Groups Issue Open Letter Calling on Lawmakers to Act on Lead Pipe Safety, PFAS Ban, Beauty Justice Act, and Packaging Reform
Environmental Advocates NY, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, New York League of Conservation Voters and 22 other organizations have released a letter urgently calling on state legislative leaders and lawmakers in both houses to pass a slate of four priority environmental health and safety “Superbills,” which they and allied groups have been advocating for since early this year.
The two-month delay in negotiating the F27 State Budget has left extremely limited time for the legislature to advance other bills before the session ends on June 4. Passing all four bills would provide health, safety, and climate benefits to people across New York State, including removing lead from drinking water, reducing PFAS “forever chemical” contamination in water, food, and addressing the flood of single-use packaging that clogs landfills and leaches poisons into the soil and water table.
“This year’s extended state budget process did not just hollow out our climate law, it also left us with only a few days to pass other critically needed laws protecting New Yorkers’ environmental health and safety,” said Katherine Nadeau, Deputy Director, Policy and Programs, Environmental Advocates NY. “With just four days left, we’re calling on our legislative leaders and lawmakers to invest in New Yorkers’ well-being by getting these bills across the finish line.”
Said Patrick McClellan, Policy Director, New York League of Conservation Voters:
With little time remaining in the legislative session, lawmakers must focus on measures that will deliver meaningful results and – critically – are ready to move without delay. From reducing the growing burden of packaging waste, to removing toxic forever chemicals from everyday products, to replacing the lead pipes that contaminate our drinking water, this Superbills package gives the Legislature a clear opportunity to act quickly and boldly to safeguard the health of our communities.
“New Yorkers deserve to be protected from toxic ingredients added to their personal care products, especially women of color, who face the greatest threat,” said Briana Carbajal, State Policy Manager at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “With the Trump administration attempting to slash nearly every federal environmental protection, it’s more important than ever that New York steps up to protect its residents. The State Senate has already passed the Beauty Justice Act, and we are urging the Assembly to do the same.”
“Nearly every day brings a new story about the dangers of PFAS ‘forever chemicals.’ Every day we fail to turn off the tap and get PFAS out of common products that raise health care costs for New Yorkers,” said Bobbi Wilding, Executive Director of Clean+Healthy. “The Ban on PFAS in Consumer Products Bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support in February. We call on Speaker Heastie to pass A 7738A with no further delay. Many states across the country have passed common sense laws like this, poll after poll shows voters of all political leanings want the government to take action on toxics. We need the Assembly to deliver this win to New Yorkers.”
Read the letter here.
About the Superbills
- The Lead Pipe Replacement Act (S6892/A7878) amends the public health law to establish a statewide plan to replace all of New York’s lead service lines by 2037.
- The Ban on PFAS in Consumer Products (S9073A/A7738A) and the Beauty Justice Act (S2057B/A2054B) would ban toxic “forever chemicals” linked to cancer, immune system damage, reproductive harm, and other consequential health effects from everyday household and personal products.
- The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA) (S1464A/A1749A) would act to reduce packaging waste and single-use plastics, invest in stronger recycling infrastructure, and eliminate toxic substances from packaging materials.
###
Environmental Advocates NY is New York’s leading environmental watchdog, working for over 50 years to advance strong environmental laws and hold decision-makers accountable.
NYLCV is the only statewide environmental organization in New York that fights for clean water, clean air, renewable energy and open space through political action. We’re non-partisan, pragmatic and effective.
WE ACT for Environmental Justice builds healthy communities by ensuring that low income, people of color participate in the creation of environmental health policies and practices.
