Empowering Change Through Policy!

Public policies are needed to bring about major change.  As individuals, and in our institutions, our behaviors can go a long way toward healing -- or harming -- the watershed. Changing public policies offers lasting, systematic change.  We all have a moral obligation to engage both in the political process and to adopt behaviors that ensure justice and respect for the entire web of life.  You can make a difference!  

Join our Advocacy Volunteers in making a real difference for our shared home.

*Our Advocacy Volunteers receive Action Alerts every two weeks throughout the spring Legislative Session, featuring MD priority legislation updates, coordinated calls to action, and notices of national or other local policy activism.  Please complete your address information so that we can share those policies and efforts most relevant to your geographic location. 

2023 Maryland Campaigns

• Maryland the Beautiful Act (2023) – Global leaders are calling for the conservation of 50% of Earth’s landmass in an effort to mitigate the harmful effects of the climate crisis, and to preserve biodiversity important to human health and spirit.  The Maryland the Beautiful Act sets a new national goal of 30% of MD lands permanently preserved by 2030.  Read more!
  
  
• Forest Conservation Act (2023) - An update to the 1991 Forest Conservation Act, this Maryland initiative aims to help curb our consumption of forested land.  Maryland is losing forests at a rate of roughly 10 acres each day. This leaves little to nothing for the next generation, something we know is entirely immoral and antithetical to our beliefs as people of faith to “love one another.”
  
  
• 2023 Maryland Legislative Briefing re-cap! - On Jan 29th, Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake, along with our ally Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA), kicked off the 2023 legislative session with a special virtual program highlighting 3 pieces of priority legislation; Maryland the Beautiful Act, Community Solar, and EMPOWER reform!  For further information about the presented legislation, our speakers, or for additional ways you can make a difference this 2023 session, please see the Resource Document and Chat Log below:
  
  • Video Recording - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7WkTyTicIM 
  • Resource Document - Click HERE  
  • Chat Log - Click HERE
    
    

We Need Congregations to Fight with Us!

• Congregations can advocate, too.  A powerful statement is to write a letter on your congregational letterhead and send it in to your representative.  Not sure what congregations are legally allowed to do? 
  • These slides explain what 501c3's can and cannot do.  Yes, congregations can lobby!  These slides will explain what that word means -- and what it doesn't. 
  • Here is a video-recording on this same topic
    
    

Some of Our Past Campaigns…

• Environmental Human Rights Amendment (2022) – Seeks to place in the Declaration of Rights of our state constitution the right of each person to a healthful environment.  Read more!
  
  
• Maryland the Beautiful Act (2022) – Sets a new national goal of 30% of U.S. lands permanently preserved by 2030.  Read more!
  
  
• AquaCon Fish Farm (2022) – A local issue; IPC took a stand alongside others to say no to the pollutant load of a proposed Salmon farm on MD’s Eastern Shore.  Read more!
  
  
• Maryland Transit Equity Package (2021) – Legislation to increase funding to maintain existing public transportation vehicles and increase jobs in the public transportation sector, with a long-term plan of transitioning to a zero-emission fleet by 2024.  Read more!
  
  
• Frederick County Forest Protections (2020) – Faithful advocates successfully sought protections for Frederick Co. forests in 2020.  Read more!
  
  
• Environmental Justice Caucus (2019) – We gathered 160 signatures to encourage Senators to join the newly formed caucus.  Read more!