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New York State Legislature Passes Two Bills Reducing Exposure to Toxics

We’re celebrating the passage of two bills we were advocating for by the New York State legislature this week. The Family and Fire Fighter Protection Act will prohibit the use of the highly toxic chemicals found in many flame retardants used in furniture, mattresses, and electronic enclosures. This is a huge win because studies have shown that people of color and their children are more likely to have higher levels of these chemicals in their bodies. The Lead in School Drinking Water bill reduces the lead action level to 5 PPB, increases the frequency of lead tests of public school drinking water, covers the cost of remediation if lead is found, and ensures that the results of those tests are made available to the public. This is also a key win because studies show that Black children are the most vulnerable – nearly three times more likely to have highly elevated blood-lead levels. Thanks to all of our Members who helped support our advocacy efforts. Congratulations to our State Policy
team and the coalitions they are working with – Lead Free Kids New York and the JustGreen Partnership – who will now turn their attention to getting the Governor to sign these bills into law! Read the Announcement ([link removed])

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Peggy Shepard to Receive the Reilly Award for Environmental Leadership

Peggy Shepard will receive the 2021 William K. Reilly Award for Environmental Leadership at 2:00 PM EDT on June 16. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan will also receive the award on behalf of all EPA Career Civil Servants. This annual award recognizes professionals from the public and corporate sectors who have contributed to innovation in environmental leadership and policy. The William K. Reilly Fund supports future generations of environmental leaders, and the Reilly Scholarship awardees will be recognized during this event. RSVP ([link removed])

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Taylor Morton will participate in the 2021 CSTE Annual Conference’s Environmental Health Workshop at 1:50 PM EDT on June 13. RSVP ([link removed])

Taylor Morton will speak at the Mid-Atlantic Environmental Literacy Summit on June 15 at 9:00 AM EDT, discussing equity in environmental literacy programming and exploring what must be done to prepare students to contribute to a climate-ready economy. RSVP ([link removed])

Taylor Morton will participate in GreenHomeNYC’s "NYC Primaries: Do You Know Where Candidates Stand on the Environment" panel discussion on June 16 at 6:30 PM EDT. RSVP ([link removed])

Sonal Jessel will speak on the "Resources for the Future and Urban Institute’s Environmental Justice: Climate Impacts, Adaptation, and Resilience" webinar on June 17 at 11:00 AM EDT. RSVP ([link removed])

An interview of Peggy Shepard by Jeff Jones – WE ACT Board Member and political strategist, environmental lobbyist, & media expert who runs his own consultancy, Jeff Jones Strategies – will be shown at the annual New York State Redevelopment Summit, presented by the Center for Creative Land Recycling, at 11:00 AM EDT on Friday, June 18. RSVP ([link removed])

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In Memory of Nelson Carrasquillo

We’d like to take a moment to celebrate Nelson Carrasquillo, who passed away recently. He served as the Executive Director of CATA - The Farmworkers Support Committee ([link removed]) , a grassroots, membership-based nonprofit working with farmworkers and the Latinx immigrant community in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Under his leadership, CATA became a leading voice in workers’ rights, health and safety in the workplace, immigrant's rights, and food justice. Learn More About Nelson & His Work ([link removed])

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