2020 GCA National Affairs and Legislation Conference Highlights
Diana Stromberg
Jane Ellison, First Vice Chairman of NAL for GCA, and I traveled to Washington, DC, to participate in GCA’s outstanding advocacy leadership that began 37 years ago. The three-day conference highlighted speakers from the wildlands of Alaska to 14 miles deep in the oceans, a trip to the Ways and Means Committee room on Capitol Hill to hear from congressional representatives, and visits with our two Ohio Senators and their representative staffers. Excellent presentations included:
Climate change is on everyone’s mind with the opening presenters highlighting the nexus of human health and the environment.
Concern regarding potential rollbacks of our bedrock environmental laws were emphasized through an outstanding presentation by Sam Sankar of Earthjustice regarding the clean water rule and a major case in Maui.
John Piotti talked about regenerative agriculture and approaches to building better soil thus allowing farmers to help save our planet. John is the President and CEO of American Farmland Trust.
Tim Shank, deep sea biologist with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod, showed an in-depth exploration of the deepest 50% of the ocean’s floor.
Fran Ulmer of The Nature Conservancy’s Board emphasized the wildlands of Alaska and the impact of climate change complicated by political debate.
The importance of understanding forests, carbon and climate change was discussed by a panel of 3 speakers.
Collin O’Mara of the National Wildlife Federation reinforced the decline of biodiversity and the need for legislative initiatives to prevent the decline of both flora and fauna.
After a day of education, we were taken to the Hill to hear from many of our Representatives and Senators regarding their passion for the importance of the environment and their efforts to legislate for its protection. GCA is tenacious and will continue to work toward the permanent funding of the LWCF, the Restore Our Parks bill, and the Native Plant Species Pilot Program Act of 2020. To underscore this emphasis, five representatives of three Ohio GCA Garden Clubs met with representatives from Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown’s offices on Wednesday morning before our return to Ohio. GCA through NAL is committed to addressing the devastating impact of climate change.
Click here to see videos of the talks.