Regular Session - April 10, 2000
2205
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
April 10, 2000
2:14 p.m.
REGULAR SESSION
LT. GOVERNOR MARY O. DONOHUE, President
STEVEN M. BOGGESS, Secretary
2206
P R O C E E D I N G S
THE PRESIDENT: The Senate will
come to order.
I ask everyone present to please
rise and repeat with me the Pledge of
Allegiance.
(Whereupon, the assemblage recited
the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
THE PRESIDENT: In the absence of
clergy, may we bow our heads in a moment of
silence.
(Whereupon, the assemblage
respected a moment of silence.)
THE PRESIDENT: Reading of the
Journal.
THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
Friday, April 7th, the Senate met pursuant to
adjournment. The Journal of Thursday,
April 6th, was read and approved. On motion,
Senate adjourned.
THE PRESIDENT: Without
objection, the Journal stands approved as
read.
Presentation of petitions.
Messages from the Assembly.
2207
Messages from the Governor.
Reports of standing committees.
Reports of select committees.
Communications and reports from
state officers.
Motions and resolutions.
Senator Fuschillo.
SENATOR FUSCHILLO: Thank you,
Madam President.
On behalf of Senator Seward, please
place a sponsor's star on Calendar Number 516.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
starred, Senator.
SENATOR FUSCHILLO: On behalf of
Senator Skelos, on page number 22 I offer the
following amendments to Calendar Number 466,
Senate Print 902C, and ask that said bill
retain its place on the Third Reading
Calendar.
THE PRESIDENT: The amendments
are received, and the bill will retain its
place on Third Reading Calendar.
Senator Fuschillo.
SENATOR FUSCHILLO: Thank you,
Madam President.
2208
On behalf of Senator DeFrancisco, I
wish to call up Senate Print Number 4417,
recalled from the Assembly, which is now at
the desk.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
353, by Senator DeFrancisco, Senate Print
4417, an act to amend the Parks, Recreation
and Historic Preservation Law.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator
Fuschillo.
SENATOR FUSCHILLO: I now move to
reconsider the vote by which this bill was
passed.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will call the roll on reconsideration.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 37.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator
Fuschillo.
SENATOR FUSCHILLO: I now offer
the following amendments.
THE PRESIDENT: Amendments
received, Senator.
2209
Senator Farley.
SENATOR FARLEY: Thank you, Madam
President.
On behalf of Senator Skelos, please
remove the sponsor star from Calendar Number
206.
THE PRESIDENT: So ordered,
Senator.
SENATOR FARLEY: Madam President,
I wish to call up, on behalf of Senator
Morahan, his bill, Print Number 6240, which
was recalled from the Assembly, which is now
at the desk.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
459, by Senator Morahan, Senate Print 6240, an
act to amend Chapter 235 of the Laws of 1865.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Farley.
SENATOR FARLEY: I now move to
reconsider the vote by which this bill was
passed.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will call the roll upon reconsideration.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
2210
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 40.
SENATOR FARLEY: Madam President.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Farley.
SENATOR FARLEY: Thank you. I
now offer the following amendments to that
bill.
THE PRESIDENT: The amendments
are received, Senator.
Senator Skelos.
SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
if we could take up the noncontroversial
calendar.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23, by Senator DeFrancisco, Senate Print 538,
an act to amend the Penal Law, in relation to
the payment of reparation or restitution.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 46.
2211
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24, by Senator DeFrancisco, Senate Print 539,
an act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in
relation to the collection of court-imposed
financial obligations.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 46.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
38, by Senator Volker, Senate Print 5831, an
act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in
relation to expanding the rights of victims.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
2212
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 46.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
151, by Member of the Assembly DiNapoli,
Assembly Print 5513A, an act to amend the
Environmental Conservation Law and the
Agriculture and Markets Law, in relation to
prohibiting the use.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
SENATOR HEVESI: Lay it aside.
SENATOR PATERSON: Lay it aside,
please.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is laid
aside.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
243, by Senator Nozzolio, Senate Print 635, an
act to amend the Executive Law, in relation to
making available to their victims the proceeds
2213
of civil recoveries.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect on the first day of
November.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 46.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
426, by Senator Meier, Senate Print 6267, an
act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in
relation to excluding certain felonies from
receiving orders.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect on the first day of
November.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 51.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
2214
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
437, by Senator Kuhl, Senate Print 1824A, an
act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law,
the Real Property Law, and the Real Property
Tax Law, in relation to real property.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last -
SENATOR PATERSON: Lay it aside.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is laid
aside.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
450, by Senator Skelos, Senate Print 1018, an
act to amend the Family Court Act and the
Criminal Procedure Law, in relation to the age
of child witnesses.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
act shall take effect on the first day of
November.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 51.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
2215
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
514, by Senator Meier, Senate Print 4025A, an
act to amend the General Municipal Law, in
relation to authorizing an increase in the
charge that may be imposed for a returned
check.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect January 1, 2001.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 49. Nays,
2. Senators Fuschillo and Velella recorded in
the negative.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
545, by Senator Saland, Senate Print 6758, an
act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in
relation to authorizing child witnesses.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
act shall take effect immediately.
2216
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 51.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
628, by Senator Balboni, Senate Print 5907, an
act to amend the Environmental Conservation
Law, in relation to establishing a linked
deposit program.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: Lay it aside.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is laid
aside, Senator.
Senator Skelos, that completes
the -- Senator Montgomery.
SENATOR MONTGOMERY: Yes, I'm
sorry, Madam President, I was not prepared.
But on Calendar 243, I would like
unanimous consent to be recorded in the
negative.
THE PRESIDENT: Without
objection, Senator Montgomery, you will be
recorded as voting in the negative on 243.
SENATOR MONTGOMERY: Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Skelos,
2217
that completes the noncontroversial reading of
the calendar.
SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
if we could take up the controversial
calendar.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
151, by Member of the Assembly DiNapoli,
Assembly Print 5513A, an act to amend the
Environmental Conservation Law and the
Agriculture and Markets Law.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: Explanation,
please, Madam President.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator
Marcellino, Senator Dollinger has requested an
explanation.
SENATOR MARCELLINO: Thank you,
Madam President. It will be a pleasure to
give the Senator an explanation of this
particular bill.
MTBE was originally added to
gasoline to protect our air quality. The
petroleum industry, at the request of the EPA,
added this substance to gasoline as it moved
2218
to comply with the federal requirements to
have at least 2 percent oxygen in gasoline in
areas where major air pollution problems
exist -- that is, the downstate areas of this
state.
While the original intent was
laudable, the air benefits were not as great
as expected. And those limited benefits have
come at a cost to our water quality. We have
subsequently found out, Madam President, that
MTBE has an affinity for water greater than
gasoline would normally.
Neither substance is a good thing.
Gasoline is a nasty thing. When it enters our
environment, it does nasty things to the
environment. MTBE apparently, in concert with
gasoline, moves it quicker through the ground,
and it moves towards water sources,
particularly wells, drinking water wells,
where it has been detected in these wells on
Long Island and in other places throughout the
state.
Other states, including California,
have banned the use of the particular additive
MTBE. We've not banned the use of an
2219
oxygenate. We are taking out a particular
substance.
The federal legislation requires
oxygenates and does mention MTBE specifically.
We would suggest to them, seek an alternative
substance -- ethanol, for example, which is
used in the Midwest -- that does not have the
same impact on our water supply and is used
out West.
So we're in concert with the
Assembly in allowing the gasoline sellers to
retool and refit and produce enough ethanol to
get it into the system to substitute, should
that be their desire, or to substitute another
additive, should that be their desire.
It is my understanding that the
Clinton administration has agreed that the
EPA, through Carol Browner, the director of
the EPA, will be also amending this
legislation on a voluntary basis. However, we
don't know when that will occur.
And we feel it is imperative that
New York State not be left behind and that we
establish ourselves firmly on the record that
we think this substance is a hazard to water,
2220
it's a hazard to our health and should be
removed as a problem in our gasoline.
By the way, it does account for
about 15 percent of every gallon of gasoline.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator
Dollinger.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: Madam
President, will the sponsor yield to a couple
of questions, please?
THE PRESIDENT: Does the sponsor
yield?
SENATOR MARCELLINO: Sure.
Absolutely.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: Thank you,
Madam President.
Senator Marcellino, is there a
definition of the phrase "gasoline" in some
other portion of the Agriculture and Markets
Law other than the section that you're
amending, 192G -
SENATOR MARCELLINO: I don't
know, Senator.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: -- do you
know?
SENATOR MARCELLINO: I really
2221
don't know.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: Okay. My
question, if Senator Marcellino will continue
to yield, Madam President.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator -
SENATOR MARCELLINO: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Go ahead, Senator
Dollinger.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: The reason
for my question is my understanding is that
the MTBE is also included in motor oil, in
addition to gasoline. And that one of the
problems with MTBE is that it -- in two-stroke
engines, in which you use a combination of oil
and gasoline in the same mixture, that the
MTBE problem is in the motor oil as much as
it's in the gasoline.
Therefore, my question is, Senator
Marcellino, if we're simply saying that MTBE
can't be used in gasoline, is that enough to
get at the problem? Or do we need to broaden
it to include motor oil itself?
SENATOR MARCELLINO: I'm being
advised by counsel that we believe our bill
does deal with the two-stroke engine problem,
2222
because that would both take oil and gasoline
and admit both at the same time into your
water problem.
To be more specific, though, I
think we'd have to look in more detail to see
if in fact MTBE is included as an additive in
motor oil. I do not know the answer to that
question at this point in time. It's a good
question. And we'll look at it.
We do believe, however, that
probably 95 percent, if not 99 percent, of the
problem's cause will come from gasoline spills
in particular.
And that's why organizations like
the Long Island Water Conference are with us,
because they are the people who manage the
water districts and work with the water, the
drinking waters of our constituents. They
have expressed extreme concern with this
additive, because it gets near their wells.
And when it does, they have to shut them down.
This is not a good thing for us,
obviously, and it wouldn't be a good thing for
anybody. So we're very concerned that we move
ahead with this issue. However, you raise a
2223
point. We will check to see if in fact motor
oil is a problem.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: Thank you,
Madam President. Just briefly on the bill.
And I appreciate Senator
Marcellino's candor in dealing with the
question of motor oil, because the bill as
it's currently drafted talks about gasoline as
being the source of the MTBE problem.
And it's my understanding that
there's emerging evidence that the motor oil
itself may have an impact, especially in the
two-stroke, the two-cycle engines, which are
most prominently featured in jet skis, but
also used in smaller engines that are
associated with pleasure craft in New York
State.
I'm going to vote in favor of this
bill. This is clearly the right thing to do.
I just want to make sure that we include motor
oil within the definition of gasoline, to be
absolutely assured that we're not selling
products or authorizing the sale of products
that feature MTBE as an oxygen-adding agent
into two-stroke engines -- so that while we
2224
may ban it in gasoline, we don't ban it in
motor oil as well, which may also be part of
the problem.
But I think this is a two-stroke
engine problem, a two-cycle engine problem,
because the internal combustion is not as
pronounced as in the four-stroke engines.
And I would just suggest that this
is a good bill. I think this goes well down
the road. I would simply suggest that we make
sure we close all the loose ends with respect
to MTBEs. We don't need them anywhere in our
water supply in New York State.
Thank you, Madam President.
SENATOR MARCELLINO: Madam
President, just to close, there's a Section B
on the reverse side of the bill, in -- on
line -- starting on line 3 on page 2 of the
bill, it talks about "no provision of this
subdivision shall be deemed to authorize the
use of MTBE as an oxygenate in any motor fuel
imported into or sold or offered for sale in
this state," which we feel would take that
into consideration.
And counsel has just checked. We
2225
don't believe that MTBE is an additive to
motor oil at all. However, we'll check even
further, we'll continue to double-check that.
But we don't believe it's part of that
situation, so it would not be a problem of
concern. But we'll look at it anyway just to
be sure.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
act shall take effect January 1, 2004.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
437, by Senator Skelos, Senate Print 972A, an
act to amend the Correction Law and the
Executive Law, in relation to requiring.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
act shall take effect on the 21st day of
January.
2226
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Those recorded in
the negative on Calendar Number 437 are
Senators Duane, Montgomery, and Schneiderman.
Ayes, 55. Nays, 3.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
628, by Senator Balboni, Senate Print 5907, an
act to amend the Environmental Conservation
Law and others, in relation to establishing a
linked deposit program.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 15. This
act shall take effect on the 180th day.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
Senator Skelos, that completes the
reading of the controversial calendar.
SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
2227
is there any housekeeping at the desk?
THE PRESIDENT: No, there isn't,
Senator.
SENATOR SKELOS: Would you please
go to motions to discharge.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator
Schneiderman.
SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN: Thank you,
Madam President. I believe I have a motion at
the desk. I would request that it be called
up at this time.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: Senate Bill
Number 2738A, by Senator Schneiderman, an act
to amend the Labor Law, in relation to
increasing the minimum wage.
SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN: Thank you,
Madam President, if I may speak on the motion.
This is a very straightforward
piece of legislation. I think many people are
aware that the last ten years has seen the
greatest economic boom in the history of the
United States. What many people don't realize
is that in New York State, eight out of 10
2228
people have seen their real incomes decline.
Eight out of 10. That's according to
statistics that were released in the last two
months.
This is an astonishing result. We
are now the state with the most inequitable
distribution of wealth in the country.
This legislation is an extremely
modest step towards redressing this problem.
It would raise the minimum wage to $6.75 per
hour and index it so that it can be raised as
the Consumer Price Index changes in the
future.
It's really unbelievable that in
this time where the rich are getting so rich,
that those who work for minimum wage,
supporting families, are at a poverty level
under the current law. I'd urge that we bring
this bill to the floor and that we pass it.
It's the least we can do and it is, as I say,
really a very small first step towards
addressing the monumental issue of economic
inequity and injustice in our state.
Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: All those in
2229
favor of accepting the motion to discharge
signify by saying aye.
SENATOR PATERSON: Party vote in
the affirmative.
SENATOR SKELOS: Party vote in
the negative.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 24. Nays,
34. Party vote.
THE PRESIDENT: The motion is
defeated.
SENATOR OPPENHEIMER: Madam
President.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator
Oppenheimer.
SENATOR OPPENHEIMER: I believe I
have a motion at the desk, and I'd like to
waive its reading, if I may, and explain it.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: Senate Bill
Number 6859, by Senator Oppenheimer, an act to
amend the Environmental Conservation Law and
2230
the Public Health Law, in relation to
environmental facility.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator
Oppenheimer.
SENATOR OPPENHEIMER: Thank you.
I think this is a bill that
probably everybody could easily support. And
to make a personal reference, there are a few
of us here in the Senate that have survived
cancer, and I think for those of us I think it
is a very meaningful bill.
This concerns the mapping of
environmental facilities with the
cancer-incidence information that we have. It
would direct DEC to plot on computer-generated
maps environmental facilities and sites and
then match that with the incidence of cancer,
with that information which is now available
through the Department of Health. And this
data would be plotted on -- by census blocs.
Right now, as you all know, we do
have -- we're trying to find out more
information about cancer clusters and how
these clusters relate to certain environmental
facilities such as industrial facilities,
2231
power plants, contamination of sites like
Superfund sites, abandoned industrial sites,
landfills, brownfields.
And what we have done is we've done
the work with pesticides, so that we now know
where the incidence of cancer relates to
pesticides. But we feel that it is just as
valid, if not more valid, to find out where
the incidence of cancer is vis-a-vis the
actual facilities that might be causing
cancer.
And this bill would require every
doctor, dentist, and other health-care
provider to report every cancer case to the
Department of Health, including the genetic
history, the occupational history, the age,
residency history, and other risk factors.
Currently DOH does list these
incidences, but they list it by counties.
Now, if we're going to try and get more
definitive information, we need to list it
more by zip code, get it much more defined so
that we will be able to map cancer clusters.
So that's the bill, and I would
move it. And afterwards I'd like to say a few
2232
words about Earth Day.
THE PRESIDENT: All in favor of
accepting the motion to discharge signify by
saying aye.
SENATOR PATERSON: Party vote in
the affirmative.
SENATOR SKELOS: Party vote in
the negative.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 25. Nays,
34. Party vote.
THE PRESIDENT: The motion is
defeated.
Senator Oppenheimer.
SENATOR OPPENHEIMER: I just want
to take a moment to take note of Earth Day,
and to thank dear Gaylord Nelson for giving
us -
THE PRESIDENT: Senator
Oppenheimer, could we delay this until after
Senator Duane's motion, please?
SENATOR OPPENHEIMER: Of course
we can.
2233
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
SENATOR OPPENHEIMER: Sure.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Duane.
SENATOR DUANE: Thank you, Madam
President.
I believe there's a motion at the
desk.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: Senate Bill
Number 7024, by Senator Duane, an act to amend
the Insurance Law, in relation to health
insurance coverage for the treatment of
mental, nervous, and emotional disorders and
ailments.
SENATOR DUANE: Thank you, Madam
Chair. I'd like to waive the reading and just
be heard on the motion.
Thank you very much. During my
short tenure here in the State Senate, I think
it would come as no surprise to people if I
said one of my goals has been to protect all
of our state's citizens. Particularly in a
state as diverse as New York, I think that
it's vital that we look at everyone's needs
2234
and try to help them.
My bill does that. It provides
health insurance policies and health
maintenance organizations -- it makes sure
that they treat patients with mental illnesses
the same as patients with physical ailments
are treated. And so, in fact, it's a mental
health parity bill.
The bill would require that all
group or blanket accident or health insurance
policies provide mental health coverage for
inpatient care. If they're already doing that
now, they must provide it under the same
guidelines as it sets for other illnesses.
And outpatients may not be
restricted to a certain number of visits. In
fact, that's one of the more absurd ways that
we treat mental health in this state, that we
believe we know exactly how long it takes to
treat a mental illness.
This bill does not provide greater
coverage for mental illnesses, it provides for
equal treatment. For too long, mental health
and mental illness and people who are seeking
treatment for mental illness have had to live
2235
with stigmatization. And even today, people
are afraid to seek treatment for fear that
that will forever label them as being somehow
flawed.
That's much different than what we
do when someone has been treated for a
physical ailment, and when they come back to
health, they're treated equally by society.
No other disease is discriminated
against in the same way that mental illness is
discriminated against. And we absolutely have
to stop that.
Long-term parity for mental health
will save the state money, it will make for a
better quality of life for its citizens. And
in fact, that's been recognized already by 21
states around the nation. And it's a shame
that New York State is not going to -- without
the passage of this legislation, will fall
into those states, in sort of the latter half
of the 50 states that don't recognize the
importance of parity for mental health.
So the time to rectify this
unfairness is now. Let's make New York State
Number 22 and adopt a law that will provide
2236
for mental health insurance parity.
Thank you, Madam President.
THE PRESIDENT: All in favor of
accepting the motion to discharge signify by
saying aye.
SENATOR PATERSON: Party vote in
the affirmative.
SENATOR SKELOS: Party vote in
the negative.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 25. Nays,
34. Party vote.
THE PRESIDENT: The motion is
defeated.
Senator Oppenheimer.
SENATOR OPPENHEIMER: Thank you,
Madam President.
Well, we did have a resolution on
the calendar last week concerning Earth Day,
and it was open to anybody who wanted to
cosponsor here. And we talked about a variety
of things, like refinancing Superfund and
energy efficiency and clean, renewable
2237
alternative power, citizens' suits, waste-hire
problem -- well, no policy, a waste-hire
problem. So I don't guess I'll go through
that again today.
But I would like to reference
something that's going to happen this week
that I think is very interesting and a lot of
people in hearing my voice might, if they are
nearby to New York City, might be interested
in attending this.
This is something that's sponsored
by the American Museum of Natural History, and
it is going to be a two-day conference on
Thursday and Friday. And it's the legacy of
urban sprawl.
And it discusses, you know, the
poor planning and the poor management of
development that we have exhibited so far,
certainly in the environs of New York City and
that has led to all kinds of air and water
pollution and traffic congestion and just
destruction of communities, destruction of
farmland, open space.
And so we will be exploring ways to
integrate biodiversity conservation into our
2238
decision-making process. And I think that is
something that is very important to us,
particularly in suburbia, but also in upstate
and farmland communities, because we are
seeing sprawl just occur without any informed
land-use decision-making.
And I'm going to be there. I'm
going to be one of the speakers. But I think
it's an interesting topic. And some of you
might be interested in going to the American
Museum of Natural History on Thursday and
Friday, all day, both days, over by about 4:30
in the afternoon.
Thank you very much, Madam
President.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Skelos.
SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
are there any other public service
announcements to be made?
There being no further business to
come before the Senate, I move we adjourn
until Tuesday, April 11th, at 3:00 p.m.
THE PRESIDENT: On motion, the
Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday,
April 11th, 3:00 p.m.
2239
(Whereupon, at 2:45 p.m., the
Senate adjourned.)