2008 Legislative Newsletter
“House Vote Needed to
Audubon Washington is a
partnership of
National Audubon Society and
26 independent Audubon
Chapters.
Admiralty Audubon
Black Hills Audubon
Blue Mt. Audubon
Central Basin Audubon
Discovery Coast Audubon
East Lake Washington Audubon
Grays Harbor Audubon
Kitsap Audubon
Kittitas Audubon
Lower Columbia Basin Audubon
North Cascades Audubon
North Central Washington Audubon
Olympic Peninsula Audubon
Palouse Audubon
Pilchuck Audubon
Rainier Audubon
San Juan Islands Audubon
Seattle Audubon
Skagit Audubon
Spokane Audubon
Tahoma Audubon
Vancouver Audubon
Vashon-Maury Isle Audubon
Whidbey Audubon
Willapa Hills Audubon
Yakima Valley Audubon
Contact Policy Staff
Heath Packard
360-790-5680
Lisa Paribello
360-786-8020 ext. 201
February 15, 2008
cost effective ways to improve water
Support the Evergreen quality, air quality and our quality of
life. Audubon Washington policy
Cities Act”
director Heath Packard cited
2SHB 2844 (Rep. Kagi D-32)
Portland, Oregon’s recent urban
forest assessment in his House
February Appropriation testimony, “The city
19th marks reports a $3.80 return on every dollar
an it invests in trees; a total annual
important stormwater management savings of
date in the $36 million, and $3 million worth of
legislative annual air cleaning and carbon fixing
process. services. Portland’s annual
This is the last day to consider bills in environmental benefits provided by
their house of origin. In order for the entire urban forest canopy exceed
2SHB 2844, the Evergreen Cities $38 million.”
Act, to continue in the process it
needs to pass out of the House of Diverse partners continue to line up
Representatives. to support the bill with Audubon
including: the Association of
The Senate companion bill is no Washington cities, Puget Sound
longer alive because it failed to pass Energy, businesses like
out of the Senate Ways and Mean Weyerhaeuser, Macomb Gardens
Committee earlier this week. Nursery in Sequim and the State
Department of Natural Resources.
Communities across the country are URGENT ACTION
recognizing trees as one of the most
Please ask your
Join Us at the Audubon Representatives to move 2SHB
Council of Washington 2844 to the floor for a vote and
(ACOW) - April 11 - 13th. vote YES to support this
important legislation.
You’re invited to Spring ACOW,
1-800-562-6000
being held April 11 - 13th, at
Sleeping Lady Mountain retreat, Terry Root, a co-recipient of the 2007
located in the foothills of the Nobel Peace Prize for her work on
Cascades mountains outside Global Warming.
Leavenworth. The theme for the
conference is: One Audubon - Sunday will be dedicated to the
Hatching Solutions for Global following field trips: Chelan-Douglas
Warming. Land Trust hike, Barn Beach
Reserve, Rocky Reach Dam and
The program is filled with local Visitor Center, Horan Natural Area
artists, workshops, chapter breakouts, and a biking and birding excursion.
and keynote speakers including a
forest canopy researcher and Dr. To register go to: wa.audubon.org.
February 15, 2008

SUPPORT CLIMATE ACTION AND GREEN JOBS

HB 2815, SB 6516. Prime Sponsors: Senator Pridemore, Representative Dunshee

The Climate Action and Green Jobs bill will take the next step in moving toward
meeting the State’s goals of reduced emissions, as well as increase the amount of
green jobs. Not only does the Climate Action bill set up a structure to achieve
lowered emissions, but it creates competitive grant-based training programs to help
families in lower income communities prepare workers to move into green industry
as it develops through responsible climate policy. The House bill is moving
quickly, and has passed out of House fiscal committee, waiting to progress to the
floor from Rules Committee.

SUPPORT LOCAL SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL WARMING

HB 2797, SB 6516. Prime Sponsors: Senator Marr, Representative Simpson

The Local Solutions to Global Warming bill addresses the major contributors to global
warming in our communities, in turn making them more efficient and livable. The bill aims to
reduce transportation and land use contributions to global warming pollution by building
compact, efficient communities and reducing sprawl. Specifically, Local Solutions will build
off of the Growth Management Act, by having cities look at ways to reduce climate emissions
and adapt to the likely impacts of global warming as they update their zoning and land use
plans. This bill has passed through both House and Senate fiscal committees and is also waiting
to move to the floor from Rules Committee.

SUPPORT LOCAL FARMS, HEALTHY KIDS

HB2798, SB6483. Prime Sponsors: Senator Hatfield, Representative Pettigrew

The Local Farms Healthy Kids bill aims at connecting Washington farmers with the
children that attend Washington schools. The bill would not only provide our
children with healthy locally grown food, but help our local farmers as well. In
particular the bill aims at creating a farm to school program to get fresh fruits and
vegetables into our schools, particularly those in low-income areas, and create new
markets for farmers by allowing schools to purchase from those local growers. The
House and Senate bills have passed off their respective floors, marking the halfway
point in passing this important legislation.