seedling-g687f4b980_1920
CT NOFA > Advocacy and Policy

Advocacy and Policy

Urgent Advocacy Action Items

Neonicotinoid Bill Makes It Through Appropriations to the Floor of the State Senate

Neonicotinoid insecticides are very highly toxic to insects, persistent in soil (lasting over a year in some circumstances), able to travel in plants up into nectar and pollen, and soluble in water, so they can leach into groundwater, pools, and streams. In short, they end up in lots of places where we don’t want them, where they kill beneficial insects and, according to recent research, harm other wildlife, too.

SB 963 is not a bill that costs a lot of money. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) took the opportunity to ask for a new person for the Pesticide Management Division at a cost of less than $100,000 per year (salary, fringe benefits, etc.). But if a bill costs any money, the Appropriations Committee has to vote for it — and it did!

Now the action moves to the floor of the State Senate, where there are currently negotiations happening that are intended to weaken this bill. Now is the time to take action to keep this bill as it was written when it passed the Appropriations Committee.

Read more about this bill and take action items listed below.

ACTION ITEMS

Contact Senator Rick Lopes, Senate co-chair of the Environment Committee

Ask Senator Lopes to keep SB 963 as it passed the Environment and Appropriations Committees. Call the office of the Senate Democrats at (800) 842-1420 and ask for him or his aide.

Ask your state senator to pass sb 963

SB 963: An Act Concerning Neonicotinoids for Non-Agricultural Use

Find your state legislators

Push the CT General Assembly on Climate!

Farmers and farmworkers are on the frontlines of dealing with climate change worldwide. As we move into a strange new climate never seen before in human history, with deeper droughts, heavier downpours, more powerful storms, brutal heat waves, and unexpected polar vortex cold snaps, farmers and farmworkers have to deal with it all and still produce the food that feeds the rest of us.

Fifteen years ago, Connecticut promised to cut climate pollution and protect our future, but we are not on track as a state to meet our obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We need to make our commitments real. CT NOFA has joined the CT Coalition for Climate Action to maximize the power of organizations and individuals across the state to push our state legislators to strengthen the state’s climate law and address a range of climate actions: increase energy efficiency in homes and schools, create a cleaner transportation system, and help environmental justice communities to stand up to polluters. There is power in numbers, and 41 organizations are uniting to focus on pushing legislation through all the obstacles to become law.

The CT Coalition for Climate Action is organizing a big event at the state Capitol on Wednesday, May 24 from 10 am to 2 pm to push for climate action before the end of the session. Join us, and/or reach out to your legislators!

ACTION ITEMS

Register to attend a Day of Action at the CT State Capital

Join the Connecticut Coalition for Climate Action's Day of Action on May 24 from 10am-2pm. Legislators and members of the coalition will hold a press conference, followed by a legislative training, and opportunities to connect with your own legislators. Don't miss it!

Register to attend

Tell your state legislators to keep CT's Climate promise

Connecticut promised to cut climate pollution and protect our future. But it's not on track to meet its obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It's time to take action and keep that promise. Ask your state senator and representative to pass the laws that can make it happen.

Email your legislator

Advocacy and Policy Updates

Advocacy Alert: Push the CT General Assembly on Climate!

May 19, 2023
By Dr. Kimberly Stoner Farmers and farmworkers are on the frontlines of dealing with climate change worldwide. As we move into a strange new climate never seen before in human…
Read More →

May Advocacy Update

May 11, 2023
Neonicotinoid Bill Makes It Through Appropriations to the Floor of the State Senate From Dr. Kimberly Stoner, CT NOFA Director of Advocacy At one of the public hearings in the…
Read More →

CT NOFA Co-Hosts Green Amendment Discussion with Author Maya van Rossum

April 27, 2023
On April 19, 2023, CT NOFA was proud to co-host a discussion about the Green Amendment movement in Connecticut with author Maya K. van Rossum. van Rossum is the author…
Read More →

March Advocacy Update

March 17, 2023
We are reaching the end of the season of committee public hearings and votes to move legislation beyond the committees and onto the floors of the House and Senate of…
Read More →

CT NOFA Advocacy Update from Kimberly Stoner

February 24, 2023
CT NOFA at the State Capitol ⏤ Advocacy Update from Director of Advocacy, Dr. Kimberly Stoner The legislative session is picking up steam. In my six weeks as your Director…
Read More →

Dr. Kimberly Stoner joins CT NOFA as new Director of Advocacy

January 26, 2023
CT NOFA is excited to announce that Dr. Kimberly Stoner will be joining our team as our new Director of Advocacy. Dr. Stoner recently retired as an Agricultural Scientist from…
Read More →