Digital Equity, Health Care, Natural Resources, Observer Corps

DIGITAL EQUITY

See LWVTC’s stated commitment to work on this issue
Contact us at: LWVtompkins.info@gmail.com

HEALTH CARE COMMITTEE

We’re just getting started and we welcome your ideas. Please join us.
Contact us at: LWVtompkins.info@gmail.com

NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Our long-standing and accomplished committee meets regularly.
Contact us at: LWVtompkins.info@gmail.com

May 28, 2026

Letter from LWVNY Executive Director Erica Smitka – Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act

League of Women Voters Urges Passage of PRRIA S1464/A1749

Dear Senators and Assemblymembers,

The League of Women Voters of New York State continues to urge passage of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act “PRRIA” (S1464/A1749) which represents a critical step in the health harm mitigation process. Failure to act on PRRIA will further expose all New Yorkers, including your constituents, to health impacts from plastic while externalizing to New Yorkers the waste disposal and health related costs of plastics, none of which New Yorkers have asked for.

Attached and below, please find our memo of support for this bill.

In April 2026, the League of Women Voters of NYS hosted a webinar on Plastics, Health Harm and Solutions. We invite you to review the recording here: https://youtu.be/XpTMOyA4mb8

With only a few days remaining in session, we urge you to act now and pass this important legislation.

Respectfully,
Erica

Erica Smitka, MPA (she/her)
Executive Director
League of Women Voters of NYS
1 Steuben Pl, The Blake Annex, Albany, NY 12207
Telephone: 518-465-4162
www.lwvny.org
@LWVNYS

LWVNYS Memo in Support of Packaging Reduction Act

2024

The League of Women Voters of New York State strongly supports banning the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) in fracking for extraction of natural gas in New York State (A.8866/S.8357). Doing so would amend Article 23 of the Environmental Conservation Law to widen the existing ban on High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing (HVHF or fracking) to include use of CO2 in natural gas or oil extraction.
Read the Memorandum of Support here

Fracking with CO2: Examining the Plan for the Southern Tier
with Irene Weiser, Coordinator of Fossil Free Tompkins
A video recording of this March 20, 2024 event is here

The League of Women Voters of New York State
supports the PACKAGING REDUCTION and RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE ACT (S4246B/A5322B) and urges Legislature to pass the bill this session. The Memorandum of Support in connection with the packaging legislation (S4246B/A5322B) was submitted on February 26, 2024 by the NYS League to the Senate Environmental Committee in advance of the February 27, 2024 meeting regarding this bill. Read the Memorandum of Support here