Funding Secured for Minnesota’s Habitat, Communities, Environment 

Earlier than we share the information we had deliberate for this week, we wish to pause to acknowledge the current political violence that occurred in Minnesota. Audubon grieves with Minnesota. Our workers works carefully with lawmakers and are devastated for the households, associates, and broader neighborhood of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and Sen. John Hoffman, each of whom have been robust champions for the atmosphere.  

This 12 months, the Minnesota legislature handed a number of main bipartisan environmental funding payments. First, throughout the common session, legislators handed the Legacy invoice. Supported by a portion of Minnesota gross sales tax, the Legacy invoice included ongoing funding for Audubon Higher Mississippi River’s habitat restoration work in northwest Minnesota by way of the Outdoor Heritage Fund. Thanks to Governor Walz, who instantly signed this invoice.  
 
Sadly, the Legislature didn’t end all of their enterprise earlier than the constitutionally mandated adjournment date. In late Could, they adjourned with out agreeing on plenty of main finances payments, together with the atmosphere finances. Whereas this was not a wholly sudden end result, it did drive a particular session to keep away from a authorities shutdown. 
 
Throughout the one-day particular session, lawmakers handed appropriations for the Atmosphere and Pure Assets Belief Fund (ENRTF), which was supported by a overwhelming majority of Minnesota voters final November. Whereas Audubon works on ENRTF funding payments each session, this one was notably particular. The ENRTF funding invoice is comprised of a set of essential environmental tasks vetted via the Legislative Citizen Fee on Minnesota’s Assets. This 12 months’s appropriation contains $103.3 million in funding for greater than 100 tasks together with funding for the Audubon Higher Mississippi River venture to run the following iteration of statewide marshbird surveys, offering important knowledge in direction of conservation wants for this elusive suite of birds.  

It additionally contains $28 million in new funding for the Neighborhood Grants program, a program Audubon has spent years working with companions to create, with the intention to make funds extra accessible to smaller organizations equivalent to Audubon chapters. A portion of Neighborhood Grants funding can also be used for path upkeep and enchancment and aquatic invasive species administration.  

It took quite a lot of bipartisanship from the Atmosphere Chairs, Sen. Hawj, Rep. Heintzeman, Rep. Fischer, and your grassroots efforts to get the Neighborhood Grants handed via the Legislature and signed into regulation by Gov. Walz. 

We’re grateful that Audubon members throughout Minnesota are prepared and able to act for our extraordinary atmosphere! If you need to obtain motion alerts, please enroll right here: