Letter to the Governor: Sign the Unmarked Burial Site Protection Act

The Unmarked Burial Site Protection Act (S5701 / A6724) was passed by both the NYS Senate and Assembly earlier this year. This legislation is long overdue and the League strongly encourages the Governor to sign it into law. If she does not sign the bill before December 31, 2022, it will be effectively vetoed. For more about this issue, please also follow the Shinnecock Graves Protection Warrior Society, who have led much of the advocacy around this topic on Long Island.

December 1, 2022

The Honorable Kathy Hochul
Governor of New York State
NYS Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Hochul,

On behalf of the Preservation League of New York State, I write to urge you to sign the Unmarked Burial Site Protection Act, which provides important protections for human remains in unmarked burial sites across the state that are in danger of damage from construction and other disruptions.

New York is one of only three states that lack statewide protection for unmarked burial sites. In recent years, graves associated with Native American Nations, African American communities, and Revolutionary War soldiers have been discovered during construction or development. In the absence of clear legal protocols, the human remains in these sites have lacked protection from desecration and destruction, as do those in other such sites yet to be discovered. The Unmarked Burial Site Protection Act will finally establish a clear legal process to protect human remains discovered during construction, by requiring that these sites and remains are treated with respect, the proper authorities are notified, and the remains are ultimately handled in an appropriate way. 

The League strongly encourages you to sign this important legislation.

Sincerely,

Katie Eggers Comeau
Vice President for Policy and Preservation