April 27, 2022

For the past several years, we've all been working together to advance the Birds and Bees Protection Act in the New York State Legislature. This bill bans the use of seeds coated with toxic insecticides called neonicotinoids or "neonics" and prohibits neonic use for ornamental and turf applications.

Today, the New York State Assembly, led by Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Steve Englebright, passed the bill.

This is a huge step toward protecting our bees, butterflies, and birds from being poisoned by toxic neonics and it would not have been possible without your help--thank you for sending emails, calling your legislators, and organizing in your communities to promote the bill.

Mountainkeeper staff have been tirelessly advocating for the measure in the Capitol, and in the coming weeks, we'll need your help again. In order for the bill to become law, it now needs to pass in the Senate before it can go to the Governor's desk for her signature.

Stay tuned--we'll be sending an action alert to make it easy for you to weigh in with the Senate. We're up against BIG chemical industry and industrial agriculture, and those industries are spending serious money to try to stop the bill. We'll need your help to get the Birds and Bees Protection Act across the finish line.

But today, we celebrate. Thank you again for all of your work, thanks to our Assemblymembers who voted to protect our health, clean water, and pollinators, and to all of our colleague organizations who are fighting with us.

With thanks,

Ramsay Adams, Executive Director