Riverkeeper Applauds New York State's Environmental Commitment in 2025 Budget
April 19, 2024
Riverkeeper Team
Riverkeeper applauds Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature for their dedication to our environment and clean water, as demonstrated by the passage of the 2025 state budget which includes significant wins for New York and the Hudson River. The budget not only allocates substantial funding for environmental initiatives but also supports policy victories crucial for the protection of New York's natural resources. However, we are disappointed that NY HEAT was not included in the final budget and urge all parties to pass this significant climate legislation by the end of the session.
Key highlights of the budget include:
- $500 Million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act: This allocation will aid communities statewide in upgrading their aging water infrastructure, bringing the total investment in New York's water infrastructure to $5.5 billion since the program's inception in 2017. These funds are especially important in light of recent EPA drinking water quality standards for 6 PFAS related chemicals, which will require costly upgrades to drinking water treatment plants across New York State.
- $400 Million for the Environmental Protection Fund: This funding will bolster various environmental programs, encompassing water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, fisheries research, and pollution prevention efforts.
- Restoration of $7.5 Million for the Hudson River Estuary Program: This ensures that critical Hudson River programs can continue unimpeded, furthering efforts to preserve and enhance the ecological health of the Hudson River Estuary.
- $150 million for the NY SWIMs initiative is a step in the right direction to ensure we enhance access to safe swimming in Hudson River, upgrading existing beaches and creating opportunities for new beaches.
Tracy Brown, President of Riverkeeper, remarked, "New York State's budget reaffirms our commitment to restoring the Hudson River and addressing our deteriorating water infrastructure. Continued funding for the Environmental Protection Fund and the Clean Water Infrastructure Act will furnish vital resources to meet the clean water needs of communities statewide. We are particularly pleased to see the restoration of funding levels for the Hudson River Estuary Program and investments in programs like the SWIM initiative, which can increase access to clean and healthy water in the Hudson River and beyond. We are grateful to our elected officials and partners who work closely with us to champion these ongoing investments in clean water and New York's environment."
Jeremy Cherson, Senior Manager of Government Affairs for Riverkeeper, echoed the sentiment, stating, "Riverkeeper celebrates the policy and funding triumphs in the New York State budget, including $500 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act and $400 million for the Environmental Protection Fund. These investments will bolster New York's climate resilience, habitat restoration efforts, and community engagement with waterfronts. We extend thanks to Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, Assemblymember Glick, and Senator Harckham for their unwavering dedication to clean water and environmental stewardship. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with state leaders to advance additional climate, clean water, and environmental legislation in the coming weeks."
ABOUT RIVERKEEPER:
Riverkeeper protects and restores the Hudson River, and safeguards drinking water supplies through community partnerships, science, and law. Our core programs improve water quality, restore habitat for an abundance of life, and address the impact of climate change on our waterways. Founded in 1966 as the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association, Riverkeeper became the model for more than 320 Waterkeeper organizations around the world and helped establish globally-recognized standards for waterway and watershed protection. We continue to work toward the goal of a swimmable, fishable, and drinkable Hudson River for all. Learn more, get updates, and support our work by visiting https://www.riverkeeper.org.
Media contact:
Lewis Kendall, lkendall@riverkeeper.org, 914-478-4501 ext. 238
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