public agencies and municipalities to use PLAs that are in the public’s interest.