Yorktown Heights, NY – The Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter announced today that it has endorsed Pete Harckham for re-election to the New York State Senate.
The endorsement was initiated by the local Lower Hudson Sierra Club in recognition of Harckham’s work and accomplishments regarding environmental concerns statewide. In its endorsement letter, the Sierra Club recognized Harckham for his “strong support for the environment” and “proven track record on environmental issues.”
Roger Downs, conservation director of the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, said, “The Sierra Club is proud to endorse Pete Harckham for his fourth term in the 40th Senate District. As chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, Senator Harckham has demonstrated a keen ability to broker agreements on solutions to some of New York’s toughest environmental problems.”
Added Downs, “Part of what makes Senator Harckham so effective is his commitment to advancing policies that actually work for a wide range of stakeholders across the political spectrum. Whether addressing the scourge of harmful pesticides, protecting our irreplaceable water resources, or combating the worst impacts of climate change, we know we have a tireless environmental champion who will always help us navigate to a better place.”
Harckham, who is finishing his third term as a state senator, is campaigning to return to Albany and continue representing the 40th Senate District. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5.
“I am truly grateful for this endorsement from the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, especially knowing how much effort the organization puts into safeguarding the environment, pressing for clean energy, and removing hazardous waste from our communities,” said Harckham. “There is simply no time to waste when it comes to protecting our fragile drinking water supplies for future generations. There is much work ahead of us, and I look forward to continuing to partner with the Sierra Club on important environmental and climate change initiatives.”
In the State Senate, Harckham helped pass the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, voted for the Environmental Bond Act of 2022, and has had several major environmental bills passed by the State Legislature and signed into law, including legislation to require new sales of zero-emission vehicles by 2035 and a bill making geothermal energy more cost-effective; the Save the Hudson Act, which banned polluters from dumping radioactive water into the river; and bills allowing municipalities to build solar canopies and jumpstart community renewable energy projects.
Also, Harckham’s landmark wetlands legislation protecting Class C streams statewide, safeguarding fragile drinking water resources, was placed in the enacted 2023 State Budget.
In April, Harckham received an endorsement from the New York League of Conservation Voters.