Andrea (on the left) participating in the 2004 Aquarius Project.
	Andrea enjoys a little down time after working hard to save the earth.
	Andrea's Top 6 Ways Teens Can Influence Environmental Legislation 1. Find a bill or law that interests you. You can look on the Internet under your state's governmental Web site. Do as much research as you can on the issue. 2. Contact your state representatives: send emails, write letters, or meet in person. Take a trip to the capitol and meet with state representatives and legislators. Practice a 3-5 minute speech that will explain the following: what the bill is; why it's important to you; why it's vitally important for your state. And lastly, ask them ", Can I count on your vote?" Remember, your representative was placed in office to represent your ideas! 3. Write an article for a school publication, send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, or create a flyer for a neighborhood bulletin board. 4. Call a local news station and see if it will run a story on you and your ideas. 5. Create a petition about your issue and have all of your friends sign it. Then, send it to your state representative. 6. Don't give up!!! If people won't return your calls or won't listen to you, KEEP TRYING!! Your persistence will pay off.

Making a Difference on the Hill
Lobbying for Environmental Change

By Jodi Stewart, staff writer

Ever wonder what it's really like to influence environmental legislation in your state? The truth is, teens have more power than you think! As Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world."

Picture This…

After participating in a STUDIO 2B destination (the 2004 Aquarius Project), 18-year-old Andrea was inspired to take action on an aquatic-related issue threatening her community.

For Andrea, the road to change meant understanding and participating in the process of how environmental laws and bills get passed in her home state of Oregon. She started at the state's government Web site and typed in the word "ocean." Up came House Bill 2170.

Ballast Water—What's That?

Oregon's House Bill 2170 calls for stricter provisions on ballast water management. Ballast water is sea water used by vessels to help keep them stable. The problem is that when ships take on this water, they also take on tiny plants and animals as well. When the water is discharged somewhere else, these species may not be able to survive in their new environment. Or worse, they can wreak havoc in their new ecosystem.

According to the Global Ballast Water Management Program's Web site, "Invasive aquatic species are one of the four greatest threats to the world's oceans, and can cause extremely severe environmental, economic, and public health impacts." Andrea made it her priority to get the bill passed.

Headin' to the Hill

Andrea researched the bill and called several representatives, legislators, and committee member secretaries. No one returned her calls! Determined to speak with someone, she headed to Oregon's Capitol Hill on a field trip.

Persistence Prevails

After numerous attempts to track down representatives, Andrea was finally successful—Representative Carolyn Tomie agreed to listen for exactly three minutes. By the end of Andrea's carefully crafted argument, Representative Tomie was hooked. She insisted that Andrea speak directly to the head of the water committee, who was right in the middle of a meeting on that very subject.

Andrea had stepped into the spotlight for environmental change.

Reflection

Andrea shares what getting involved felt like for her. "It was awesome to realize how much power I have, being only 18. I think that is also the reason that all of the senators, legislators, and representatives enjoyed talking to me. I got so many comments about how much they loved that I cared so greatly at such a young age."