In the Outdoor Section of the Star Tribune,Tony Kennedy recently called South St. Paul DFLer Rick Hansen, chair of the Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee, "the dean of outdoors legislation at the Capitol."
Hansen has been awarded the Pollinator Hero Award, and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) awarded him the Leon G. Billings Environmental Achievement Award in 2020.
Now, he's at the White House.
Wednesday morning, Hansen tweeted an article by Associated Press reporter Colleen Long, along with a note about the section in which he attended:
White House invites in state lawmakers before 2023 sessions | AP News. ✅An honor to be a part of this : 🇺🇸Building a Cleaner, More Sustainable America: Climate, Infrastructure, Environmental Justice #mnleg #climate https://t.co/fhZzSPAfyo
— Rep. Rick Hansen (@reprickhansen) December 7, 2022
Bluestem recommends reading the entire article. Here's a taste:
The White House is playing host to roughly 50 Democratic state lawmakers from 31 states this week as legislatures prepare for their upcoming sessions, aiming to talk over strategy on top issues like climate change, gun violence, abortion rights and voting rights. . . .
The legislators will meet with Biden administration policy experts on drug control, veterans affairs, environmental quality, criminal justice, violence prevention and climate change.
In Legislative Update 12/7 - Visit to D.C., Hansen told his constituents about the focus for his visit:
Meeting at the White House
This week I traveled to Washington D.C along with legislators from 32 other states to discuss our state priorities for the 2023 session. My visit focused on climate and environmental issues including building a cleaner more sustainable country, climate infrastructure and environmental justice.
I was given the opportunity to highlight some of the work we will focus on this year to ensure Minnesota is a climate leader. Along with our strong state budget, the Inflation Reduction Act will provide over $2.6 billion for infrastructure and climate projects. This is the exact type of coordination between state and federal policy makers we need if we are to tackle the climate crisis. I’m excited to carry this momentum into the 2023 session to make this a banner year for climate action.
If you would like to learn more about how the inflation reduction act will benefit our efforts, here is a fact sheet as it relates to environmental justice, and one as it relates to climate change.
UPDATE 12/7/2022 --4:15 p.m.
The Minnesota House of Representatives just sent out this statement by Hansen:
Rep. Hansen Visits White House to Discuss Climate Action for the 2023 Session
St. Paul, MN - This week, Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL – South Saint Paul), the incoming chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee, attended a meeting of state legislators at the White House to discuss climate policy for the 2023 session. Overall, the event had legislators from 32 states and covered several issue areas, with Rep. Hansen’s time focusing on climate, infrastructure, and environmental justice.
“I would like to thank the White House for hosting this important event so we can work across the nation to ensure we are doing what we need to do to fight climate change. This is the exact type of coordination between state and federal policy makers that we need if we are to tackle the climate crisis. We were able to discuss what Minnesota plans to pursue this year and pick up ideas from other state leaders. I’m excited to carry this momentum into the 2023 session to make this a banner year for climate action.”
During an opportunity to present what he would like to pursue, Rep. Hansen discussed legacy contaminants and the importance of addressing chemical, physical, and biological pollution (such as CWD and invasive species) when pursuing sustainable climate infrastructure and environmental justice. Rep. Hansen also discussed the opportunity to match federal dollars to clean up past problems while preparing for the future. [end update]
A note on "Environmental Justice"
Now, judging from the ignorance--feigned or otherwise-- about the meaning of "environmental justice" from some Republican state representative I heard earlier this year in Chair Hansen's House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and the House ag committee, Bluestem wonders whether there will be catcalls on social media about the definition of this phrase.
I recommend reading the 2020 House Select Committee on Racial Justice: Report to the Legislature, which provides this definition on page 10:
Environmental Justice
“The principle of environmental justice asserts that no people, based on their race or economic status, should be forced to bear a disproportionate burden of environmental risks.”13
“Environmental justice deals explicitly with the distribution of environmental benefits and the burdens people experience, at home, at work, or where they learn, play, worship and spend leisure time.”14 In short, environmental justice is an important part of the struggle to improve and maintain a clean and healthful environment, especially for those who have traditionally lived, worked, and played closest to the sources of pollution.
The sources for the quotations, by superscript:
13 “What Is Environmental Justice and Why Should We Care?” Sustainability Office, Colgate University, April
23, 2014.
14 Social and environmental justice, Forest Research, https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/urban-regeneration-and-greenspace-partnership/greenspace-in-practice/practical-considerations-andchallenges-to-greenspace/social-and-environmental-justice
The sources in these documents date back to 2000, so it's not concept cooked up last month. Now, we're not sure if that concept is exactly the same definition that the White House gathering is using, though Bluestem suspects that Hansen will use his habitual methodical care to share and explain.
Should any Republican state representatives have questions about "environmental justice," Bluestem recommends that they touch base with House Select Committee on Racial Justice Vice Chair Representative Lisa Demuth (page 4), the ranking Republican on the select committee.
Session Daily reported on November 11 that Demuth is to lead House Republicans in 2023-24 biennium, so perhaps the House Minority Leader can help them out before anyone gets too confused.
Update: Senator-elect Erin Maye Quade at White House
MPR's Brian Bakst tweeted that
From #mnleg: Sen.-elect @ErinMayeQuade is presenting on abortion/reproductive rights.
— Brian Bakst (@Stowydad) December 7, 2022
"It's really important that state legislators are meeting together and able to share ideas, share strategies and build power together."
Also: State @reprickhansen on environmental issues. https://t.co/rPvqpv4mGK
In the same thread, Bakst tweets Emma Greenman and Leigh Finke were also at the White House:
Rep. @emmagreenman and Rep.-elect @leighfinke also were at White House sessions this week. https://t.co/dJNG9gqiIl
— Brian Bakst (@Stowydad) December 7, 2022
[end update]
Photo: Hansen and other state legislators from across the country at the White House. From Legislative Update 12/7 - Visit to D.C.
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