1-21-23 Alert

Good Morning, New Mexico Activists:

We have two hearings to tell you about on Monday and Tuesday – for bills on Public Health & Climate Resiliency, Regional Water System Resiliency, and Banning Radioactive Waste – and, near the end of this message, info on an important Zoom webinar on Blue Hydrogen Production. Please read and pass along the information!

  1. On Mon., Jan. 23, 1:30 p.m. (or ½ hr. after floor session ends) in Room 311, the Senate Health & Public Affairs Committee will hear SB 5 Public Health and Climate Resiliency, first on the agenda. SB 5 and its companion bill in the House, HB 42, would create a statewide Climate & Public Health Program within the state Health Dept. to develop a comprehensive plan of action to build local resilience to climate-generated events that have health implications. Read the fact sheet from Voices for Children here.

Please contact committee members today if possible, but by Monday morning at the latest. Call and email to urge them to support the bill. Because we’ve been told that legislators don’t/can’t read much of their email during the session, simply put “Please vote YES on SB 5!” in the email subject line. You can do the same in your phone calls. You can also pull a few talking points from the fact sheet linked above and submit written comments up to 300 words. Email your written comments to Cecilia Flores, Committee Secretary, SHPAC.comm1@nmlegis.gov. I confirmed with the secretary that there will be no Zoom access. As usual, you can attend the hearing and offer public comment in person. Or you can watch the hearing via Webcast at this link (no public comment).

Senate Health & Public Affairs:

Copy and paste the following to send bulk email: “David M. Gallegos” <david@ramirezandsonsinc.com>, “Martin Hickey” <martin.hickey@nmlegis.gov>, “Stuart Ingle” <stuart.ingle@nmlegis.gov>, “Antonio Maestas” <antonio.maestas@nmlegis.gov>, “Brenda G. McKenna” <brenda.mckenna@nmlegis.gov>, “Gerald Ortiz y Pino” <jortizyp@msn.com>, “Gregg Schmedes” <gregg.schmedes@nmlegis.gov>, “Antoinette Sedillo Lopez” <a.sedillolopez@nmlegis.gov>, “Bill Tallman” <bill.tallman@nmlegis.gov>

2.  On Tues., Jan. 24, 9 a.m., Room 311, the Senate Conservation Committee will hear SB 1 Regional Water System Resiliency and SB 53 Storage of Certain Radioactive Waste. SB 1 would form regional water utility authorities to empower local water agencies and strengthen water management across the state. SB 53 would amend the Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Act to prohibit the state from issuing permits for the storage of high-level radioactive waste in our state. Use the links in the bill titles above to find talking points.

Please contact committee members by email this weekend, but by Monday at the latest. Call and email to urge them to support the bills. Because we’ve been told that legislators don’t/can’t read much of their email during the session, simply put “Please vote YES on SB 1 and SB 53!” in the email subject line. You can do the same in your phone calls. You can also pull a few talking points from the fact sheets linked above and submit written comments up to 300 words. Email your written comments by Monday morning to the committee secretary Miquela Gonzales at SCONC.comm1@nmlegis.gov. There is no Zoom info posted, so we assume there will be no Zoom access. Of course, you can attend the hearing and offer public comment in person. Or you can watch the hearing via Webcast at this link (no public comment).

Senate Conservation:

Copy and paste the following to send bulk email: “Joseph Cervantes” <joseph.cervantes@nmlegis.gov>, “David M. Gallegos” <david@ramirezandsonsinc.com>, “Carrie Hamblen” <carrie.hamblen@nmlegis.gov>, “Steven P. Neville” <steven.neville@nmlegis.gov>, “Harold Pope” <harold.popejr@nmlegis.gov>, “Gregg Schmedes” <gregg.schmedes@nmlegis.gov>, “Antoinette Sedillo Lopez” <a.sedillolopez@nmlegis.gov>, “William P. Soules” <bill.soules@nmlegis.gov>, “Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics” <lstefanics@msn.com>

Blue Hydrogen Hub Briefing on Zoom

On Mon. Jan. 23, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom: Blue Hydrogen Hub Briefing with Tom Solomon from 350NM and Dr. Tom Singer from the Western Environmental Law Center. Learn why blue hydrogen is being pushed by the fossil fuel industry to sell more natural gas. It is NOT a climate solution. Please share this Zoom info with your legislators. Most legislators don’t know much about hydrogen production.

Pre-register on Zoom at:
 https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvce2rqzkvHNf69_9ve-AT64v6V-4GSJSw.

Here are a couple of recent articles to read in the meantime:

New Mexico Lawmakers aim to attract hydrogen investments – Abq Journal, Jan 15, 2023

Debate over hydrogen poised to return this legislative session – NM Political Report, Jan 9, 2023

Thank you for making the time to take action. The only way we can get good, progressive legislation passed is if we all participate!

In Solidarity and Gratitude,

Roxanne & Paul

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