Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. Saving the Planet!
As Women’s History Month draws to a close, let's turn our eyes to the future and take advantage of three exciting opportunities to make history ourselves by using our voices to set League priorities and lobby for impactful environmental legislation aimed at protecting the planet for generations to come.
On April 19, our partner the Illinois Environmental Council is hosting a Lobby Day in Springfield, IL to support a roster of pro-climate bills, including the Polystyrene Foam Ban, which passed the Illinois House of Representatives last Tuesday, as well as show our opposition to anti-climate legislation such as the proposed permitting of a pyrolysis/gasification facility (read the letter the League signed in opposition). There will be transportation from Chicago to Springfield provided. All materials will be provided by IEC in advance, and you will only be meeting with your legislators to either thank them or encourage their support. Sign up.
On April 24, the League of Women Voters of Illinois is holding an all access virtual Lobby Day. In a few weeks, LWVIL will send every member a Lobby Day toolkit, including fact sheets on bills, social media graphics, email templates, and ideas for action. LWVIL is currently watching more than a dozen bills that align with League positions. At the end of March, bills that have passed in the ILGA chamber in which they were proposed will “cross over” to the other chamber. Bills that have crossed over have a good chance of passing into law if legislators hear from their constituents. It is those bills that will become the heart of LWVIL’s virtual Lobby Day. Environmental legislation the League is watching includes the Carbon Dioxide Transportation Act (to regulate carbon pipelines and prevent chemical spills), the Polystyrene Foam Ban and the pyrolysis facility permit.
Last but not least… SAVE THE DATE for the LWVIL Convention on June 10 and 11. Together we will be deciding our statewide advocacy priorities for the next two years. You can make sure your voice is heard by volunteering to be one of the Chicago League’s twelve delegates. Contact environment@lwvchicago.org or league@lwvchicago.org to sign up. Let’s make sure that climate change and waste reduction make the list!
Leave a comment below or email us at environment@lwvchicago.org.