Environment DEC
From the June 2007 issue
American Heart Association Honors DEC's Commissioner
In accepting the award, Commissioner Grannis emphasized he will continue the fight for clean air at DEC
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis has been honored with the Legacy Award by the American Heart Association (see "Related Off-Site Links" below). The Legacy Award is an award presented to an individual who has positively influenced the lives of many by affecting change at a policy level. The Legacy Award recognizes Commissioner Grannis's achievements as a Member of the New York State Assembly, where his work on tobacco control issues and improving indoor and outdoor air quality furthered the American Heart Association's mission to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
Will Continue to Make a Difference
"Thanks to the joint efforts of the medical community and government officials, our state's smoking policies have progressed tremendously, limiting smoking areas throughout the state," said Commissioner Grannis. "I thank the American Heart Association for recognizing my role in this achievement and my stance on protecting indoor air quality. As DEC's Commissioner, I'm eager to continue to make a difference, focusing on improving outdoor air quality for the benefit of New York's public health and the environment."
"Commissioner Grannis has demonstrated an undeniable commitment to improving the cardiovascular health of New Yorkers," said Paul Hartman, Director of Advocacy for the American Heart Association of New York State."During his tenure in the state legislature, there has been no greater champion of tobacco-control initiatives and no other public official who has had such a profound impact on decreasing smoking prevalence, not only in New York State, but across the country."
Sponsored Two Key Tobacco Use Control Acts
While serving in the Assembly, Commissioner Grannis's accomplishments include the creation and sponsorship of New York's 1989 Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA), and amendments adopted in 2003 to protect working men and women from deadly secondhand smoke. His legislative efforts to curb smoking, including the historic CIAA and the Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act-still the strongest state action to limit teenagers' access to tobacco-have been emulated around the globe. In addition, Grannis played a vital role in securing necessary funding for the state's Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Program.
Commissioner Grannis is the first state legislator to ever receive the Legacy Award on behalf of the American Heart Association. After serving over 32 years in the New York State Assembly, Pete Grannis accepted Governor Spitzer's nomination to serve as the Commissioner of DEC and was confirmed in April, 2007.
Related Off-site Links
American Heart Association
Tobacco Use Prevention and Control
