SENATOR GILLIBRAND IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION

Media Contacts
Heather Leibowitz

New York, NY– Today, Environment New York gave Senator Kirsten Gillibrand an Environmental Champion Award for her commitment to protecting our environment and public health. The senator received a 100% on Environment New York’s recent scorecard for her record of supporting policies that protect clean air, clean water, and open spaces.
“Senator Gillibrand is at the top of the class when it comes to keeping our air and water clean, protecting our special places, and ensuring a healthy climate,” said Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York. “That’s why we are proud to present her with our Environmental Champion Award.” Leibowitz and other Environment New York staff and volunteers presented Senator Gillibrand with a poster of thank-you messages from New Yorkers to commemorate the award.

 “Overall this has been a disturbing season when it comes to Congress standing up for our families’ health and our environment,” added Leibowitz.
Concerns about health repercussions of climate change were echoed by Dr. David Rosner, professor of Environmental Health at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. “The spread of geographically limited infectious diseases, massive migrations of people from coastal regions, and the destruction of agriculture in already stressed regions of the world are only a few of the serious oncoming health consequences identified by recent climate research,” said Dr. Rosner. “So it is now, more than ever, that we turn to senators like Kirsten Gillibrand to lead efforts to stop President Trump, Scott Pruitt, and others who seem intent on destroying our planet and sickening the world’s people.

Other interest groups showed their support for environmental protections at the event. “Moms Clean Air Force applauds Senator Gillibrand for her great work to protect the environment,” said Trisha Sheehan, Regional Field Manager of Moms Clean Air Force. “During this presidential administration, our children need us to stand up to defend their health, well-being, and access to a clean environment. We thank the Senator for her leadership in making sure that future generations will be protected.”

Kim Knowlton, an Assistant Clinical Professor in Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University, further commented on Gillibrand’s efforts in protecting and preserving a healthy environment, “Senator Gillibrand has been at the forefront of the fight to curb catastrophic climate change and its public health impacts. Her work to ensure the right to clean air and clean water has benefitted not just the people of New York, but all Americans. We are grateful for her leadership, particularly in the face of the anti-science, anti-health attacks coming from the current administration.”

“The average score from our scorecard was 43% in the House and 47% in the Senate.  In fact, some have called this the most anti-environmental Congress we’ve ever seen,” Leibowitz added. “Senator Gillibrand’s environmental leadership stands in stark contrast to the Trump administration’s proposals to gut our environmental protections, including EPA funding that protects the Hudson River and Long Island Sound. The vast majority of Americans oppose moving backward on climate and selling off our public lands to the highest bidder. We’re counting on our environmental champions like Senator Gillibrand to do everything in their power to protect our health and the planet.”