Assemblyman Burke Continues Environmental Protection Efforts
Assemblyman Pat Burke (D-Buffalo) announced that he helped pass a series of bills to protect our environment and promote a more sustainable future for New York State in recognition of Earth Day, which was April 22.
“This planet is our home, and we can’t take it for granted. I want our children and future generations to be able to enjoy all the beauty it has to offer,” Burke said. “That’s why I’m dedicated to protecting our environment and encouraging New Yorkers to lead greener lives. It’s up to us to recognize that our natural resources are precious.”
The package includes a measure that guarantees the right to clean air and water and a healthful environment (A.2064). Additionally, the package provides a measure to help maintain New York State’s water supply by raising the standards for water-efficient plumbing fixtures and appliances (A.2286). Another piece of legislation looks out for our most vulnerable species by banning the sale of articles made from their parts (A.6600). The bill allows the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to designate species as vulnerable species if they have not been protected at the federal level, and designates the giraffe as a vulnerable species.
Further, the Earth Day package protects families from harmful chemicals and includes measures to:
- ban the use of chlorpyrifos, a pesticide linked to adverse health effects (A.2477-B);
- ensure mercury-added lightbulbs do not contain excessive amounts of mercury (A.2501-A); and
- restrict the use of dangerous chemicals in children’s products (A.6296-A).
Burke has been a staunch advocate for environmental health and serves as the chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Oversight of the DEC. Earlier this year, he co-sponsored a law that prohibits oil and natural gas drilling in New York’s coastal areas (Ch. 29 of 2019). He is also a sponsor of the Climate and Community Protection Act, a plan that aims to reduce all human-made greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050, with a goal of reducing 50% of climate pollution by the year 2030 (A.3876). In addition, Burke previously introduced legislation granting Lake Erie the legal right to exist, which would allow citizens to sue on the lake’s behalf if it is in danger of major environmental harm (A.6313).
As an Erie County legislator, Burke wrote the first municipal plastic microbeads ban in the nation, prohibiting microbeads that can slip through sewage filters and get into waterways from being used in cosmetic products.[1]
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