Flame retardants are regularly added to household products like upholstered furniture, children's toys, and mattresses. Here's the thing: flame retardants don't even really work.

The science is clear. Flame retardants are linked to hormone disruption, reproductive problems, and reduced IQ. When lit, flame retardants emit a toxic smoke that is extraordinarily hazardous to fire fighters, causing them to experience considerably high rates of leukemia, multiple myeloma, esophageal, intestinal, testicular, and lung cancer. Millions of New Yorkers are needlessly exposed to a toxic chemical every day on the furniture they use most.

Fortunately, legislation (S.4630B Kaminsky / A.5418B Englebright) prohibiting the sale of mattresses, electronic displays, and upholstered furniture containing intentionally added flame retardants passed in both houses with overwhelming support. For the bill to become a law, all that's needed is the Governor's signature.

Here's the bad news: the chemical industry has launched a relentless campaign to get the Governor to veto the bill. They lost resoundingly in the legislature, so now they're trying to exploit any opportunity they can find to quash it before it becomes the law. As we have come to expect, they are not representing the facts honestly.

We've beat them before and we can do it again: but we need your support.

With a new Governor, it is more crucial than ever that the executive staff sees how serious New Yorkers are about their health.

Urge Governor Hochul to sign the bill into law today! Taking action is easy. We've already drafted the email language for you, so just add a sentence or two if you want.