Assemblymember Pamela J. Hunter (D-Syracuse) announced that she helped pass legislation to safeguard the state’s natural resources, promote environmental justice and protect children and families from harmful chemicals. The legislative package was passed in recognition of Earth Day, which was April 22.

“The threat posed by human-driven climate change grows more urgent, and yet our federal government continues to drag its feet and deny reality,” said Hunter. “We can’t wait for others to take action – New Yorkers must come together and act now to protect our precious natural resources and safeguard public health. Today’s legislation is an important step toward a truly sustainable and healthy New York State.”

To protect the state’s fresh water supply, Hunter sponsored and passed a bill that would raise the water-saving standards of plumbing fixtures to align with the guidelines set forth in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program (A.2286). The legislation would extend water efficiency requirements to include tank-type toilets, faucets and urinals.

Hunter also co-sponsored and helped pass legislation that would require the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to publish a list of “high local environmental impact zones” and consider various factors that contribute to a community’s environmental health (A.1779). This bill will help address the historic injustice of potentially harmful and dangerous projects being disproportionately sited in low-income communities, noted Hunter. In addition, Hunter also co-sponsored and passed a measure to amend the state constitution to include the right to clean air and water and a healthful environment (A.2064).

“As we work to address the consequences of pollution and climate change, we can’t afford to leave communities behind or further disadvantage them,” said Hunter. “By righting this wrong, we can ensure all New Yorkers reap the benefits of a healthier, cleaner environment.”

To protect New York families from harmful chemicals, Hunter helped pass legislation that would:

• ban the use of chlorpyrifos (CPS), a pesticide linked to adverse health effects that was in the process of being banned before President Trump’s EPA reversed that decision (A.2477-B);
• ensure that mercury-added lightbulbs do not contain excessive amounts of mercury (A.2501-A); and
• restrict the use of dangerous chemicals in products meant for children (A.6296-A).

The Assembly package also includes a measure allowing the DEC to designate species as vulnerable species, ban the sale of articles made from vulnerable species and designate the giraffe as a vulnerable species (A.6600).