CONTACT: Kia Smith, kia.smith@mothersoutfront.org; Annabella Cockerell, bella.cockerell@mothersoutfront.org
“The Senate budget makes it clear that they are invested in joining the mothers and others at Mothers Out Front in protecting our kids and ensuring that they have a livable climate. Now we need Governor Hochul, a mother, Speaker Heastie, a father, and the rest of Albany leadership to get on board and include the full NY Heat Act in the final state budget slated to come out on April 1.”
“I have many concerns about how not taking action will impact families.”
“Budgets are not just balance sheets that support our policy priorities, but they are values documents that reflect our communities’ collective values.”
ALBANY, NY (March 27, 2024) – Since the release of the One-House Budget Proposal, the mothers and others of Mothers Out Front New York have been advocating lawmakers to include the New York Home Energy Affordable Transition Act (NY HEAT Act) (S.2016-A/ A.4592-A) in the final state budget. The NY HEAT Act not only facilitates the state’s transition away from natural gas to cleaner and greener heating solutions, but it also invests in the future of our kids by ensuring cleaner air in our homes, schools and parks. The NY HEAT Act also produces financial benefits for the families of New York by ensuring they pay no more than 6% of their household income on energy bills and not burdening the poorest New Yorkers with funding new gas pipelines.
“In the face of rising energy costs and worsening climate impacts, Mothers Out Front NY stands firm with the families of New York in our demand for immediate action to secure a livable future for all of our children. Our message to Albany leadership is clear: prioritize the well-being of families over utility profits by including the full NY HEAT Act in the final state budget. Every New Yorker deserves affordable energy and a healthy environment, and it’s time for our leaders to make that a reality. The Senate budget makes it clear that they are invested in joining the mothers and others at Mothers Out Front in protecting our kids and ensuring that they have a livable climate. Now we need Governor Hochul, a mother, Speaker Heastie, a father, and the rest of Albany leadership to get on board and include the full NY HEAT Act in the final state budget slated to come out on April 1,” said Bella Cockerell, NY State Manager with Mothers Out Front.
“Budgets are not just balance sheets that support our policy priorities, but they are values documents that reflect our communities’ collective values. The health and wellbeing of our children and the urgency of the climate crisis are too dire to allow the Assembly to defer taking action,” said Nora Brown, New York Community Organizer with Mothers Out Front.
“Days ago I was in Albany lobbying for the very straightforward NY HEAT Act, which aims directly at the greenhouse gas emissions from heating our homes with fracked gas. Sitting with fellow mothers, others and earth protectors over lunch, I decided to look up the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Carl Heastie, on social media to learn more about why he might be stalling the vote on the NY HEAT Act. Instead Facebook sent me a photo from March 2017 of my kids playing in the snow. On the same day in 2024, Albany was warm enough that we all walked around in our Renewable Heat Now t-shirts. This illustrates the urgency of taking action now,” said Megan Dyer, a member of Mothers Out Front. “I have many concerns about how not taking action will impact families. As a child, I lived on a farm, and today I wonder how farmers will be able to grow food in an increasingly uncertain climate? With food prices already at an all time high already, how will families in frontline communities continue to manage when aberant weather patterns grow more extreme. We can no longer delay the passing of the NY HEAT Act.”
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Mothers Out Front is a member-led climate justice organization. We are mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers and other caregivers coming together to make climate justice a priority issue that our decision-makers can no longer ignore. We are building a powerful grassroots movement to ensure a swift, complete and just transition away from fossil fuels and toward a clean and renewable energy future where our children and families can thrive, not just survive.