Huge news out of Annapolis: This morning, the Maryland House of Delegates voted by an overwhelming, veto-proof margin — 93 to 45 — to pass a three-year moratorium on fracking in our state!
This is a major step forward — and it’s thanks to your tireless emails, calls, visits to Annapolis, and actions in the streets. But we still have major hurdles ahead.
The Protect Our Health and Communities Act (HB 449) will now need to pass through the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs (EHEA) Committee* before it can be considered for a full Senate floor vote.
If your state senator is a member of this critical committee, tell them to vote “YES” on the fracking moratorium bill (HB 449), and pass it onto the Senate floor.
If your state senator does NOT sit on this critical committee,  you can help spread the good news — and keep the momentum going — by lighting up Facebook feeds across Maryland with visible support for the bill. Click here to share our House victory graphic on Facebook. (And make sure you follow CCAN on Facebook for all the latest updates.)
It was no small feat convincing 93 delegates — including Democrats and Republicans — to stand up to the gas industry and vote in favor of putting a hold on dangerous fracking for natural gas in Maryland. During a long floor debate last night, delegates voted down eight different amendments that would have weakened the bill. This is the first time in four years that a fracking moratorium bill has passed out of the Maryland House of Delegates.
Now our momentum hinges on the Senate EHEA committee. Help put pressure on the committee to act by sending an email to your Senator, and spreading the word on social media.
This swell of grassroots action against fracking is unlike anything we’ve seen before in our state. With the fate of drilling currently in Governor Hogan’s hands, a moratorium is urgently needed now to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the natural resources that are the foundation of so many Maryland livelihoods.
The support of every single delegate and senator matters — and every single action you take matters. We’ve made major progress, but we have major hurdles yet ahead, and we appreciate you pushing with us every step of the way. Click here to spread the news about our House fracking victory, and get ready to take action in the Senate in coming days.
*You can find information on the members of the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs (EHEA) Committee here.