The PA State Grange has written lawmakers urging them to oppose efforts to freeze conservation district, local farm conservation and environmental restoration project funding saying it is these investments that have helped make agriculture Pennsylvania’s number one industry.

The letter refers to legislation-- House Bill 1822-- passed by Republicans in the House last week freezing new grant commitments from the Conservation District Fund, Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund, Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund and more.   The bill is now in the Senate for consideration.  Read more here.

The PA State Grange said-- “Conservation Districts play a pivotal role in working with farmers to implement conservation practices to reduce run-off and preserve this food-producing and job-producing resource. 

“This success helps PA in its goal of reducing pollutants entering the Chesapeake Bay.  Even while PA has not yet met EPA’s edict regarding Total Daily Maximum Load, farmers are going above and beyond in doing their part. 

“Conservation Districts are instrumental in helping farmers implement best practices for positive results.

“Likewise, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund plays an important role by protecting farmland.  Without farms being protected, PA’s agricultural base weakens. 

“Given the devastating impact on Dairy farmers from COVID-19, taking away a means to keep farmland in use would be counterproductive to the goal of helping Pennsylvanians cope. 

“Although the Commonwealth is in a financially tough spot because of reduced revenue, the Pennsylvania State Grange believes that Special Funds such as the Conservation Districts and others should not be put on the fiscal chopping block.”

The PA State Grange joins other groups like the PA Association of Conservation Districts, Lancaster Clean Water Partners, 11 major fishing and hunting groups, PA Land Trust Association, PA Recreation & Park Society, PA Parks & Forests Foundation, the PA Environmental Council,  PA Municipal Authorities Association and many others opposing a freeze on local conservation district, farm and environmental project funding.

The text of the letter follows--

The Pennsylvania State Grange respectfully requests that you delete the House amendment to House Bill 1822 which freezes 17 Special Funds.

While the Commonwealth is in a budgetary world of hurt because of COVID-19’s impact on State revenue, we would submit that locking up these Special Funds is not the remedy.  Each Special Funds serves a specific purpose.

The Conservation District Fund demonstrates the value of education to farmers on how to raise crops productively yet sustain the environment. 

One component of Pennsylvania’s wealth is its agricultural land.  This productivity has resulted in Agriculture being Pennsylvania’s Number One industry. 

Conservation Districts play a pivotal role in working with farmers to implement conservation practices to reduce run-off and preserve this food-producing and job-producing resource. 

This success helps PA in its goal of reducing pollutants entering the Chesapeake Bay.  Even while PA has not yet met EPA’s edict regarding Total Daily Maximum Load, farmers are going above and beyond in doing their part. 

Conservation Districts are instrumental in helping farmers implement best practices for positive results.

Likewise, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund plays an important role by protecting farmland.  Without farms being protected, PA’s agricultural base weakens. 

Given the devastating impact on Dairy farmers from COVID-19, taking away a means to keep farmland in use would be counterproductive to the goal of helping Pennsylvanians cope. 

The other Special Funds are designed to serve specific purposes too. 

The Minority Business Development Fund is another example – COVID-19 certainly has affected those businesses that this Special Fund is designed to help.  If COVID-19 results in more people gambling online, short-circuiting the Compulsive and Problem Gambling Treatment Fund might also be counterproductive. 

We would welcome your thoughts on this matter.  Although the Commonwealth is in a financially tough spot because of reduced revenue, the Pennsylvania State Grange believes that Special Funds such as the Conservation Districts and others should not be put on the fiscal chopping block.

Sincerely,

Vince Phillips

Legislative Director, Pennsylvania State Grange

Click Here for a copy of the letter.

For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the PA State Grange website.

[Editor’s Note: $172 Million Just Sitting There: The Senate and House are still sitting on a $172 million surplus in their own operating accounts, but they don’t seem ready to repurpose the money to help taxpayers and real people during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Read more here.

[Sacrifice is good… for other people in their view, apparently.

[Click Here to read more about "legislative privilege" and hiding how the General Assembly spends taxpayer money.]

NewsClips:

Click Here For A Week’s Worth Of Political NewsClips

Click Here For PA Coronavirus NewsClips

Click Here For A Week’s Worth Of Environment & Energy NewsClips

Support Local Journalism!

Related Article - Budget:

Analysis: Where Did The $2.93 Billion In Environmental Funding The General Assembly Diverted Or Cut Go?

Analysis: 2020 Is A Make Or Break Year For Environmental Funding

Related Articles:

-- House Republicans Pass Bill To Freeze Funding For County Conservation Districts, Local Parks, Farm Conservation, Watershed Restoration Projects; Will Hurt Local Economies

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners: Proposed Environmental Funding Freeze Would Be ‘Devastating’ To Lancaster’s Economy, Clean Water Efforts

-- PA Conservation District Assn.: House Republican Effort To Freeze Funding For County Conservation Districts Will Shut Them Down, Hurt Local Economies

-- May 3-9 County Conservation Districts Week Overshadowed By Lawmaker Efforts To Freeze, Shutdown Conservation District Funds

-- 11 PA Fishing, Hunting Groups Urge Lawmakers To Oppose Freeze On Local Farm Conservation, Environmental Restoration Project Funding

-- PA Land Trust Assn. Says House Republican Effort To Prohibit State Expenditures On Conservation Districts, Local Conservation Projects 'Insanity'

-- PA Recreation & Park Society Opposes Republican Efforts To Freeze Funding For Local Park, Recreation, Conservation Projects

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Urges Lawmakers To Oppose Freeze On Recreation, Conservation Funding Addressing Imminent Health Threats, Help Economy Recover

-- PA Environmental Council: Almost All Funds Targeted By Republican Freeze Support Local Environmental, Conservation Efforts

---- PA Municipal Authorities Assn, 19 Waste Authorities Oppose Proposed Freeze On Recycling Funding

-- Op-Ed: State Government Is Ignoring Pennsylvania’s Constitutional Right To A Clean Environment For Generations Yet To Come - Ron Evans, PA Environmental Defense Foundation

-- Op-Ed: My Fellow Conservatives Are Out Of Touch On The Environment - Fmr. Gov. Tom Ridge

[Posted: April 29, 2020]

5/4/2020