Albany – Today, the New York State Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee reported out legislation that will give all New Yorkers the Constitutional Right to clean air and water.

For Immediate Release: February 5, 2019

 Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Advances “Environmental Bill of Rights”

Bill Will Amend State Constitution to Give NYers the Right to Clean Air and Water

Albany – Today, the New York State Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee reported out legislation that will give all New Yorkers the Constitutional Right to clean air and water. The amendment, which reads “Each person shall have a right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment,” must pass both houses of the Legislature in two consecutive sessions before being voted on by the general public.

The following statement is attributable to Peter M. Iwanowicz, executive director of Environmental Advocates NY:
 
“Something is broken when we have the right to play bingo and gamble on horses, but not the right to air that is safe to breathe or water that is safe to drink. As the federal government continues its openly hostile environmental agenda, the time has come to provide New Yorkers these rights within the State Constitution. We applaud Chair Steve Englebright for advancing this legislation within the first 50 days of the Legislative session, and look forward to working with the Legislature to make sure this right becomes law.”

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