TRSA’s NY Legislative Conf. Secures Co-Sponsors for Important Legislation

TRSA recently held a Legislative Conference in Albany, NY, in which 13 operator members visited their respective legislators, both assembly members and state senators.

The two-day meeting kicked off with an issue update from Kevin Schwalb, TRSA’s vice president of government relations, who discussed federal issues as well as activities in other states that TRSA is pursuing. The group also heard from Paul Thomas, TRSA’s legislative counsel in New York, about the state’s budget process as well as issues impacting the industry in Albany as well as New York City.

The next day the delegation went to the State Capitol to meet with their respective legislators to discuss Assembly Bill 6995 sponsored by Assembly Member Amanda Septimo and State Sen. Cordell Cleare. The legislation would require healthcare facilities to maintain a 50% operating threshold of reusable healthcare textiles. TRSA has been pushing this legislation.

One of the meetings the group attended was with Assembly Member Septimo, where she said that the state’s budget is taking up most of the legislature’s time, but added that after the budget is resolved, AB 6995 should get moving. Between individual and group meetings, the participants took part in more than 36 meetings and were able to secure co-sponsors to support the legislation.

“This was a great experience being able to meet with the legislators who will impact our industry issues,” said John Henry Ronan of ImageFIRST. “This specific issue would be a big benefit for the industry, healthcare workers and the environment.”

The group also discussed the congestion pricing scheme that the Metro Transit Authority (MTA) of New York recently passed. Collaborating with Assembly Member Brian Cunningham, TRSA is crafting legislative language that will significantly reduce the burden of congestion pricing on the industry.

“As a first-time ‘lobbyist,’ the experience was planned well to get the group ready to talk to the legislators about our legislation,” said Greg Johnson, general manager of Logan’s Healthcare. “This is something everyone who is a member of the industry should do.”

TRSA continues to be active at the federal, state and local levels of policy to address issues important to the linen, uniform and facility services industry. Questions? Contact Schwalb at kschwalb@trsa.org.