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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT

Oct. 15, 2013 Dan Hendrick, (212) 361-6350, ext. 206Cell (917) 207-8715

Six Lawmakers Earn Eco-Stars

For 2013 Environmental Achievements

NEW YORK --- New York State made significant progress on environmental issues in 2013

and those successes would not have been possible without legislators on both sides of the aisle

and in both houses of the Legislature.

To recognize their important accomplishments, the New York League of Conservation Voters

today named six Eco-Stars, presenting awards to three Senators and three Assembly Members

who each went above and beyond for New Yorks environment in 2013.

The Assembly and Senate made important sustainability progress this year, particularly in the

areas of local food and public health, said Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York

League of Conservation Voters. Although there is still much work to be done, these sixleaders deserve a round of applause for their efforts to make New York State stronger, healthier

and greener.

NYLCVs 2013 Eco-Stars are:

Sen. Mark Grisanti, Chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee, sponsoredthe Mercury Thermostat Collection Act (S.1676A/A.8084) that establishes a mandatory

collection program for out-of-service, mercury thermostats. Each year more than a ton of

mercury ends up in New Yorks landfills and waste combustion facilities from

improperly discarded mercury thermostats, and this legislation will help create a healthier

environment throughout New York State. In addition to authoring the Senate version of

this bill, Grisanti successfully lobbied his colleagues to pass it. This bill is now awaiting

Gov. Andrew Cuomos signature.

Assembly Member Robert K. Sweeney, Chair of the Environmental ConservationCommittee, sponsored the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act in the Assembly. Sweeney

was essential in drafting a version of the bill with robust performance standards and was

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vital in working with his colleagues in both the Assembly and the Senate in order to

create common language that both houses could agree upon.

Assembly Member Crystal Peoples-Stokes sponsored the Food Metrics Bill (S.4061/A.5102), which will establish a tracking system to determine how much local food New

York State agencies are purchasing and create procedural guidelines for buying local.

Assembly Member Peoples-Stokes role was crucial in the unanimous passage of the bill

in the Assembly. The Food Metrics Bill is now waiting for Gov. Cuomos signature.

Senator Patty Ritchie, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, sponsored the FoodMetrics Bill in the Senate. Senator Ritchie has emphasized the need for state agencies to

use their purchasing power to help improve New Yorks struggling agricultural economy.

This bill will help farmers from all regions of the state, and Senators Ritchies spirited

lobbying helped to pass this bill in the Senate.

Senator George Maziarz played a pivotal role in the Senates passage of the MercuryThermostat Collection Act. During the final hours of the legislative session when there is

intense competition and limited time for bills to be placed on the voting calendar,Maziarz was successful in prioritizing this bill and lobbying his conference to pass it.

Senator Liz Krueger played a behind-the-scenes yet critical role in the Senates passageof the Food Metrics Bill. As founding director of the New York City Food Bank and a

longtime anti-hunger advocate, Krueger successfully prioritized food issues on the

Senates agenda. Thanks to her advocacy on the Senate Finance Committee, where she

serves as the Ranking Member, Krueger worked with colleagues on both sides of the

political aisle to usher this legislation to a full vote on the Senate floor.

For more information on the legislation above and other recent environmental activities in the

New York State Legislature, check outNYLCVs2013 Legislative Progress Report.

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TheNew York League of Conservation Voters(NYLCV) was founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, policy making and politicalaction organization that works to make environmental protection a top priority with elected officials, decision makers, and votersby evaluating incumbent performance and endorsing and electing environmental leaders to office in New York State.

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