Issue Position: Environment

Issue Position

Upstate New York is known for its natural beauty, and we rely on the natural resources of this region for both personal use and industry. I'm working to ensure that our environmental policies and regulations protect our land and waterways for the boaters, hunters, fishers, hikers, and sightseers who enjoy our rivers and waterways, our mountains, and our forests year-round -- as well as the merchants who rely on servicing these pastimes for their livelihoods. For example, the Delaware River generates over $400 million of economic value to our region. Protecting our waterways is both a moral imperative and a sound economic policy. Overturning the Stream Protection Rule and jeopardizing our water quality is an example of exactly what our political leaders should not be doing. We need to preserve and protect the Clean Water Act and defend the Clean Water Rule in order to prevent pollution and destruction of our natural resources. With the importance of tourism to our local businesses, policies like these not only undermine the quality of our environment, but also endanger the health of our economy.

The impact of climate change on our environment is undeniable. It is imperative that we work together -at a local, federal and global level- to mitigate the factors causing extreme and often unpredictable weather conditions.

I'm also working to protect our rivers and waterways from proposals such as the recent plan to establish new anchorages for oil tankers near communities like Kingston. I've also been deeply committed to making sure communities like Hoosick Falls never face a water crisis like the one they've faced over the past few years, and that none of our residents are exposed to contaminated water. Finally, I do not believe that job creation and environmental conservation need to be in conflict. Clean energy is one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy, and I will continue to do everything I can to encourage the growth of clean energy jobs in our region by fighting to shift tax credits and subsidies away from the fossil fuel industry to the renewable energy space.

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