1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to prioritize public health and the environment before the end of the NY legislative session and ensure passage of the following five bills: 1. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S.1464A/A.1749A) will reduce plastic packaging pollution, reduce toxic chemicals, and save taxpayers money by putting the burden of dealing with packaging waste where it belongs — on the companies responsible for creating it. 2. Expanding the state’s successful Bottle Bill (S.5684/A.6543) to cover additional drinks like sports drinks, iced teas, wine, and liquor will reduce waste in waterways, landfills, and in our streets, and save local governments up to $108 million. This law has worked for over 40 years and modernization will keep it working for decades to come. 3. The Stop Climate Polluter Handouts Act (S.3606A/A.3675A) will close tax loopholes that benefit the enormously profitable oil and gas industry. The bill focuses on corporate handouts to the fossil fuel industry that do not impact New York consumers. 4. New AI data center proposals are popping up across the state. However, their impacts on the environment, public health, and utility rates can be staggering. The Data Center Moratorium bill (S.9144A/A.10141A) will pause the permitting of new data centers while the state reviews the myriad impacts to land, zoning, property values and taxes, energy use, utility rates, grid capabilities, water consumption, thermal pollution, air pollution, electronic waste, and noise pollution. 5. A bill to protect school children from lead in drinking water (S.7777A/A.8287A) will set up a simple solution: Require all school fountains and faucets to be fitted with a filter that removes that contaminant. NY must continue to be a national leader in protecting our environment and our health.