Legislative Advocacy for Environmental Issues in Maryland: A Study

This assignment analyzes environmental issues in Maryland, focusing on problems like Chesapeake Bay eutrophication, rising sea levels, and pollution. The student proposes legislative solutions, such as promoting renewable energy sources, regulating farming practices, banning plastic packaging, and addressing environmental-related illnesses. The assignment includes detailed research, stakeholder analysis (including government officials, industries, and affected populations), and discussion of financial implications. The student outlines steps for presenting the proposal to legislators and considers how Christian principles support legislative advocacy for positive health outcomes. The assignment highlights the importance of public health and the role of legislation in addressing environmental challenges.

For this assignment, identify a problem or concern in your state, community, or organization that has the capacity for advocacy through
legislation. Research the issue and use the "Advocacy Through Legislation" template to complete this assignment.
You are required to cite a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and
appropriate for the assignment criteria and relevant to nursing practice.
Use the template below for the work. The state should be Maryland or Washington DC.
Advocacy Through Legislation
Identify a problem or concern in your state, community, or organization that has the capacity to be advocated through legislation.
Research the issue and complete the sections below. For each topic that requires the listing of criteria, a minimum of two criteria
should be identified and discussed. Add more rows as is appropriate for the topic/proposal.
Problem
In no more than 250 words, describe the problem, who is affected, and the current ramifications. Explain the consequences if the
issue continues.
Environmental issues have been very common in Maryland. Examples of some of the environmental issues that are currently facing
Maryland include, the Chesapeake Bay has reported high levels of eutrophication. Farmland runoff enters the Bay and causes an
increase in nitrogen and phosphorus. This results in algal blooms increasing in number due to the presence of nutrients. The sea
level in southern Maryland is rising continuously and is a serious threat to the island communities. The high seal levels may flood
the small islands surrounding Maryland. On the other hand, the aquifers are slowly depleting, and salty seawater is rising to
replenish the gap; this process is called saltwater intrusion. These aquifers are used as the main drinking water source for over 1.4
million people living in Maryland (Smuda & Dudziak, 2016). Land and water pollution with plastics has increased in the last
decade. The plastic makes the land look unsightly and is harmful to sea and marine animals. Extreme weather invents like Hurricane
Florence and Hurricane Michael are being experienced. The warmer ocean water results in storms that are bigger and more
powerful. Without forgetting, an increase in the environmental temperatures put the elderly and infants at risk. Asthma and
heatstroke cases have increased due to poor air quality and high temperature. The environmental diseases are resulting in an

increase in the medical cost and length of stay in the hospital. Environmental issues pose a huge threat to the citizens of Maryland.
Drastic measures need to be taken to find a solution to the problem (Bigagli, 2017).
Ideas for Addressing Solution
In no more than 250 words, outline your idea for addressing the issue and explain why legislation is the best course for advocacy.
Legislation is the best course to advocate environmental issues facing Maryland. Policies can be created to protect mother nature. a
bill can be drafted that will require the citizens of Maryland to obtain their energy from renewable sources. Sources such as wind
and solar have a lower risk of polluting the environment because they are clean, and they produce an equal amount of energy as
non-renewable sources. Unlike coal and firewood, solar power does not produce toxic fumes that destroy the ozone layer. Through
using solar power makes use of the high temperatures and global warming making it very economical (Nachmany et al., 2017).
Moreover, a bill can be passed to evacuate people who are farming close to the Chesapeake Bay. These farms are the highest
contributors to the high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water. Also, farming close to rivers that drain into the bay should
be prohibited. Farmers should be educated on the proper use of fertilizers and the impact of excessive use of fertilizers on the
environment (Esenduran, Kemahlıoğlu‐ Ziya & Swaminathan, 2016).
A bill can be passed to ban the use of plastic packaging in Maryland. Proper disposal of the plastic packaging that has been used can
be arranged. This will remove the existing packaging and prevent the production of new plastic or foam packaging (Hong & Lee,
2017).
Without forgetting, legislation should be passed to allow insurance firms to cover the medical cost for environmental-related
illnesses such as heatstroke. This will help to improve the health and well-being of the citizens of Maryland (Kemmerer, 2015).
Research the Issue
Perform research and compile information for your idea. Present substantive evidence-based findings that support your idea for
addressing the problem (studies, research, and reports). Include any similar legislation introduced or passed in other states.
Evidence 1 According to a case study conducted by Johannsen (2018) the legislatures can change
the community. The legislature was able to protect the marine environment in the
arctic. Today, the arctic population has increased and there is species diversity.
2

Evidence 2 de Sosa, Williams, Orr, & Jones, (2018) investigated the impact the legislature had on
riparian lands. Through legislature, the riparian lands were protected. People living
next to riparian lands were evacuated and shops or malls that had been build next to
the riparian land were also demolished
Stakeholder Support
Discuss the stakeholders who would support the proposed idea and explain why they would be in support.
Stakeholder(s) Supporting 1 Gov. Larry Hogan. He had vetoed the bill in the last legislative sitting. However, the
standard law makers had overwritten his veto. He will most likely support this
proposal
Stakeholder(s) Supporting 2 Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. He is against the use of plastic or foam packaging.
This proposal will pass a bill that prevents the production of plastic and foam
packaging and will destroy the existing packaging materials.
Stakeholder(s) Supporting 3 Individuals who have suffered from heatstroke. These patients will support a
legislative bill on the environment because they have experienced the negative effects
of global warming. The have experienced financial costs in treating the effects of the
increased temperatures. They will most likely support the proposed idea since the bill
will manage the causative factors that result in global warming (Beatty, Samuelson &
Abril, 2018).
Stakeholder Opposition
Discuss the stakeholders who would oppose the proposed idea. Explain why they would be in opposition and how you would
prepare to debate or converse about these considerations.
Stakeholder(s) Opposed 1 Foam or plastic manufacturing industries. Passing a bill that bans the use of foam
packaging will put the manufacturing company out of business. The alternative form
of packaging will be reusable, which means that the demand will reduce since the
consumers will be reusing the packaging material. Their opposition can be
counteracted by encouraging them to switch to manufacturing paper or cotton woven
packaging material. The raw materials are easily available, and the production cost is
less compared to manufacturing plastic and foam. In addition, buying a cotton woven
3

carrying back is more expensive as compared to a plastic carrying bag. The
manufacturing company will be able to make more money. After the ban of plastic
and foam packaging material, there will be a high demand in paper or cotton woven
carrying material. The high demand will help to kickstart the production of the
packaging material in the manufacturing industry (Dodge, 2017).
Stakeholder(s) Opposed 2 Insurance companies. Adjusting the insurance policies in order to cover diseases
caused by environmental factors such as heatstroke may cause insurance companies to
undergo major losses. Insurance companies that offer medical policy usually ‘look’
for an opportunity not to pay the bill. Including heatstroke and other environmental
related illness in the policies of the insurance companies will compel the insurance
company to pay the medical bill. This financial loss can be counteracted by
encouraging the insurance companies to market on other insurance policies like life
policy. Life policy are usually long term and offer more benefits as compared to
medical policies. The insurance company can also market property policies.
Depending on the value of the property, the insurance company stands to obtain huge
revenues (Beatty, Samuelson & Abril, 2018).
Stakeholder(s) Opposed 2 Farmers. Most farmers have invested a lot into their farms. A farm that is near a river
has easy access to water. The farmer can connect channels or pipes to irrigate his
crops during the dry season. The farmer enjoys high yields throughout the year. Some
of the farms are ancestral lands and the farmers have an emotional attachment to the
land. Evacuation of farmers and removal of farms near the Bay may result in negative
feelings in the farmers. This can be counteracted by providing them an alternative
farming area. The farmers can be relocated to an area where the soil is fertile. Fertile
soils require minimal use of fertilizers, which save the production cost of the yield.
The farmer will be able to produce the same amount of produce at a lower cost
(Christensen, 2017).
4

Financial Incentives/Costs
In no more than 250 words, summarize the financial impact for the issue and the idea (added costs, cost savings, increased revenue,
etc.). Provided support.
Using renewable sources will result in cost savings. There will be no need to import oil or gas, or to incur charges in the mining and
purification of oil or gas in order to produce energy. Solar energy is cheap and effective. It is free of charge and it only requires a
solar panel; therefore, Maryland will be able to have major cost savings. However, there will be added costs in obtaining solar
panels. Setting up the solar panels on the roofs of houses and buildings will also require funding. Obtaining energy from wind will
requires setting up of wind turbines which are costly. Also, the state will have to purchase a pieces of land that is free from
obstruction in order to set up the turbine, this is an added cost. Without forgetting, solar energy or wind energy is only available
when there is sunlight or wind respectively. The equipment used to provide energy should have a source to store the collected
energy, which may result in an added cost (Furner, 2017).
Passing a bill that bans use of foam or plastic will require that a measure to be put in place to destroy the plastic papers. The most
effective form is incineration since plastic is not degradable. Incinerators that are currently being used in disposal of garbage can be
used to dispose the foam packaging instead of buying new equipment. Maryland will be able to save costs.
Evacuating people living near the Bay and in rivers draining into the bay will result in decreased revenue. The produce from farm
will decease since the farming area will have reduced (Page, 2016).
Legislature: Information Needed and Process for Proposal
Discuss the how to advocate for your proposal using legislation. Include the following:
Provide the name and complete contact
information for the legislator.
Name: Citizens of Maryland
Contact: 555-0125
Describe the steps for how you would
present this to your legislator.
Presentation as a request to the chairman of jurisdiction
The chairman will read out the proposal to the congress
The congress will pass the information to the relevant authorities
Outline the process if your legislator
chooses to introduce your idea as a bill to
congress.
A motion is passed. If the proposal is approved to proceed, the members of the
congress will vote. After voting the proposal is presented to the Senate where it is
amended. The bill is read a final time in front of the congress and vote is taken. The
majority votes will determine the implementation (Bliss, 2017).
5

Christian Principles and Nursing Advocacy
In no more than 250 words, discuss how principles of a Christian worldview lend support to legislative advocacy in health care
without bias. Be specific as to how these principles help advocate for inclusiveness and positive health outcomes for all
populations, including those more vulnerable, without regard to gender, sexual orientation, culture, race, religion/belief, etc.
Throughout history, legislative advocacy has been supported by Christianity. The principles of Christianity, which comprise of
protecting life, have helped to advocate for positive health outcomes and inclusiveness for the community. Christianity does not
discriminate culture, religion, gender, or race. It was through Christianity, that the racism was banned. Christianity beliefs state that
all people are equal, and they deserve equal treatment. They supported the legislature when a bill was being passed to make racism
illegal
Christianity has also helped to promote quality healthcare delivery systems. One of Christianity principles is that life is sacred and
should be preserved. The Church supports the legislature in passing bills that reduce the medical cost of the services offered and bill
that will result in the community obtaining medical services. It also supported the bill to make medical services more accessible.
Christianity teaches various moral and ethical values. These values have been implemented in development of code of ethics for the
various healthcare workers. The Church supports the code of ethics which was developed by the legislature
On the other hand, Christianity and the legislature have failed to agree on various occasions. The bill to legalize abortion resulted in
a controversy with the church. The church felt that all life is sacred including that of the unborn child, therefore abortion should be
illegal. The church was able to gain the support of some of the members of the board and in some states, abortion is illegal. A
similar situation occurred in the legalization of homosexual marriages.
6

References
Beatty, J. F., Samuelson, S. S., & Abril, P. S. (2018). Business law and the legal environment. Cengage Learning.
Bigagli, E. (2017). Marine complex adaptive systems: theory, legislation and management practices.
Bliss, T. J. (2017). Citizen advocacy groups: corporate friend or foe? In Unfolding stakeholder thinking (pp. 251-265). Routledge.
Christensen, T. C. (2017). Sunlight behind the curtains: experiencing self-advocacy in the nursing home through photovoice.
University of Rochester.
de Sosa, L. L., Williams, A. P., Orr, H. G., & Jones, D. L. (2018). Riparian research and legislation, are they working towards the
same common goals? A UK case study. Environmental science & policy, 82, 126-135.
Dodge, J. (2017). Crowded advocacy: Framing dynamic in the fracking controversy in New York. VOLUNTAS: International Journal
of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 28(3), 888-915.
Esenduran, G., Kemahlıoğlu‐Ziya, E., & Swaminathan, J. M. (2016). Take‐back legislation: Consequences for remanufacturing and
environment. Decision Sciences, 47(2), 219-256.
Furner, M. (2017). Advocacy and objectivity: A crisis in the professionalization of American social science, 1865-1905. Routledge.
Hong, S. H., & Lee, C. H. (2017). A Study on Legislation for the Improvement of the Marine Environment and Safety Act for Deep
Sea Drilling. Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety, 23(1), 73-82.
Johansen, E. (2018). The EU Influence on Norwegian Domestic Legislation for the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment. The
International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law, 33(2), 415-435.
Kemmerer, L. (2015). Animals and the Environment: Advocacy, activism, and the quest for common ground. Routledge.
Nachmany, M., Fankhauser, S., Kingsmill, N., Landesman, T., Roppongi, H., Schleifer, P., ... & Townshend, T. (2017). Climate
Change Legislation in Maldives: An excerpt from the 2015 global climate legislation studay a review of climate change
legislation in 99 countries.
Page, S. L. (2016). The New Practice Paradigm: Professionalism Through Advocacy. ASA Newsletter, 80(8), 28-29.
Smuda, K., & Dudziak, M. (2016). Changes of the EU and Polish legislation concerning pollution of the aquatic environment in 2010-
2016. Architecture Civil Engineering Environment, 9(3), 141-146.
7