ESFPA Sign on Campaign Letters and Op-Ed Pieces

From time to time, the Empire State Forest Products Association joins coalitions and other organizations to help further issues which align with the Associations mission. The Association also submits relevant Opinion Pieces to news outlets as necessary.  Below are some recent projects:

 Sign On Letter opposing the TREES Act 

June 9, 2025 - ESFPA signed on to a letter expressing opposition to the TREES Act (A.8673/S.7203), which seeks to prevent New York State contractors from contributing to tropical deforestation through their supply chains. While we support the bill’s intent and broader goals of sustainable forest management, the legislation is overly complex, imposes burdensome regulations, relies on unclear definitions, and may have unintended trade and economic consequences. It raises the question of New York’s ability to address global deforestation effectively on its own and urges a more scientifically grounded, collaborative, and balanced approach. Full Letter

Sign On Letter to create an effective, workable “expanded producer responsibility” law in New York State

March 2025 - ESFPA joined with nearly 100 other organizations in a letter expressing strong opposition to New York's proposed EPR legislation (S.1464/A.1749), citing that it remains largely unchanged from a previous version and fails to address key concerns. They letter states that the bill is overly rigid, imposes unrealistic mandates, lacks industry input, excludes advanced recycling, and creates unnecessary costs and bureaucracy. While supportive of the concept of producer responsibility, the letter urges lawmakers to collaborate on a more practical and effective solution. Full Letter

 Sign on Letter to delay implementation of the Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) and Heavy-Duty Omnibus (HDO) rules:

November 6, 2024 - ESFPA joined the Trucking Association of New York (TANY) and nearly 40 other organizations in signing on to this letter to the Governor. The letter states that enforcing this legislation would harm New York’s trucking industry, truck dealers, and consumers, as well as potentially delaying progress toward the state’s emission reduction goals. Full Letter

 Sign on Letter to oppose the Affordable Gas Transition Act and the proposals to increase unemployment insurance benefits.

March 2024 - ESFPA joined the Business Council of New York State in signing on to two of their letters which oppose the Affordable Gas Transition Act and the proposals to increase unemployment insurance benefits.

The first letter addresses the “Affordable Gas Transition Act,” or AGTA, as it is proposed in the Executive Budget. We believe the AGTA, as proposed, fails to meet the fundamental goals of avoiding imposing adverse unintended consequences; assuring an affordable, workable, and equitable clean energy transition; and providing the regulatory certainty businesses need to effectively plan for the future. Full Letter

The second letter addresses the proposals to increase unemployment insurance benefits without a significant infusion of state funds into the unemployment insurance fund.  We believe that any consideration of increased benefits needs to be done as part of a comprehensive plan to restore the state’s UI fund to financial stability and reduce UI taxes on employers. Full Letter