THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022 10:32 A.M.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE HOUSE WILL COME
TO ORDER.
CAPTAIN AKERIWE, CHAPLAIN, WILL OFFER A PRAYER.
CHAPLAIN CAPTAIN RAYMOND AKERIWE:
ALMIGHTY GOD, HERE WE STAND BEFORE YOU IN THIS AUGUST ASSEMBLY.
WE ASK YOUR BLESSING ON OUR NATION, ON OUR LEADERS, AND ESPECIALLY
THOSE GUARDED HERE TODAY. BLESS THIS CHAMBER AND ALL WHO WORK HERE.
ENDUE IN THEM YOUR SPIRIT'S PRESENCE. ENLIGHTEN THE HEARTS OF OUR
LEGISLATORS, AND GRANT THEM WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, YOUR HOLY SPIRIT'S
DISCERNMENT THAT THEY MAY HAVE THE HEARTS OF A GOOD SHEPHERD TO BE
GOOD STEWARDS OF THIS MISSION TO WHICH YOU HAVE CALLED AND CONFERRED
ON EACH OF THEM. MAY THEY NEVER FORGET THE DIGNITY AND ALL WITH WHICH
YOU CREATED MAN. MAY THE LAWS THEY CONSIDER BE JUST, FAIR AND
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
PRODUCTIVE. MAY THEY RESPECT HUMAN DIGNITY, AND MAY THEY HAVE THE
CALL OF THE COMMON GOOD OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE. MAY THEY
CONTINUE TO BE SELFLESS IN THEIR GIVING OF SELF, BUT MOST ESPECIALLY, MAY
INTEGRITY BE THEIR CREED. AND WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME.
AMEN.
MEMBERS: AMEN.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: VISITORS ARE INVITED
TO JOIN THE MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
(WHEREUPON, ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY LED VISITORS AND
MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.)
A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE
JOURNAL OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23RD.
MS. SOLAGES: MR. SPEAKER?
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: YES?
MS. SOLAGES: MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE TO DISPENSE
WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23RD AND
ASK THAT THE SAME STANDS APPROVED.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO
ORDERED.
MS. SOLAGES: MR. SPEAKER, MAY I HAVE THE
MEMBERS' ATTENTION SO THAT I CAN ANNOUNCE THE SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY?
BUT BEFORE I PROCEED I WANT TO READ A QUOTE BY MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE,
A GREAT AMERICAN EDUCATOR. AND SHE SAYS, FAITH IS THE FIRST FACTOR IN A
LIFE DEVOTED TO SERVICE. WITHOUT IT, NOTHING IS -- IS POSSIBLE. WITH IT,
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
SO WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL QUOTE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.
SO, MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESKS A MAIN CALENDAR, AND WE ALSO HAVE A
DEBATE LIST. ANY -- AFTER ANY HOUSEKEEPING WE WILL TAKE UP THE
RESOLUTION ON PAGE 3. WE WILL THEN WORK OFF THE DEBATE LIST STARTING
WITH THE FOLLOWING BILLS: CALENDAR NO. 246 BY MR. RIVERA, CALENDAR
NO. 49 BY MRS. [SIC] ROSENTHAL, CALENDAR NO. 55 BY MR. GOTTFRIED AND
CALENDAR NO. 77 BY MR. DINOWITZ. I WILL ANNOUNCE ANY FURTHER FLOOR
ACTIVITY AS THE DAY PROCEEDS, BUT MEMBERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT WE
WILL BE CONDUCTING OUR TRADITIONAL WEST POINT CELEBRATION TODAY AT
NOON. AFTER THAT THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR A MAJORITY CONFERENCE IN
HEARING ROOM B AT 3:00 P.M. TODAY. AS ALWAYS, I WILL CONSULT WITH
THE MINORITY REGARDING THEIR CONFERENCES.
WITH THAT AS A GENERAL RULE, IF THERE IS ANY
HOUSEKEEPING NOW WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, MS.
SOLVE. NO HOUSEKEEPING. WE WILL GO TO RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 3,
ASSEMBLY NO. 690. THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 690, MS.
ROSENTHAL.
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR
KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM 8:30 P.M. THROUGH 9:30 P.M. ON SATURDAY,
MARCH 26, 2022 AS EARTH HOUR IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED.
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 691, MS.
HUNTER.
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR
KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 25, 2022 AS MEDAL OF HONOR DAY IN
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 692, MS.
RAJKUMAR.
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR
KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 26, 2022 AS BANGLADESH
INDEPENDENCE DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. RAJKUMAR ON THE
RESOLUTION.
MS. RAJKUMAR: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. TODAY
THE STATE ASSEMBLY PAUSES IN ITS DELIBERATIONS TO RECOGNIZE MARCH 26,
2022 AS BANGLADESH INDEPENDENCE DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
THIS RESOLUTION IS COSPONSORED BY MY COLLEAGUES DOWNSTATE AND
UPSTATE AS WE ALL JOIN TOGETHER IN THIS CHAMBER TO COLLECTIVELY
RECOGNIZE THE POWERFUL AND EMERGING BANGLADESHI-AMERICAN
COMMUNITY. AS THE FIRST SOUTH ASIAN-AMERICAN WOMAN EVER ELECTED
TO THE LEGISLATURE IN OUR GREAT STATE, I INTRODUCE THIS RESOLUTION WITH
ENORMOUS PRIDE. THE SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY IS FINALLY HERE. WE
HAVE ARRIVED AT THE TABLE OF GOVERNMENT IN NEW YORK STATE. WHEN OUR
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
FOUNDING FATHERS FOUGHT FOR AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, PATRICK HENRY
FAMOUSLY SAID, GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH. TWO CENTURIES LATER,
BANGLADESH FOUGHT ITS OWN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. SHEIKH MUJIBUR
RAHMAN WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE NATION. HE WAS IMPRISONED AND PLACED
IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. HE EMERGED VICTORIOUS AND BECAME THE FIRST
PRIME MINISTER OF THE NEW BANGLADESH. HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THE NATION,
AND HE AND HIS FAMILY WERE TRAGICALLY ASSASSINATED. BUT HIS DAUGHTER
SURVIVED, SHEIKH HASINA. TODAY, SHE IS THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE
LONGEST-SERVING FEMALE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. UNDER
HER LEADERSHIP, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE CITES BANGLADESH AS A
GLOBAL EXAMPLE OF A DEMOCRATIC, TOLERANT, PLURALISTIC AND MODERN
NATION. TODAY'S RESOLUTION HONORS BANGLADESH'S FREEDOM FIGHTERS WHO
BRAVELY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR INDEPENDENCE. WHEN THE
FREEDOM FIGHTERS FOUGHT, THE ENTIRE WORLD SUPPORTED THEIR CAUSE. AND
I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT SOME OF THOSE FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND THEIR
CHILDREN NOW LIVE IN NEW YORK STATE. TODAY IS THEIR DAY. TODAY,
NEW YORK STATE HONORS THEIR COURAGE. DURING THE BANGLADESHI
LIBERATION WAR, MANY BANGLADESHI PEOPLE WERE THE VICTIMS OF
GENOCIDE. FIFTY-ONE YEARS LATER, THEIR MEMORY STILL INSPIRES THE PEOPLE
OF BANGLADESH TO BUILD A PEACEFUL NATION, AND BANGLADESHI-AMERICANS
TO ADVOCATE FOR GLOBAL PEACE. LIKE MY OWN PARENTS WHEN THEY
IMMIGRATED FROM SOUTH ASIA, BANGLADESHI-AMERICANS ARE
HARD-WORKING, WORKING 25 [SIC] HOURS A DAY TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN
DREAM FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN. AND
BANGLADESHI-AMERICANS TODAY ARE THRIVING IN ALL FIELDS. AND MOST OF
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
ALL THEY ARE PROUD AMERICANS WITH HIGH ASPIRATIONS.
BANGLADESHI-AMERICANS IN MY DISTRICT IN SOUTH QUEENS MOVE ME
EVERY DAY WITH THEIR SINCERITY. IN THESE PAST TWO YEARS, BANGLADESHI
LEADERS WERE NOTABLE FOR STEPPING UP DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS,
OFTEN AT GREAT RISK TO THEMSELVES TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS OF ALL
BACKGROUNDS.
AS THE FIRST SOUTH ASIAN-AMERICAN WOMAN ELECTED TO
STATE OFFICE, BUT CERTAINLY NOT THE LAST ONE, I AM SO PROUD TO SPONSOR
THIS RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING BANGLADESH INDEPENDENCE DAY.
TODAY THE STATE ASSEMBLY WILL JOIN MORE THAN 200,000
BANGLADESHI-AMERICANS ACROSS OUR COUNTRY TO RECOGNIZE MARCH 26,
2022 AS BANGLADESH INDEPENDENCE DAY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MR. WEPRIN ON THE RESOLUTION.
MR. WEPRIN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT GIVES ME
GREAT PLEASURE TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUE AND THIS ENTIRE BODY IN
COMMEMORATING BANGLADESHI INDEPENDENCE DAY. I AM SO PROUD TO
REPRESENT ONE OF THE LARGEST BANGLADESHI-AMERICAN POPULATIONS IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK. I REPRESENT JAMAICA HILL. AND THE JAMAICA
MUSLIM CENTER, WHICH I REPRESENT, IS THE LARGEST MOSQUE BY POPULATION
IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK. WE HAVE 9,000 MEMBERS, AND MOST OF THEM
ARE BANGLADESHI. SO THE BANGLADESHI-AMERICAN POPULATION IN QUEENS
IS GROWING BY LEAPS AND BONDS -- BOUNDS. JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO
WE NAMED A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE IN MY DISTRICT -- CO-NAMED A MAJOR
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
THOROUGHFARE IN MY DISTRICT, HOME LAWN STREET, BANG -- LITTLE
BANGLADESH. AND I'M JUST SO PROUD TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER RAJKUMAR IN SPONSORING THIS RESOLUTION TO CELEBRATE
BANGLADESHI INDEPENDENCE DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MS. -- MS. REYES.
MS. REYES: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'M HONORED
TO ALSO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN COMMEMORATING THE 51ST ANNIVERSARY OF
BANGLADESHI INDEPENDENCE. I AM PROUD TO REPRESENT THE LARGEST
BANGLADESHI COMMUNITY IN THE BRONX, AND IN PARKCHESTER THE
BANGLADESHI-AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAS MANY BUSINESSES THAT LINE
STARLING AVENUE. IT IS APTLY NAMED BANGLA BAZAAR, AND WE HAVE
CLOTHING STORES AND FOOD MARKETS AND RESTAURANTS. THE BANGLADESHI
PEOPLE ARE SOME OF THE MOST CIVICALLY-ENGAGED RESTAURANT -- RESIDENTS
WHO ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITY,
WHETHER WE WERE DOING CENSUS OUTREACH OR DISTRIBUTING PPE DURING THE
PANDEMIC OR DOING FOOD DISTRIBUTION, AND THAT WAS PARTICULARLY
HALAL-SPECIFIC FOR THAT COMMUNITY. I CAN ALWAYS FEEL THEIR PASSION AND
COUNT ON THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. I AM -- I AM
KNOWN IN MY COMMUNITY BY THE BANGLADESHI-AMERICAN -- MY
NEIGHBORS AS KARINES APPA, AND IT'S A BADGE OF HONOR THAT I WEAR.
COUNTLESS PARTNERSHIPS HAVE BEEN FORMED THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF
MANY MEMBERS OF THE BANGLADESHI COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
BENEFIT MY CONSTITUENTS DISTRICT-WIDE. THOSE PARTNERSHIPS ARE WHAT I
VALUE THE MOST BECAUSE OF THE SPIRIT OF A GREATER COMMUNITY THAT
7
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
REACHES BEYOND SOMEONE'S BLOCK OR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ARE WHAT -- WE
ARE WHAT WILL CONTINUE TO BRING THE BRONX BACK AS WE RECOVER FROM THIS
PANDEMIC.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MR. SAYEGH.
MR. SAYEGH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
I ALSO RISE TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND SHARE IN
CELEBRATING THE BANGLADESHI AND AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN OUR -- IN OUR
STATE, IN OUR CITY. THE COMMUNITY COMPRISES NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF
BANGLADESHIANS OUT OF THEIR COUNTRY RIGHT HERE IN THE NEW YORK METRO
AREA. AND JUST TO GIVE A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, THE IMPORTANCE OF
AMERICAN-BANGLADESH COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION, THE U.S.
RECOGNIZED BANGLADESH IN 1972. AND THE CLOSE ECONOMIC TIES IS SUCH
BECAUSE WHEN I LOOKED AT THE -- THE COLLABORATION THAT TAKES PLACE, VERY
IMPORTANT GLOBAL SECURITY. THE U.S.A. AND BANGLADESH HAVE AN
EXTENSIVE GLOBAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENT THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER IS SO
IMPORTANT. THE FOCUS BANGLADESH COLLABORATES AND COOPERATES ON
ISSUES OF COUNTER-TERRORISM AND ALSO CLIMATE CHANGE. THESE ARE VERY
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS AND ISSUES THAT CONFRONT US HERE IN THE U.S.A. AND
ON THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY. AND OF COURSE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE
BANGLADESHIAN COMMUNITY HERE IN THE NEW YORK METRO AREA REALLY
ASSISTS US TREMENDOUSLY WITH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER
PROFESSIONAL FIELDS.
SO I JOIN MY COLLEAGUE RAJKUMAR IN COMMEMORATING
8
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
BANGLADESHI INDEPENDENCE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.
MR. CARROLL ON THE RESOLUTION.
MR. CARROLL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE
TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION TO HONOR BANGLADESHI INDEPENDENCE
DAY. I AM PROUD TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE KENSINGTON SECTION OF
BROOKLYN WHERE THERE'S A LARGE AND VIBRANT BANGLADESHI POPULATION.
AND JUST LAST YEAR WE ELECTED TO THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL FROM
KENSINGTON, SHAHANA HANIF, THE FIRST BANGLADESHI AND FIRST MUSLIM
WOMAN TO SERVE IN THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL WHO HAS MADE THE
KENSINGTON AND -- COMMUNITY PROUD AS WELL AS ALL BANGLADESHI-
AMERICANS. AND SO IT'S WONDERFUL HERE TO REMEMBER BANGLADESHI
INDEPENDENCE DAY IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.
MR. JOSE RIVERA.
MR. J. RIVERA: UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
VIDEOTAPE MYSELF. I ALREADY DID TICK EVERYBODY ELSE OFF. UNLESS --
UNLESS MY ASSEMBLYMAN (INAUDIBLE) HE'S ONLY GOING TO GIVE ME TWO
MINUTES. JUST AIM IT AT ME. MR. SPEAKER, YOU PROBABLY WILL RECALL IT
WAS PERHAPS SOME TEN YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME UP TO THE CHAMBERS ON A
VERY IMPORTANT MONTH WHEN WE WERE CELEBRATING AFRICAN-AMERICAN
HISTORY MONTH, MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY. AND AS I BROUGHT MY GUESTS
THROUGH THAT DOOR, MY FRIEND, MY LEADER, MY PROTECTOR WAYNE JACKSON
SAID, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO SIT HERE. YOU CAN SIT UP THERE.
9
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
AND I REMINDED WAYNE, WAYNE WAS CELEBRATING THE MONTH OF ROSA
PARKS. SHE REFUSED TO SIT ANYWHERE BUT IN THE FRONT OF THE BUS. HE
SAID, THEY CAN SIT WHEREVER THEY WANT. I HAVE IT ON VIDEO. THEY TOOK
OVER THAT AREA, AND WE BEGAN TO INTRODUCE THEM. AND TODAY I'M GOING
TO INVITE WEPRIN TO MY DISTRICT. I'M GOING TO INVITE MY FRIEND WEPRIN
TO THE BRONX BECAUSE TODAY IT'S DEBATED WHETHER QUEENS REALLY HAS THE
LARGEST BANGLADESHI POPULATION OR NOT. THE BANGLADESHI COMMUNITY
HAS TAKEN OVER THE BRONX FROM 204TH STREET, PART OF MY DISTRICT, TO
PARKCHESTER. PARKCHESTER USED TO BE PREDOMINANTLY IRISH-AMERICAN,
AFRICAN-AMERICAN. NOW IT'S CONTROLLED BY BANGLADESHI. AND ONE OF
ITS TOP LEADER, MOHAMMED MUJUMDER, BECAME A LAWYER AND HE -- AND
HE'S AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER. HE'S ONE OF THE TOP LEADERS. SO WHAT I'M
SAYING IS I AM THANKFUL TO BE HERE TODAY. I AM THANKFUL EVERY DAY THAT
I SEE THE SPONSOR OF THIS BILL WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL SMILE AND -- AND I SAY
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION. I'M ON BOARD.
AND I'M INVITING YOU AND OTHERS TO COME VISIT THE BRONX, COME VISIT
THE DISTRICT I REPRESENT. WE WILL HAVE SOME COFFEE, BANGLADESHI,
ITALIAN OR DOMINICAN. I HAVE EVERYTHING IN THE 78TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT.
IT'S VERY DIVERSE.
SO THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. USUALLY -- YOU USUALLY
TURN ME OFF ONE SECOND I START TALKING. IT MUST BE THE PANDEMIC OR A
NEW WAY OF DOING THINGS AROUND HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RIVERA, YOU ARE
QUITE WELCOME. DON'T WORRY ABOUT A THING.
MS. SOLAGES ON THE RESOLUTION.
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
MS. SOLAGES: I JUST WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE
FOR INTRODUCING THIS WONDERFUL RESOLUTION. IT -- IT MAKES MY HEART BEAT
WITH PRIDE TO JOIN THE BANGLADESHI COMMUNITY IN THEIR INDEPENDENCE
BECAUSE NEW YORK IS A MELTING -- A MELTING POT. AND IT'S A PLACE
WHERE WE ALL COME TOGETHER. AND BESIDE OUR DIFFERENCES WE COME AND
WE JOIN AND WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER, UNITED EVER UPWARDS.
SO I WANT TO WISH THEM WELL, AND WITH FULL
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE
DAY, BANGLADESH.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING
AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. 693, MR. TANNOUSIS.
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR
KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2022 AS GREEK HISTORY MONTH IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMEMORATION OF THE
201ST ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. TANNOUSIS ON THE
RESOLUTION.
MR. TANNOUSIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
SPEAKER. THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 25TH OF 2022 WILL MARK THE 201ST
ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE. THE GREEK PEOPLE PROUDLY TRACE
THEIR HERITAGE BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS IN EUROPE, WHERE THEY
DEVELOPED AN ADVANCED CIVILIZATION UNLIKE ANY OF THE WORLD HAD SEEN
UP TO THAT POINT. UPON THE FALL OF THE CITY OF CONSTANTINOPLE IN 1453,
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
THE GREEK PEOPLE BEGAN ALMOST FOUR CENTURIES UNDER THE FOREIGN RULE OF
THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE. IN MARCH, 1821 THE YEARNING FOR GREEK
INDEPENDENCE INSPIRED MULTIPLE MILITIAS TO ENGAGE IN BATTLES AGAINST
THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE, INCLUDING AN INCURSION INTO MOLDAVIA LED BY
ALEXANDROS YPSILANTIS, AND VARIOUS SKIRMISHES IN THE PELOPONNESE AND
ON SEVERAL ISLANDS. ON MARCH 25, 1821, BISHOP GERMANOS OF PATRAS
RAISED THE GREEK FLAG AT THE MONASTERY OF AGIA LAVRA IN THE
PELOPONNESE, MARKING THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE. IN
JANUARY, 1822 THE GREEKS OFFICIALLY DECLARED INDEPENDENCE FROM THE
OTTOMAN EMPIRE. THE GREEKS VALIANTLY WAGED WAR AGAINST THEIR
OTTOMAN RULERS UNDER THE BRAVE LEADERSHIP OF THEODORIS KOLOKOTRONIS
FOR ALMOST NINE YEARS UNTIL A PART OF MODERN GREECE WAS DECLARED
INDEPENDENT. THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE WAS FORMALLY CONCLUDED IN
1832 WITH THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF CONSTANTINOPLE, FURTHER
EXPANDING THE BORDERS OF A MODERN INDEPENDENT GREEK STATE. MARCH
25TH IS CELEBRATED AS INDEPENDENCE DAY IN GREECE AND IN GREEK
COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD INCLUDING HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK AND NEW YORK CITY, COMMEMORATING THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR
OF INDEPENDENCE.
MR. SPEAKER, ANCIENT GREECE HAS SHAPED MODERN
SOCIETY BY ORIGINATING THE CONCEPTS OF LOGIC, SCIENCE, LYRICS, PHILOSOPHY
AND HISTORY AS WELL AS BEING THE BIRTHPLACE OF DEMOCRATIC IDEALS,
INSPIRING THE NOTION OF PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT WHICH INFLUENCED
THE FRAMING OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. THE GREAT STATE OF NEW
YORK HAS BEEN BLESSED IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING THROUGH THE PRESENCE
12
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA, WHICH SERVES AS A
BEACON OF MORAL AND ETHICAL GUIDANCE THROUGHOUT THE HEMISPHERE FROM
ITS MANHATTAN HEADQUARTERS.
MR. SPEAKER, THE STATE OF NEW YORK IS FURTHER
ENHANCED BY A LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FEDERATION OF
HELLENIC-AMERICAN SOCIETIES WHICH CONTINUES ITS TRADITION OF STRONG
LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE GREEK-AMERICAN COMMUNITY. THE GREEK
COMMUNITY IN NEW YORK HAS JOINED THE FABRIC OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
MELTING POT IN THE UNITED STATES AND WHAT CONTRIBUTES SO MUCH IN
MAKING THE UNITED STATES THE GREATEST NATION IN THE WORLD. IT IS ONLY
FITTING THAT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WE CELEBRATE ON FRIDAY THE 201ST
ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN
ME AS WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.
MR. LEMONDES ON THE RESOLUTION.
MR. LEMONDES: MR. SPEAKER, ON THE RESOLUTION. I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SPONSOR FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD ON BEHALF OF
ALL GREEK PEOPLE WORLDWIDE. THANK YOU. GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY
ESTABLISHED ON MARCH 15, 1838 DESIGNATING MARCH 25TH AS AN ETERNAL
IN PERPETUITY NATIONAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATED IN GREECE, CYPRUS AND THE
GREEK DIASPORA WORLDWIDE. IT TRADITIONALLY COMMEMORATES THE START OF
THE GREEK WAR OF INDEPENDENCE AGAINST THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE IN 1821.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE MORE THAN FIVE MILLION PEOPLE OF GREEK ORIGIN
LIVING OUTSIDE OF GREECE, SCATTERED IN 140 COUNTRIES ACROSS THE GLOBE
13
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
CELEBRATING THIS GREAT EVENT AND HISTORICAL COMMEMORATION. HOWEVER,
NEW YORK HAS THE LARGEST GREEK-AMERICAN POPULATION, TOTALING AROUND
300,000 WITH THE MAJORITY LOCATED IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA, AND
SPECIFICALLY IN THE TOWN OF ASTORIA. THE REST OF US ARE SCATTERED
AROUND THE STATE AND NATION IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES WHICH WE ALL
PROUDLY REPRESENT. IT IS TRADITIONALLY HELD THAT THE WAR OF GREEK
INDEPENDENCE STARTED AT THE SAINT LAVRA MONASTERY WITH THE SWEARING
IN OF THE MILITARY LEADERSHIP BY BISHOP GERMANOS IN 1821. THE
FIGHTING WOULD LAST APPROXIMATELY EIGHT YEARS UNTIL AN ARMISTICE WAS
AGREED UPON IN 1832. GREECE WAS REESTABLISHED AS AN INDEPENDENT
KINGDOM FROM THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE WITH THE TREATY OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
ASSISTING THE GREEKS WITH THEIR WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE WERE BRITAIN,
FRANCE AND RUSSIA. AMERICAN SUPPORT OF THE WAR OF GREEK
INDEPENDENCE HELPED FUEL IMPORTANT SOCIAL CAUSES IN THE UNITED STATES,
INCLUDING THE ABOLITIONIST AND WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENTS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE HISTORY OF GREEKS IN NORTH AMERICA IS AS OLD AS THE
UNITED STATES ITSELF. WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GREEK COLONY IN
SPANISH-HELD FLORIDA IN 1776 AT ST. AUGUSTINE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IN RECOGNITION OF GREEK
INDEPENDENCE, GREEK CONTRIBUTIONS TO HUMANITY, THE UNITED STATES AND
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, PLEASE JOIN ME IN
HONORING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DAY. THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MR. SAYEGH.
MR. SAYEGH: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE TO
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
SPEAK ON THE RESOLUTION AND COMMEND OUR COLLEAGUE WHO -- WHO
HIMSELF IS A PROUD GREEK-AMERICAN IN COMMEMORATING GREEK
INDEPENDENCE. AND U.S.-GREEK RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR
DECADES, AND THE GREEK IS A VALUABLE MEMBER OF NATO AND A KEY ALLY
WHEN IT COMES TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. AND GREEK INDEPENDENCE FROM
THE OTTOMANS IN 1821 WAS 201 YEARS AGO. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT GREEK
HISTORY, WE LOOK AT ANCIENT HISTORY, WE RECOGNIZE THAT MANY ITEMS,
MANY THINGS THAT IMPACT US HERE IN THE U.S.A. AND IMPACT US AROUND
THE WORLD, IMPACTS CIVILIZATION EVOLVED FROM ANCIENT GREECE. WHEN
WE LOOK AT THE VERY CONCEPT OF DEMOCRACY, DEMOCRACY ORIGINATED IN
ANCIENT GREEK. AND WHEN WE LOOK AND READ ABOUT SOCRATES AND PLATO
AND THE CONCEPT OF A PARLIAMENT AND GOVERNMENT AND MINISTERS, IT WAS
EVOLVED IN ANCIENT GREEK. SO WE LOOK AT GREECE AS BEING A CONTRIBUTOR
TO INTERNATIONAL WORLD GLOBAL SOCIETY, AND WE HERE IN THE U.S.A.,
ESPECIALLY THE NEW YORK METRO AREA, ARE PROUD OF THE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF GREEK AMERICANS. WE HAVE THANKFULLY, AS OUR
COLLEAGUE STATED, 300,000 GREEK AMERICANS IN THE STATE AND NEARLY
170,000 LIVE IN THE NEW YORK METRO AREA.
SO WE'D LIKE TO COMMEMORATE THIS RESOLUTION AND
THANK OUR COLLEAGUE FOR RECOGNIZING AN ETHNIC GROUP THAT HAS REALLY
BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR SOCIETY HERE IN AMERICA. THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MR. BRAUNSTEIN.
MR. BRAUNSTEIN: IT IS COMING UP?
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: IT'S -- YOUR -- WE HEAR
15
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
YOU, SIR.
MR. BRAUNSTEIN: YOU CAN HEAR ME. THAT'S THE
IMPORTANT THING. I JUST WANTED TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN THANKING THE
SPONSOR OF THIS RESOLUTION CELEBRATING GREEK INDEPENDENCE. I REPRESENT
NORTHEAST QUEENS, AND THERE'S A LARGE GREEK-AMERICAN POPULATION THAT
LIVES THERE, AND I WITNESS EVERY DAY THE TREMENDOUS POSITIVE
CONTRIBUTIONS THE GREEK COMMUNITY MAKES TO MY NEIGHBORHOODS, TO
OUR CITY, AND ALSO TO OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY.
SO I'M PROUD TO STAND HERE TODAY TO JOIN IN THE
GREEK-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN CELEBRATING GREEK INDEPENDENCE, AND
ONCE AGAIN I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION AND
I'M PROUD TO COSPONSOR IT. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.
SO ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY OPA --
(LAUGHTER)
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
ON TO THE DEBATE, CALENDAR NO. 246, PAGE 29, THE
CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07488-A, CALENDAR
NO. 246, J.D. RIVERA, DINOWITZ, HEVESI, MEEKS, MAMDANI, SEAWRIGHT,
JACKSON, GALEF, GOTTFRIED, FAHY, MCMAHON, CLARK, SIMON,
PEOPLES-STOKES, CRUZ, SAYEGH, SOLAGES. AN ACT TO AMEND THE
INSURANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO PROHIBITING THE EXCLUSION OF COVERAGE FOR
LOSSES OR DAMAGES CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO LEAD-BASED PAINT.
16
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RIVERA, AN
EXPLANATION IS REQUESTED, SIR.
MR. J.D. RIVERA: CAN YOU HEAR ME? SO, THE BILL
BEFORE US WOULD PROHIBIT THE PRACTICE CALLED THE LEAD POISONING
EXCLUSION. IT IS CURRENTLY FOUND IN MOST GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE
POLICIES. CURRENTLY, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES ALLOWS
INSURANCE COMPANIES TO WRITE GENERAL LIABILITY POLICIES THAT SPECIFICALLY
EXCLUDE LEAD POISONING CLAIMS FROM THEIR COVERAGE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. GOODELL.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, SIR. UNDER CURRENT LAW,
CAN A LANDLORD ASK FOR A RIDER THAT COVERS LEAD?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: I BELIEVE IN SOME INSTANCES, YES.
MR. GOODELL: AND WHAT IS THE COST OF SUCH A
RIDER?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: THAT WOULD DEPEND ON THE
CARRIER, I WOULD IMAGINE.
MR. GOODELL: AND DO YOU HAVE A RANGE?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: I DON'T. I DO KNOW THAT PRIOR TO
THE 1990S, THIS WASN'T -- THIS EXCLUSION DIDN'T EXIST AND ALL OF OUR
HOMEOWNER -- OR I SHOULD SAY LIABILITY COVERAGE POLICIES ALREADY
COVERED THIS ISSUE.
MR. GOODELL: AND OF COURSE AS YOU KNOW, BACK
IN 1990 THERE WAS A CONCERTED EFFORT TO ADDRESS LEAD, AND A LOT OF ISSUES
WERE ADDRESSED AT THAT TIME. AM I CORRECT AT THAT TIME THE REASON THEY
ALLOWED LEAD TO BE EXCLUDED WAS BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY FACED INSURANCE
17
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
COMPANIES THAT WERE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS, INSOLVENT, OVER THESE
CLAIMS?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: I CAN'T SAY DEFINITIVELY, GIVEN
WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND MY SHORT TENURE HERE SO FAR.
MR. GOODELL: WELL, I CAN -- I CAN APPRECIATE THAT,
OF COURSE. SO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SINCE THE 1990S TO ADDRESS LEAD?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: WELL, MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE
STATE HAVE TAKEN IT UPON THEMSELVES TO EITHER INITIATE LOCAL LAWS OR
PURSUE PROGRAMS THAT WOULD PREVENT LEAD POISONING OR, IF NOTHING ELSE,
DOING A GOOD DEAL OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH. THAT BEING SAID, WE STILL
SEE ELEVATED LEVELS OF LEAD POISONING THROUGHOUT THIS STATE EVERYWHERE
FROM BUFFALO TO DUNKIRK TO SYRACUSE TO BINGHAMTON TO THE BRONX.
WE'RE STILL SEEING COMMUNITIES, AND ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
BEING AFFECTED BY THIS DISPROPORTIONATELY. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST
ONE BILL TO DISCUSS THIS DEVASTATING ISSUE, AND I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO
BE OTHER BILLS BEFORE THE BODY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
MR. GOODELL: NOW, AM I CORRECT THAT THE
INCIDENCE OF LEAD POISONING HAD DROPPED DRAMATICALLY SINCE THE
1990S?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: I WOULD SAY THAT THAT IS THE CASE.
THAT BEING SAID, I THINK IT'S OUR DUTY AS LAWMAKERS IN THIS BODY AND
JUST AS MUCH AS ANY LAWMAKER ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WHEN THEY
SOMETHING AS SEVERE AS THIS AND AS DAMAGING AS THIS AND, MORE
IMPORTANTLY, AS PREVENTABLE AS THIS, THAT -- THAT THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE
DONE. THERE'S STILL CASES IN EVERY ONE OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES OF CHILDREN
18
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
STILL BEING AFFECTED BY THIS. SO MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE, DESPITE THE
GAINS THAT WE'VE MADE.
MR. GOODELL: SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, TO BE
MORE SPECIFIC, THAT THERE WAS AN 84 PERCENT REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF
CHILDREN WITH HIGH LEAD LEVELS FROM '90 -- FROM '88 TO 2004, AND MORE
RECENTLY A -- AN EVEN FURTHER REDUCTION, A 21 PERCENT REDUCTION FROM
2018 TO 2021. IS THAT CONSISTENT WITH YOUR UNDERSTANDING?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: I -- THAT ACTUALLY -- THAT
ABSOLUTELY SOUNDS CORRECT, THAT THERE'S BEEN HUGE REDUCTIONS IN LEAD
POISONING. WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, WHERE WE'RE SEEING PROBLEMS IS THAT
THE PROBLEMS ARE REOCCURRING IN THE SAME PLACES. SO ACROSS THE STATE
WE HAVE THESE ONGOING PROBLEMS IN CLUSTERS WHERE LEAD POISONING IS --
IS STILL SEVERE. SO WE HAVE INSTANCES WHERE WE HAVE HOMES THAT HAVE
BEEN AROUND FOR FAR TOO LONG, OR FOR A VERY LONG TIME, I SHOULD SAY. IN
FACT, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF PRE-1950 HOUSING ANYWHERE IN
THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE THE OLDEST HOUSING STOCK IN THE COUNTRY, AND WE,
NOT COINCIDENTALLY, HAVE THE MOST CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES
IMPACTED BY LEAD. SO WHERE WE HAVE OLD HOUSING WE WILL CONSISTENTLY
SEE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THAT HOUSING ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE.
MR. GOODELL: NOW, OF COURSE AS YOU KNOW, BACK
IN THE '90S WE CREATED THE NEW YORK LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ACT.
WE PASSED THAT. AND AS PART OF THAT WE CREATED THE NEW YORK STATE
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON LEAD POISONING PREVENTION. HAS THE NEW YORK
STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON LEAD POISONING PREVENTION EVER
RECOMMENDED THAT -- IN ITS MINUTES OR IN ITS REPORTS THAT THE LEAD
19
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
EXCLUSION SHOULD BE ELIMINATED?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: I CAN'T SAY DEFINITIVELY. I'M NOT
SURE.
MR. GOODELL: IF A LANDLORD DOES NOT HAVE LEAD
COVERAGE AND A TENANT OR A TENANT'S CHILDREN HAVE A LEAD EXPOSURE AS A
RESULT, WITHOUT INSURANCE COVERAGE THE LANDLORD IS PERSONALLY
RESPONSIBLE, CORRECT?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: SO IT SEEMS.
MR. GOODELL: AND WOULDN'T YOU AGREE THAT A
LANDLORD WHO IS PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR A DEFECTIVE CONDITION IN THE
APARTMENT IS MUCH MORE LIKELY TO MAKE SURE THAT CONDITION IS
ADDRESSED THAN A LANDLORD WHO HAS INSURANCE COVERAGE AND HAS NO
PERSONAL LIABILITY?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: IF THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT
LANDLORDS WOULD THEN SORT OF TAKE THEIR FOOT OFF THE GAS SIMPLY BECAUSE
INSURANCE WOULD THEN COVER IT, I -- I GUESS I WOULDN'T AGREE WITH THE
PREMISE. I WOULD SAY EVERY LANDLORD HAS AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE THEIR
SPACES THAT THEY ALLOW FOR RENTING TO BE AS SAFE AS THEY CAN BE. WOULD
I SAY THAT EVERY LANDLORD OPERATES THAT WAY? CERTAINLY NOT. WHAT I
WOULD SAY IS THAT LAWS LIKE THIS NEED TO EXIST IN PART BECAUSE IT ENSURES
THAT IN THOSE CASES WHERE LANDLORDS ARE NOT BEING CAUTIOUS OR NOT BEING
CONSISTENT WITH A -- SORT OF A MORAL COMPASS TO SAY THAT THESE ARE THE
SORT OF THINGS THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING ALREADY, THEN -- THEN INSURANCE
IS THERE TO DO IT. AND TRUTHFULLY, I'D IMAGINE IN MANY CASES TENANTS
CAN'T PURSUE LEGAL ACTION IN PART BECAUSE THERE IS NO INSURANCE. THAT
20
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
THERE'S NOT THE OPTION TO -- TO PURSUE IT ANYWAY.
MR. GOODELL: I SEE. AND IF, AS THE INSURANCE
INDUSTRY INDICATES, THIS LEAD COVERAGE IS VERY EXPENSIVE CERTAINLY FOR
CERTAIN HOMES, WOULDN'T YOU EXPECT THE LANDLORD, THEN, TO PASS THAT
INCREASED COST ON TO THE TENANT IN THE FORM OF HIGHER RENT?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: MY TAKE ON THAT IS THAT,
TRUTHFULLY, IT'S A BIT DISINGENUOUS FOR THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY TO MAKE
THAT SORT OF STATEMENT IN PART BECAUSE THIS IS A COVERAGE THAT WE ALL HAD
PRIOR TO THE MID-90S THAT THE STATE, FOR WHATEVER REASON AT THE TIME, THE
GOVERNOR OF THE DAY DECIDED TO CREATE THIS EXCLUSION. AND AT THE POINT
OF THEM CREATING THIS EXCLUSION, IT'S NOT AS IF THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY
SUDDENLY CAME TO ALL HOMEOWNERS AND SAID, WELL, NOW THAT WE DON'T
HAVE TO COVER LEAD ANYMORE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU BACK MONEY ON
YOUR PREMIUMS. SO TRUTHFULLY, THEY'VE BEEN CHARGING US THE SAME
AMOUNT SINCE THE '90S. SO THE IDEA THAT NOW SUDDENLY THEY HAVE TO
INCREASE THEIR COST AND THEN THEREFORE WILL THEN HAVE TO PASS DOWN THAT
BURDEN SEEMS A BIT, YOU KNOW, SHORT-SIDED TO SAY THE LEAST IN PART
BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN CHARGING US THIS SINCE THEN.
MR. GOODELL: WELL, I'M JUST REFERRING TO THE FACT
THAT IF THE LANDLORD GETS A COST INCREASE IN INSURANCE, WOULDN'T WE
REASONABLY ANTICIPATE THE LANDLORD WILL PASS THAT COST ON IN TERMS OF
HIGHER RENT?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: THAT'S ASSUMING THAT THERE'S AN
INCREASE IN COST TO BEGIN WITH. MY INTERACTIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS
INVOLVED IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GIVE ME
21
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
DEFINITIVE INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT WOULD BE LIKE OR IF THAT WOULD EVEN
BE THE CASE.
MR. GOODELL: I SEE. BUT ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY
SITUATION WHERE INSURANCE COMPANIES REDUCED THE COST OF PREMIUMS AT
THE SAME TIME WE, IN THE LEGISLATURE, MANDATE INCREASED COVERAGE?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: NONE COMES TO MIND.
MR. GOODELL: DOES THIS BILL ALLOW INSURANCE
COMPANIES TO CHARGE A DIFFERENT PREMIUM BASED ON THE AGE OR
CONDITION OF THE HOUSE?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: NO.
MR. GOODELL: SO SOMEONE WHO HAS A HOUSE THAT'S
ONLY TEN YEARS OLD THAT THEY'RE RENTING WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE SAME
PREMIUM AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS A HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT IN THE '20S OR
'30S?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: PRESUMABLY, YES. BUT TRUTHFULLY,
IF A HOUSE WAS BUILT MORE RECENTLY THEN THERE WOULD BE NO REASON -- OR
THERE'D BE NO CAUSE TO -- TO PUT A CLAIM THROUGH ANYWAY. SO IF THE
HOUSE DOESN'T HAVE LEAD --
MR. GOODELL: THAT'S WHY, BY THE WAY -- OF
COURSE. I ABSOLUTELY AGREE. WHICH IS WHY NORMALLY IF WE ALLOW
INSURANCE COMPANIES TO CHARGE A DIFFERENTIAL PREMIUM BASED ON RISK,
THE PREMIUM CHARGED FOR THAT COVERAGE ON A NEW HOUSE WOULD BE NEAR
ZERO BECAUSE THERE IS NO LEAD IN THE PAINT, AND THE PREMIUM ON AN OLD
HOUSE WOULD BE VERY HIGH BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE ALL THE LEAD MIGHT BE
LOCATED, CORRECT?
22
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
MR. J.D. RIVERA: SURE.
MR. GOODELL: DOES THIS BILL ALLOW A DIFFERENTIAL
IN PREMIUM OR DOES IT REQUIRE THE PREMIUM TO BE THE SAME REGARDLESS
OF THE AGE OF THE HOUSE?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: IT -- IT WOULD -- IT WOULD BE THE
SAME.
MR. GOODELL: I SEE. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE
FORCING LANDLORDS THAT HAVE NEW HOUSES TO PAY A MUCH HIGHER PREMIUM
-- OR A HIGHER PREMIUM, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE -- TO SUBSIDIZE THE
INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR LANDLORDS THAT HAVE OLD HOUSES; IS THAT CORRECT?
MR. J.D. RIVERA: THAT'S UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT
PREMIUMS ARE GOING TO GO UP, WHICH WE DON'T KNOW DEFINITIVELY.
MR. GOODELL: I SEE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ON THE BILL, SIR.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.
MR. GOODELL: SEVERAL INSURANCE GROUPS
INDIVIDUALLY, INSURANCE COMPANIES AND INSURANCE GROUPS HAVE WRITTEN
MEMOS IN OPPOSITION POINTING OUT WHAT I THINK IS FAIRLY LIKELY THAT IF
YOU FORCE THEM TO PROVIDE MUCH BROADER COVERAGE THEY WILL BE FORCED
TO RAISE THE PREMIUM. THAT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. AND WE KNOW
BASED ON, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN
LANDLORD GETS HIGHER COSTS THEY PASS THOSE HIGHER COSTS ON TO THE
TENANTS. AND WHAT'S IRONIC ABOUT THIS BILL IS THAT THOSE HIGHER COSTS ARE
APPLIED UNDER THE BILL, AS MY COLLEAGUE NOTED, WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE
A HOUSE THAT HAS ABSOLUTELY NO LEAD, IT'S THE SAME PREMIUM INCREASE AS
23
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
A HOUSE THAT HAS A LOT OF LEAD.
NOW I, LIKE MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES, WANT TO FOCUS ON
HELPING EVERY WAY WE CAN FOR TENANTS TO HAVE BOTH SAFE AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AND WE KNOW THAT IF WE WANT SAFE HOUSING, THE BEST WAY TO
DO IT IS TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON PREVENTION. PREVENTION, PREVENTION,
PREVENTION. AND THE WAY WE FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON PREVENTING LEAD
EXPOSURE IS WE CONTINUE A PROGRAM WHERE THE LANDLORDS HAVE PERSONAL
LIABILITY IF THEY DON'T TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO PREVENT THAT EXPOSURE.
IRONICALLY, WHAT THIS BILL SAYS IS WE'RE GOING ELIMINATE LANDLORDS'
PERSONAL LIABILITY FOR LEAD EXPOSURE BY REQUIRING THEM TO HAVE
INSURANCE. INSURANCE, BY THE WAY, THAT'S NOT EXPERIENCE-RATED. AND SO
INSTEAD OF MAKING HOUSES SAFER AND PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE
RESIDENTS, THIS BILL DOES THE OPPOSITE BY REMOVING THAT PERSONAL
FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR LANDLORDS TO MAKE THEIR HOUSES SAFER. AND IN
THE PROCESS WE DRIVE UP THE COST. AND SO WHILE I WANT TO FOCUS ON
HAVING SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR LOW- OR MODERATE-
INCOME FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE FAMILIES WITH KIDS, THIS BILL
UNFORTUNATELY DOES THE OPPOSITE. AND FOR THAT REASON AND OTHERS WE
HAD 43 NO VOTES LAST YEAR AND I WOULD RECOMMEND TO MY COLLEAGUES
THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO KEEP LANDLORDS PERSONALLY
RESPONSIBLE IF THEY DON'T ADDRESS THE LEAD IN THEIR HOUSES, AND WE HELP
TENANTS HAVE THE LOWEST RENT AND THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY NOT
IMPOSING MORE COSTS THAT WILL BE INCLUDED INTO THEIR RENT.
THANK YOU, SIR.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.
24
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE ON ASSEMBLY PRINT 7488-A. THIS IS A PARTY VOTE. ANY
MEMBER WHO WISHES TO BE RECORDED AS AN EXCEPTION TO THEIR
CONFERENCE POSITION IS REMINDED TO CONTACT THE MAJORITY OR MINORITY
LEADER AT THE NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED.
MR. GOODELL.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, SIR. FOR THE REASONS I
MENTIONED, THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE IS GENERALLY OPPOSED TO THIS
LEGISLATION. THOSE WHO WISH TO SUPPORT IT ARE CERTAINLY FREE TO VOTE FOR
IT ON THE FLOOR HERE OF THE LEGISLATURE OR BY CALLING THE MINORITY
LEADER'S OFFICE AND ADVISING THEM.
THANK YOU, SIR.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MS. SOLAGES.
MS. SOLAGES: I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND MY
COLLEAGUES THAT THIS IS A PARTY VOTE. MAJORITY MEMBERS WILL BE
RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. IF THERE ARE ANY EXCEPTIONS, I ASK MAJORITY
MEMBERS TO CONTACT THE MAJORITY LEADER -- LEADER'S OFFICE AT THE
NUMBER PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED AND I WILL ANNOUNCE THEIR NAMES
ACCORDINGLY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
MS. WALSH.
MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WOULD YOU
25
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
PLEASE RECORD MR. MONTESANO IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ON THIS BILL?
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: SO NOTED. THANK
YOU.
MS. WALSH: THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ARE THERE ANY OTHER
VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
PAGE 10, CALENDAR NO. 49, THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00770-A, CALENDAR
NO. 49, ROSENTHAL, PERRY, OTIS, SIMON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CIVIL
RIGHTS LAW, IN RELATION TO PRIVACY OF ELECTRONIC FARE AND TOLL RECORDS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WALSH.
MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ON THE BILL.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, MS.
WALSH.
MS. WALSH: SO, THIS BILL HAS TO DO WITH PROTECTING
THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS SUCH AS E-ZPASS STATEMENTS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND WE DEBATED THIS BILL A COUPLE YEARS AGO, SO I
-- I DIDN'T FEEL A NEED TO -- TO DO A FULL DEBATE AGAIN TODAY. I JUST
WANTED TO KIND OF TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE BILL DOES, AND I THINK
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE WHAT IT DOESN'T DO IS A LITTLE BIT MORE IMPORTANT.
SO E-ZPASS RECORDS, WE KNOW THAT THOSE CAN BE CRITICAL TO SOLVING
CRIMES. WE KNOW THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, A RECENT -- WELL, FAIRLY RECENT
26
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
REALLY HORRIFIC CRIMINAL CASE, THE PORCO CASE, THE PORCO MURDER WAS IN
PART -- IN PART SOLVED, AND A SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED IN PART THROUGH THE
USE OF E-ZPASS RECORDS. SO THIS BILL SAYS THAT E-ZPASS RECORDS AND
ELECTRONIC RECORDS LIKE THAT WILL BE HELD CONFIDENTIAL AND CONSIDERED TO
BE PRIVATE WITH CERTAIN CARVEOUTS AND EXCEPTIONS. THE MOST NOTABLE
EXCEPTION, WHICH I THINK IS VERY GOOD IS THE EXCEPTION FOR CRIMINAL --
CRIMINAL CASES SUCH AS THE PORCO MURDER TRIAL AND THINGS LIKE THAT
WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PETITION THE COURT FOR EITHER A SEARCH
WARRANT OR A SUBPOENA TO GET THESE E-ZPASS STATEMENTS IN THOSE
INSTANCES. WHAT THE BILL DOESN'T DO, THOUGH, IS MORE IN THE CIVIL REALM.
SO IN CASES THAT ARE INVOLVING, SAY, MATRIMONIAL MATTERS WHERE THE
WHEREABOUTS OF A SPOUSE IS IN DISPUTE OR AN EMPLOYMENT
DISCRIMINATION CASE WHERE POSSIBLY THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE EMPLOYEE
IS BEING QUESTIONED, THESE RECORDS WOULD NOT BE OBTAINABLE THROUGH
FOIL OR THROUGH ANOTHER MEANS UNDER THIS LEGISLATION. THE ONLY CIVIL
-- THE ONLY CIVIL MATTER THAT YOU COULD ACCESS E-ZPASS RECORDS WOULD
BE IN A PROCEEDING REGARDING THE COLLECTION OF TOLL OR FARE REVENUES.
AND BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT IS SUFFICIENTLY BROAD ENOUGH TO
ALLOW FOR A REASONABLE REQUEST FOR THIS KIND OF INFORMATION IN THE TYPES
OF CASES THAT I MENTIONED -- WE DID HAVE BACK IN 2020 WHEN WE VOTED
ON THIS LAST, BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL -- I THINK THAT IT COULD BE
CORRECTED IN THE WAY OF A CHAPTER AMENDMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST
BROADENING THAT EXCEPTION, ALLOWING FOR A DISCOVERY OF THESE RECORDS
AND -- AND GIVE THE JUDGE DISCRETION AT LEAST TO CONSIDER THE RELEASE OF
THESE RECORDS IN A CIVIL MATTER WHERE IT WAS HELD APPROPRIATE.
27
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
AND FOR THOSE REASONS I WAS IN THE NEGATIVE IN MY
VOTE LAST TIME ON THIS BILL, AS WERE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND I WOULD
ENCOURAGE YOU CONTINUE TO VOTE NO ON THIS MATTER. I THINK THAT IN
TODAY'S DAY AND AGE, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, OUR WHEREABOUTS ARE
REALLY NOT VERY PRIVATE ANYMORE. WE HAVE CELL PHONES. ALMOST ALL OF
THEM HAVE CAMERAS IN THEM. WE HAVE CAMERAS AT ALMOST -- OR MANY
INTERSECTIONS WHERE WE TRAVEL, AND I DON'T THINK OUR WHEREABOUTS REALLY
ARE PRIVATE AND PERSONAL ANYMORE, MUCH -- THOUGH WE MIGHT PREFER
THEM TO BE. SO I THINK WE CAN'T REALLY UNRING THAT BELL. I THINK THAT
THERE IS SOME UTILITY IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES OF THESE E-ZPASS
RECORDS. AND FOR THOSE REASONS I THINK THE BILL DOESN'T GO QUITE FAR
ENOUGH IN CARVING OUT A REASONABLE REQUEST IN THE CIVIL REALM.
SO AGAIN, I WOULD RECOMMEND A NO VOTE AND I WILL BE
VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE ON ASSEMBLY PRINT 770-A. THIS IS A PARTY VOTE. ANY MEMBER
WHO WISHES TO BE RECORDED AS AN EXCEPTION TO THEIR CONFERENCE
POSITION IS REMINDED TO CONTACT THE MAJORITY OR MINORITY LEADER AT THE
NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED.
MS. WALSH TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE?
MS. WALSH: ACTUALLY, TO STATE THE -- THAT THE
CONFERENCE WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS PARTICULAR BILL FOR
28
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
THE REASONS THAT I -- I HAD PREVIOUSLY STATED. BUT IF THERE ARE MEMBERS
WHO WISH TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THEY'RE ENCOURAGED TO DO SO IN THE
CHAMBER OR BY CONTACTING THE MINORITY LEADER'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, MS.
WALSH.
MS. SOLAGES.
MS. SOLAGES: I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND MY
COLLEAGUES THAT THIS IS A PARTY VOTE. MAJORITY MEMBERS WILL BE
RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. IF YOU HAVE OBJECTIONS, YOU CAN CALL THE
MAJORITY LEADER'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. GOODELL.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN.
PLEASE RECORD MY COLLEAGUES MR. MONTESANO AND MR. WALCZYK IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE.
THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
PAGE 10, CALENDAR -- CALENDAR NO. 55, THE CLERK WILL
READ.
29
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00839-A, CALENDAR
NO. 55, GOTTFRIED, ABINANTI, MCDONOUGH, COLTON, GALEF, SAYEGH,
DESTEFANO, DARLING, SIMON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW
AND THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW, IN RELATION TO PATIENT HEALTH INFORMATION
AND MEDICAL RECORDS.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: AN EXPLANATION HAS
BEEN REQUESTED, MR. GOTTFRIED.
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES, THANK YOU. SO, SECTION 17
OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW DEALS WITH THE RIGHT -- WITH THE TRANSFER OF
HEALTH RECORDS FROM ONE HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONER WHO HAS BEEN TREATING
SOMEONE TO A NEW HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONER WHO WILL NOW BE TREATING
THAT PERSON. SECTION 18 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW DEALS WITH PROVIDING
THOSE RECORDS TO -- TO THE PATIENT, BASICALLY. IT'S A LAW THAT HAS NOT BEEN
UPDATED IN A LONG TIME. THIS BILL AMENDS THOSE TWO SECTIONS PLUS A
VERY SIMILAR SECTION IN THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW DEALING WITH MENTAL
HYGIENE RECORDS, PRIMARILY TO ADD MORE CATEGORIES OF HEALTHCARE
PRACTITIONERS TO THE LIST OF PROVIDERS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THE LAW, TO ALSO
BROADEN THE DEFINITION OF RECORDS TO MAKE IT CLEARER, AND IT MAKES THOSE
CHANGES IN SECTION 17, SECTION 18 AS WELL AS THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THE BILL DOES.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. GOODELL.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU. WOULD THE SPONSOR
YIELD?
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WOULD THE SPONSOR
YIELD?
30
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MR. GOTTFRIED. DOES
THIS BILL ALSO REQUIRE THAT THOSE RECORDS BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE?
MR. GOTTFRIED: IT SAYS THAT IT -- IT -- I WOULD SAY
IT CLARIFIES THAT THE ONLY CHARGE THAT MAY BE MADE IS THE COST OF ACTUALLY
REPRODUCING THE RECORDS. SO YOU -- YOU CAN'T CHARGE A -- A SERVICE FEE
ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE GENERALLY INTERPRETED AS
BEING THE EFFECT OF THE CURRENT LAW. THIS MAKES IT CLEARER.
MR. GOODELL: NOW, THE CURRENT LAW AUTHORIZES A
FAIR AND REASONABLE CHARGE. ISN'T THAT THE STANDARD?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YES, BUT I -- I THINK THAT HAS
GENERALLY BEEN INTERPRETED AS MEANING RELATING TO THE -- THE ACTUAL COST.
BUT IN ANY EVENT, WHATEVER THE HISTORY MAY HAVE BEEN THIS BILL MAKES
IT CLEAR THAT THE CHARGE THAT MAY BE MADE HAS TO BE LIMITED TO THE COST
TO THE PROVIDER OF -- OF PROVIDING THE RECORD.
MR. GOODELL: AND UNDER CURRENT LAW A LOT OF
THESE ARE A FLAT FEE, LIKE 75 CENTS PER COPY OR SOME OTHER FLAT
DESIGNATED FEE?
MR. GOTTFRIED: FOR PAPER COPIES THERE'S
LANGUAGE IN THE CURRENT LAW, ABOUT 75 CENTS A PAGE. AS YOU CAN SEE,
THIS BILL, I -- I'LL HAVE TO GO LOOK IF YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU EXACTLY THE
WORDS THAT IT -- THAT IT USES TO REPLACE THE 75 CENTS, BUT IT'S SPELLED OUT
IN THE BILL.
MR. GOODELL: AND WOULD THIS BILL AUTHORIZE A
31
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO RECOUP THE STAFF TIME IT TAKES TO PULL THE RECORDS,
PUT IN A -- COPY THEM IN ADDITION TO JUST THE COPYING COST ITSELF?
MR. GOTTFRIED: WELL, I -- I WOULD SAY THE -- MY
UNDERSTANDING OF THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL IS THAT IT -- IT'S THE COST OF --
OF PROVIDING THE RECORD. THAT WHAT CANNOT BE CHARGED IS SOME
ADDITIONAL SERVICE CHARGE.
MR. GOODELL: I SEE. SO IT WOULD BE YOUR INTENT,
THEN, THAT IF A HOSPITAL OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER CAN REASONABLY DOCUMENT
THE TIME IT TAKES A STAFF PERSON TO PULL THE RECORD, PUT IT INTO A
PRESENTABLE FORMAT, COPY IT, PUT IT IN THE MAIL OR E-MAIL IT, THOSE STAFF
COSTS COULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE?
MR. GOTTFRIED: YOU KNOW, I -- I WANT TO FIND THE
ACTUAL LANGUAGE IN THE BILL. IF YOU HAVE THE PAGE AND LINE NUMBER I'LL --
I'LL LOOK AT IT AGAIN. I DON'T WANT TO HOLD UP THE FLOOR DISCUSSION WHILE I
TRY TO READ THROUGH A SIX-PAGE BILL TO FIND THAT SPECIFIC LANGUAGE.
MR. GOODELL: NOR DO I, MR. GOTTFRIED. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, THOUGH, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
ON THE BILL, SIR.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, MR.
GOODELL.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU. FROM TIME TO TIME AS
AN ATTORNEY A CLIENT WILL CALL ME UP AND SAY, HEY. DO YOU HAVE A COPY
OF MY WHATEVER. YOU KNOW, MY JUDGMENT THAT I -- I WON OR A COPY OF A
COURT DECISION FROM TEN YEARS AGO OR A COPY OF THE TITLE SEARCH? AND
-- AND WE SAY, SURE. AND OF COURSE WE THEN HAVE TO GET UP, STOP WHAT
32
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
WE'RE DOING, GO DOWN INTO OUR ARCHIVES, FIND THE FILE, PULL IT OUT, BRING
IT UP, COPY IT, MAKE SURE IT'S WHAT THE CLIENT WANTS, PUT IT IN AN
ENVELOPE AND SEND IT TO THEM. AND OF COURSE THE CLIENTS ALWAYS THINK
THAT WE DO EVERYTHING FOR FREE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANY WORK.
AND SO THE CONCEPT OF THIS BILL THAT A HOSPITAL OR HEALTH INSURANCE
PROVIDER ONLY CAN CHARGE THEIR ACTUAL REASONABLE -- ACTUAL
OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE I THINK IS A CONCEPT THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF US
SUPPORT. IT IS IMPORTANT, THOUGH, TO RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE ACTUAL COSTS
INCLUDE THE COST OF STAFF AND POSTAGE AND THE TIME IT TAKES TO PULL
RECORDS. AND WITH THE HOPE THAT THAT IS INCLUDED WITHIN THIS DEFINITION,
I KNOW I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT. MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL, BUT NOT ALL OF
THEM BECAUSE OF THE CONCERN THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PATIENT
REIMBURSE THOSE COSTS, SOMEONE ELSE REIMBURSES THEM, NAMELY,
EVERYONE ELSE THAT USES THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
SO THOSE ARE THE CONCERNS. IN GENERAL, I SUPPORT THE
CONCEPT AND RECOMMEND IT TO MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU, SIR.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MR. GOTTFRIED.
MR. GOTTFRIED: JUST TO CLARIFY FOR -- FOR MR.
GOODELL AND -- AND FOR THE MEMBERS. ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OF
WHAT EXPENSES WOULD BE COVERED, THE CURRENT LAW REFERS TO
REIMBURSEMENT FOR SUCH EXPENSES. IT DOESN'T REALLY SPECIFY. THE ONLY
CHANGE IN THAT PART OF THE LAW THAT THE BILL MAKES IS TO SAY "SHALL NOT
EXCEED THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER'S ACTUAL EXPENSES," WHICH I -- I THINK IS
CLEARLY WHAT THE CURRENT LAW WOULD MEAN. THIS JUST MAKES IT CLEARER.
33
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
SO ANY EXPENSES THAT WOULD BE COVERED BY THOSE WORDS TODAY WOULD
CONTINUE TO BE COVERED AS LONG AS THEY WERE ACTUAL EXPENSES.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.
READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1ST.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE ON ASSEMBLY PRINT 83 -- 839-A. THIS IS A FAST ROLL CALL. ANY
MEMBER WHO WISHES TO BE RECORDED IN THE NEGATIVE IS REMINDED TO
CONTACT THE MAJORITY OR MINORITY LEADER AT THE NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY
PROVIDED.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
PAGE 12, CALENDAR NO. 77, THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01464-A, CALENDAR
NO. 77, DINOWITZ, SEAWRIGHT, STIRPE. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CIVIL
PRACTICE LAW AND RULES, IN RELATION TO ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. GOODELL.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU. WOULD THE SPONSOR
YIELD?
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. DINOWITZ, WILL
YOU YIELD?
MR. DINOWITZ: YES, I WILL YIELD.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.
34
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MR. DINOWITZ. I KNOW
THIS BILL HAS A COUPLE OF PARTS, AND I'M JUST GOING TO LOOK AT THE CHANGES
THAT ARE ON -- STARTING ON PAGE 4, WHICH IF I UNDERSTAND IT CONTAINS A
BROAD PROHIBITION ON ANY ARBITRATION AGREEMENT THAT IS SIGNED BEFORE A
DISPUTE ARISES INVOLVING CONSUMER GOODS OR EMPLOYMENT; IS THAT
CORRECT?
MR. DINOWITZ: YES.
MR. GOODELL: I SEE IT HAS AN EXCEPTION, HOWEVER,
FOR MANDATORY ARBITRATION THAT ARE -- AGREEMENTS THAT ARE CONTAINED IN A
UNION CONTRACT, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CONTRACT, CORRECT?
MR. DINOWITZ: YES.
MR. GOODELL: I WAS INVOLVED FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS IN NEGOTIATIONS ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS. I REPRESENT
BOTH EMPLOYERS AND UNIONS FROM TIME TO TIME.
MR. DINOWITZ: YOU REPRESENTED UNION MEMBERS?
MR. GOODELL: YEAH, I REPRESENTED THE LOCAL STEEL
WORKERS.
MR. DINOWITZ: OH. GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
MR. GOODELL: AND I FOUND THAT MOST OF THE TIME
-- IN FACT, IN MY EXPERIENCE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IT WAS THE UNION THAT
WAS SEEKING MANDATORY ARBITRATION. SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY WON'T WE
ALLOW NON-UNION MEMBERS TO SEEK THE SAME TYPE OF AN AGREEMENT?
MR. DINOWITZ: WELL, I ASSUME THAT WHEN THE
UNIONS ARE ASKING FOR MANDATORY ARBITRATION THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT --
AND ISSUES OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, THAT'S REALLY NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING
35
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
ABOUT HERE.
MR. GOODELL: BUT MY QUESTION AGAIN IS WHY --
WHY DO WE ALLOW UNION MEMBERS TO NEGOTIATE BINDING ARBITRATION,
WHICH MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THEY WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, AND NOT
ALLOW PRIVATE EMPLOYEES TO ENJOY THE SAME BENEFITS IF THEY WANTED TO?
I MEAN, IF THEY WANTED TO SIGN SUCH AN AGREEMENT OR ASK FOR SUCH AN
AGREEMENT IN ADVANCE, WHY WOULDN'T WE LET THEM ENJOY THE SAME
BENEFITS?
MR. DINOWITZ: I -- I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE SAME THINGS HERE. THE -- THE UNIONS IN THEIR COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING MAY BE DISCUSSING CERTAIN ISSUES THAT RELATES TO EVERYBODY,
WHEREAS WE'RE TALKING HERE ABOUT INDIVIDUALS. AND WHEN IT COMES TO
INDIVIDUALS THEY'RE IN A VERY WEAK POSITION RELATIVE TO THE EMPLOYERS.
MR. GOODELL: BUT THIS BARS AN INDIVIDUAL FROM
EVEN NEGOTIATING THAT, RIGHT?
MR. DINOWITZ: WELL, IT'S -- IT'S I DON'T HAVE DATA TO
BACK THIS UP, BUT I'M SURE IN 99.99 PERCENT OF THE CASES IT'S NOT THE
INDIVIDUAL THAT WANTS THE MANDATORY ARBITRATION, IT'S THE EMPLOYER THAT
WANTS IT.
MR. GOODELL: WELL, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I'VE
NEVER SEEN AN EMPLOYER REQUEST MANDATORY OR BINDING ARBITRATION IN A
UNION CONTRACT. IT WAS ALWAYS THE EMPLOYEES THAT WERE DEMANDING.
MR. DINOWITZ: YOUR -- THE RED HERRING THAT YOU
RAISE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT. WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUAL SITUATIONS THAT HAVE NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO
36
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
DINOWITZ. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
ON THE BILL, SIR.
MR. DINOWITZ: YOU'RE WELCOME.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, MR.
GOODELL.
MR. GOODELL: NORMALLY, WE SUPPORT (INAUDIBLE)
NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS BETWEEN KNOWLEDGEABLE, INFORMED, CONSENTING
ADULTS, IF YOU WILL. AND IN THIS SITUATION THIS BILL WOULD SAY AN
EMPLOYEE CANNOT -- REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH THEY WANT TO -- THEY
CANNOT ENTER INTO AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT THAT CONTAINS A VALID
BINDING ARBITRATION CLAUSE IN ADVANCE. NOW, THE ONLY ONES THAT COULD
NEGOTIATE FOR THAT UNDER THIS ARE UNIONS. AND IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE TO ME THAT WE SHOULD SAY UNIONS CAN NEGOTIATE FOR BINDING
ARBITRATION IN AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT BUT NOBODY ELSE IN THE STATE OF
NEW YORK, NO MATTER HOW SOPHISTICATED OR THOUGHTFUL THEY ARE, CAN
ENTER INTO SUCH AN AGREEMENT.
AND FOR THAT REASON I RECOMMEND THAT MY COLLEAGUES
VOTE AGAINST THIS BILL AND ALLOW THOUGHTFUL, INTELLIGENT, COMPETENT
PEOPLE TO NEGOTIATE ON THEIR OWN FOR THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THEY
MOST DESIRE WITHOUT US, AS THE LEGISLATURE, PROHIBITING THEM FROM
ACHIEVING WHAT THEY WANT. FOR THAT REASON I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST IT
AND ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME. THANK YOU, SIR.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
37
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1ST.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD
THE VOTE ON ASSEMBLY PRINT 1464-A. THIS IS A PARTY VOTE. ANY
MEMBER WHO WISHES TO BE RECORDED AS AN EXCEPTION TO THEIR
CONFERENCE POSITION IS REMINDED TO CONTACT THE MAJORITY OR MINORITY
LEADER AT THE NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED.
MR. GOODELL.
MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, SIR. THE REPUBLICAN
CONFERENCE IS GENERALLY OPPOSED TO THIS LEGISLATION FOR THE REASONS I
MENTIONED. BUT THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT CAN CERTAINLY VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT
HERE ON THE FLOOR OR BY CALLING THE MINORITY LEADER'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU, SIR.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MS. SOLAGES.
MS. SOLAGES: I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND MY
COLLEAGUES THAT THIS IS A -- A -- MAJORITY MEMBERS WILL BE VOTING IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE, AND IF THERE'S ANY EXCEPTIONS I ASK THEM TO CALL THE
MAJORITY LEADER'S OFFICE AND WE WILL ANNOUNCE THEIR NAMES
ACCORDINGLY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
MS. WALSH.
MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON THIS BILL
WOULD YOU PLEASE NOTE MR. MONTESANO IN THE AFFIRMATIVE?
38
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: SO NOTED. THANK
YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
MS. SOLAGES.
MS. SOLAGES: MR. SPEAKER, WE NOW ASK THAT THE
HOUSE STAND AT EASE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE HOUSE WILL STAND
AT EASE.
(WHEREUPON, THE HOUSE STOOD AT EASE.)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE HOUSE WILL COME
BACK TO ORDER.
MS. SOLAGES.
MS. SOLAGES: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AS WE
BEGIN OUR TRADITIONAL WELCOME OF OUR WEST POINT GUESTS, AND I KNOW I
SPEAK FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS ALL NEW
YORKERS, I TRULY WOULD LIKE TO SAY HOW HONORED WE ARE TO BE HOME TO
SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS AND HISTORIC INSTITUTION AS WEST POINT. WEST POINT
GRADUATES CAN BE COUNTED THROUGHOUT HISTORY AS SOME OF THE NATION'S
GREATEST LEADERS, AND I SUSPECT AND I'M CONFIDENT A NUMBER OF THOSE
FUTURE LEADERS ARE HERE IN THE CHAMBER TODAY. FROM MILITARY
COMMANDERS TO ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PIONEERS OF INDUSTRY, WEST POINT
GRADUATES HAVE MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE EXTRAORDINARY
39
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTH OUR SOCIETY AND OUR NATION. THE CADETS JOINED
TODAY HERE HAVE CHOSEN A PATH OF SERVICE. IN MY OPINION, THERE'S
NOTHING MORE HONORABLE, NOTHING MORE NOBLE AND NOTHING MORE
WORTHY OF OUR RESPECT AND ADMIRATION THAN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. I
APPLAUD THESE FINE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FOR PLACING SERVICE BEFORE
SELF. MAY WE PAUSE IN OUR DELIBERATIONS TO HONOR THEIR COURAGE, THANK
THEM FOR THEIR SELFLESS SACRIFICE AND WISH THEM GOOD HEALTH AND SAFETY
AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY.
AND, MR. SPEAKER, I NOW LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
YOUR REMARKS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU SO MUCH,
MS. SOLAGES. TODAY WE RETURN TO AN ANNUAL TRADITION THAT WAS PAUSED,
AS SO MUCH OF OUR LIVES WERE, BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. SEVENTY
YEARS AGO THE ASSEMBLY, THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF ASSEMBLYMAN AND
WEST POINT GRADUATE JAMES T. MCNAMARA, ADOPTED ITS FIRST WEST POINT
RESOLUTION TO HONOR THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY. I AM
HONORED ON BEHALF OF SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE AND ALL MY ASSEMBLY
COLLEAGUES TO BEGIN OUR ANNUAL RECOGNITION OF WEST POINT AND THE
CADETS WHO VISIT US TODAY.
WITH US TODAY WE HAVE COLONEL KWENTON KUHLMAN,
DIRECTOR OF THE SIMON CENTER FOR THE PROFESSIONAL MILITARY ETHICS.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL BETH SMITH, UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER. CHAPLAIN CAPTAIN RAYMOND AKERIWE. CAPTAIN
NICHOLAS TRITONE, UNITED STATES CORPS OF CADETS TACTICAL OFFICER,
COMPANY C-4. SERGEANT FIRST CLASS LUISITO BROOKS, UNITED STATES
40
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
MILITARY ACADEMY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER
IN CHARGE. JIM FOX, UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT CHIEF. AND THE FINE CADETS WHO WILL SOON BE INTRODUCED
BY THE MEMBERS OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY.
THE HIGHLY RESPECTED WEST POINT ACADEMY HAS STOOD
TALL AND PROUD IN NEW YORK'S BEAUTIFUL HUDSON VALLEY SINCE 1802.
THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ATTEND WEST POINT REPRESENT THE BEST
AND BRIGHTEST OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE ACADEMY GRADUATES HAVE A
LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS. THE
UNITED STATES ACADEMY AT WEST POINT HAS SERVED AS A TESTAMENT TO THE
PRINCIPLES OF HONOR, DUTY AND COUNTRY. THE LEGACY IS TRULY UNMATCHED.
IT IS THE OLDEST OF THE FIVE SERVICE ACADEMIES. IN JUST A MOMENT WE WILL
TAKE UP A RESOLUTION HONORING THE LEGACY OF THE ACADEMY AND THE ROLE
THAT IT HAS PLAYED IN SHAPING THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE AND THE NATION.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT TODAY AND FOR YOUR UNWAVERING
COMMITMENT TO OUR NATION.
(APPLAUSE)
THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE RESOLUTION.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 689, MR.
SCHMITT.
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR
KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 24, 2022 AS WEST POINT DAY IN NEW
YORK STATE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION,
MRS. BARRETT.
41
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
MRS. BARRETT: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON THE
RESOLUTION. IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR AND PLEASURE THAT I STAND HERE TODAY
AS THE FIRST WOMAN CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY'S VETERANS' AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE PARTICIPATING IN THIS ANNUAL EVENT DEDICATED TO THE UNITED
STATES ACADEMY AT WEST POINT. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME COLONEL
KWENTON KUHLMAN, THE OUTSTANDING CADETS INCLUDING FIRST CAPTAIN
HOLLAND PRATT, THE SENIOR PERSONNEL AND OTHERS WHO CAME ALONG TODAY
FOR JOINING US ON THIS SPECIAL OCCASION TO HONOR THIS ESTEEMED
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK STATE.
TODAY MARKS THE 70TH TIME THAT THE ASSEMBLY HAS HONORED THE MEN
AND WOMEN WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE CORPS OF CADETS AND THE SENIOR
PERSONNEL FROM WEST POINT. FOR 220 YEARS, THE UNITED STATES MILITARY
ACADEMY AT WEST POINT HAS GUIDED THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST THROUGH
INTENSIVE TRAINING AND VIGOROUS ACADEMIC CURRICULUM TO PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS. IT IS THESE HALLOWED HALLS OUR FUTURE LEADERS
COME TO LEARN AND COMMIT THEMSELVES, AS YOU HEARD, TO THE VALUES OF
DUTY, HONOR AND COUNTRY. THESE THREE WORDS ARE INSTILLED IN THE
THOUSANDS OF HOURS SPENT TRAINING, EDUCATING AND INSPIRING EACH CADET
SO THAT THEY MAY GRADUATE AS A COMMISSIONED LEADER PREPARED FOR A
CAREER IN EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE TO OUR NATION AS AN OFFICER OF THE
UNITED STATES ARMY.
THE ACADEMY, LOCATED IN THE BEAUTIFUL HUDSON VALLEY
WHICH I HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING -- MY DISTRICT IS ACROSS THE RIVER
AND A LITTLE FARTHER NORTH. IT'S A NATIONAL LANDMARK AND HOME TO HISTORIC
SITES, (INAUDIBLE) BUILDINGS, MONUMENTS. SINCE 1802 WEST POINT HAS
42
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
SERVED AS AN ACADEMY AND HOLDS THE TITLE AS AMERICA'S OLDEST
CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING OCCUPIED MILITARY POST. WE OWE THE CADETS OUR
RESPECT AND GRATITUDE. I SALUTE YOU ALL. I SALUTE THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE
AND WISH THEM THE BEST OF LUCK AS THEY CONTINUE TO FULFILL THEIR
COMMITMENT TO OUR NATION.
ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AND CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU, ALL OF THE
CADETS AND THE DISTINGUISHED STAFF ACCOMPANYING THEM HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MR. ASHBY.
MR. ASHBY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S A -- IT'S A
GREAT -- IT'S A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE WEST POINT AGAIN
TODAY IN OUR CHAMBER. IT'S BEEN -- ITS BEEN A WHILE. AND IN MY TIME
I'VE HAD THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVING WITH SEVERAL WEST POINT
GRADS AND THEY LET ME KNOW THAT THEY WERE WEST POINT GRADS.
(LAUGHTER)
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID FOR THAT.
THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID FOR THAT. THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN HERE
TODAY AND THE OFFICERS THAT ACCOMPANY THEM, THE SENIOR NCOS, THEIR
LEVEL OF COMMITMENT, DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE SHOULD INSPIRE EVERY
SINGLE PERSON IN THIS CHAMBER. AND I KNOW THAT WE DO A GREAT DEAL TO
HONOR THEM WHEN THEY COME HERE TODAY, BUT I WANT US TO REMEMBER
THEM EACH AND EVERY DAY, WHETHER WE'RE IN SESSION OR NOT. REGARDLESS
OF WHAT IS OCCURRING IN OUR OWN DISTRICTS, BUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD,
43
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
KNOWING THAT THESE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN ARE STANDING GUARD FOR US
EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY.
I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND BE HERE TODAY
WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS GREAT, GREAT DAY FOR WEST POINT. THANK
YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MS. HUNTER.
MS. HUNTER: YES. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AS
CHAIR OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S VETERANS AND A PROUD U.S.
ARMY VETERAN I AM HONORED TODAY TO WELCOME THE ENTIRE WEST POINT
COMMAND, ESPECIALLY THE MEMBERS OF THE CORPS OF CADETS. IT HAS BEEN
47 YEARS SINCE PRESIDENT GERALD FORD SIGNED INTO LAW A BILL DIRECTING
THAT WOMEN BE ADMITTED TO AMERICA'S SERVICE ACADEMIES, OCTOBER 8,
1975. ON JULY 7, 1976 119 WOMEN MADE HISTORY, BECOMING THE FIRST
FEMALES TO JOIN THE CORPS OF CADETS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY
ACADEMY AT WEST POINT.
TO EACH CADET, I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST AS YOU
CONTINUE TO LEARN THE IMPORTANT ROLE YOU WILL PLAY IN THE WORLD TODAY. I
HOPE THE WORDS AND OUR ARMY SOLDIER'S CREED WILL ALWAYS GUIDE YOU, TO
ALWAYS PLACE THE MISSION FIRST, TO NEVER ACCEPT DEFEAT, TO NEVER QUIT, TO
NEVER LEAVE A FALLEN COMRADE. CADETS I END WITH, GO ARMY, BEAT
NAVY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MR. SCHMITT ON THE RESOLUTION.
MR. SCHMITT: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT IS A
44
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
DISTINCT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES MILITARY
ACADEMY AT WEST POINT IN THE 99TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT FOR THE LAST FOUR
YEARS. SO HONORED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COME BACK TOGETHER IN PERSON
AND HAVE OUR CADETS AND THEIR MILITARY LEADERS TRAVEL UP AND JOIN US
HERE TODAY. WEST POINT IS REALLY THE CROWN JEWEL OF OUR 99TH ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT. WHEREVER I GO IN THE COUNTRY OR WHEREVER I'VE TRAVELED IN THE
WORLD AS AN ASSEMBLYPERSON, EVERYONE SAYS, WELL, WHAT AREA OF NEW
YORK DO YOU REPRESENT? AND I ALWAYS SAY, I REPRESENT THE WEST POINT
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT. IT'S KNOWN AND RENOWNED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD NO
MATTER WHO YOU TALK TO, NO MATTER WHO YOU MEET. EVERYBODY KNOWS,
HONORS AND SALUTES WHAT WEST POINT STANDS FOR FOR OUR STATE, FOR THE
COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT AND FOR OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY. WEST POINT
OBVIOUSLY DEVELOPS MILITARY LEADERS AND ACADEMIC LEADERS THAT GO ON TO
EVERY INDUSTRY THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE. THEY RUN -- THEY HELP RUN THE
GOVERNMENT, THE MILITARY, PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU NAME IT. YOU WILL ALWAYS
CROSS PATHS WITH A WEST POINT GRADUATE. SO NOT ONLY IS IT THE PREMIERE
MILITARY ACADEMY OF THE WORLD, BUT WEST POINT TRULY IS THE PREMIERE
ACADEMIC INSTITUTION IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. THERE IS NO OTHER INSTITUTION
THAT EVEN GETS AS CLOSE TO TRYING TO TIE WEST POINT AS THE STANDARD THAT
WEST POINT HOLDS. THE ENTIRE 137,000 PEOPLE OF THE 99TH ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT ARE PROUD TO -- TO BE HOME TO SUCH AN INSTITUTION AND TO SUCH
AMAZING LEADERS, MEN AND WOMEN WHO CONTINUE TO NOT ONLY LEAD, BUT
TO SET THE NEW STANDARD DAY AFTER DAY FOR WHICH WE ALL STRIVE FOR.
SO THANK YOU TO THE CADETS, TO THE -- TO THEIR -- TO THEIR
LEADERS FOR BEING HERE, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO EVERY DAY, AND WE LOOK
45
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
FORWARD TO THIS NEARLY 70-YEAR TRADITION CONTINUING IN PERPETUITY IN THE
ASSEMBLY AND IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR
COUNTRY SAFE. GOD BLESS.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.
ON THE RESOLUTION -- OH, MR. GIGLIO -- I'M SORRY, MS.
GIGLIO.
MS. GIGLIO: WEST POINT. THE VERY NAME IS
SYNONYMOUS WITH EXCELLENCE. THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY,
INTERTWINED WITH THE HISTORY OF OUR GREAT NATION AND IS PART OF THE
FOUNDATION UPON WHICH THE UNITED STATES IS BUILT. WEST POINT
GRADUATES HAVE AND CAN BE FOUND IN EVERY PART OF OUR SOCIETY, OUR
GOVERNMENT AND OUR MILITARY, WHERE THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY SETS
THE STANDARD OF PROFESSIONALISM, DILIGENCE AND RESPECT. I AM PROUD TO
HAVE THE ACADEMY IN OUR STATE AND AM HONORED TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES
IN DECLARING MARCH 24, 2022 AS WEST POINT DAY IN NEW YORK STATE,
AND WE WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
AND LOOK FORWARD TO YEARS OF YOU VISITING US AGAIN.
THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
ON THE RESOLUTION -- MR. BURDICK, I'M SORRY. WE HAVE
SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS.
MR. BURDICK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND IT IS
CERTAINLY MY HONOR TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION
AND CELEBRATION. AND OF COURSE BEING NEW TO THIS CHAMBER LAST YEAR I
DID NOT HAVE THE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF JOINING IN THIS ACTIVITY EARLIER.
46
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
AND I, TOO, HAVE THE GREAT HONOR TO REPRESENT A BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL
PORTION OF THE HUDSON VALLEY IN NORTHERN WESTCHESTER COUNTY ACROSS
FROM WEST POINT. AND I WANT TO UNDERLINE THAT I THINK THAT IT IS REALLY
NEW YORK'S PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR STATE THE PREEMINENT
MILITARY ACADEMY IN THE COUNTRY, AND WE ALL CAN BE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
AND WE ALL ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE CADETS AND OFFICERS THAT COME
BEFORE US TODAY.
THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MR. JACOBSON.
MR. JACOBSON: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON THE
RESOLUTION. I'M SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION. I -- I
GREW UP JUST A FEW MILES AWAY. I REPRESENT THE DISTRICT JUST NORTH. AND
I WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THE -- THE ACADEMY IS TO THE
HUDSON VALLEY. THAT IT'S -- THAT IT'S A REALLY -- IT'S ALSO AN ECONOMIC
ENGINE THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT. AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN
INSPIRATION. IT'S INSPIRATION IN ALL DIFFERENT AREAS. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT'S
AN INSPIRATION -- THEIR FOOTBALL TEAM IS AN INSPIRATION BECAUSE WE WOULD
GO DOWN THERE AND THEY WOULD SAY, YOU GO DOWN THERE AND YOU WATCH
WHAT THEY DO. AND WHATEVER -- WHATEVER YOU DID, THEY MADE US DO --
DO IT IN PRACTICE, ONLY THREE TIMES MORE. AND IT WAS ALWAYS A WAY OF
LEARNING AND SO FORTH, AND IT WAS ALWAYS GOOD TO GO AROUND THE
GROUNDS AND SEE THE RICH HISTORY. AND IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE THAT --
THE CADETS THAT ARE HERE. AND YOU ALWAYS THINK THAT ALL OF US IN THIS
CHAMBER AND IN THE SENATE AND EVERYBODY IN STATE GOVERNMENT SHOULD
47
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
ALWAYS REMEMBER THE MOTTO OF HONOR, DUTY AND COUNTRY.
SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED.
(APPLAUSE)
IT IS NOW MY PRIVILEGE TO CALL UPON COLONEL KWENTON
KUHLMAN, THE DIRECTOR OF THE SIMON CENTER FOR THE PROFESSIONAL
MILITARY ETHNICS, TO JOIN ME HERE AT THE ROSTRUM TO ACCEPT THE
RESOLUTION AND TO ADDRESS THIS BODY. SERGEANT-OF-ARMS WAYNE
JACKSON WILL ESCORT THE COLONEL TO THE ROSTRUM.
(APPLAUSE)
COLONEL KWENTON KUHLMAN: SPEAKER OF
THE HOUSE HEASTIE, ASSEMBLYMAN SCHMITT, ASSEMBLYMAN [SIC] BARRETT
AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS DISTINGUISHED ASSEMBLY, GOOD AFTERNOON
AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS COLONEL
KWENTON KUHLMAN, AND ON BEHALF OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT LIEUTENANT
GENERAL DARRYL WILLIAMS, I'M HONORED TO ADDRESS YOU ON BEHALF OF THE
ENTIRE TEAM AT THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY. WE THANK YOU FOR
THIS RECOGNITION.
I'M JOINED TODAY BY CADET DIEGO SOTO, SECOND
REGIMENTAL COMMANDER IN THE CORPS OF CADETS, AND EIGHT CADETS FROM
ACROSS NEW YORK STATE REPRESENTING MORE THAN 4,000 MEMBERS OF THE
CORPS OF CADETS, 275 OF WHOM CALL THE EMPIRE STATE HOME. IT IS
WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO JOIN YOU IN PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL
48
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
YEARS. COVID IMPACTED US ALL PROFOUNDLY THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE
LEADERS AT WEST POINT WISH TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE SUPPORT
THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC FROM STATE, LOCAL AND
COUNTY LEADERS IN NEW YORK. THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION AND
COOPERATION HAS MADE SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATING COVID POSSIBLE.
THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, NEW YORKERS HAVE STEPPED FORWARD TO DO
THEIR DUTY TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY AND STAND IN THE GAP IN DEFENSE OF THIS
GREAT NATION.
THE DAY I IN-PROCESSED INTO THE 82ND AIRBORNE
DIVISION AS A CAPTAIN IN 2004, MY PAPERWORK WAS COMPLETED BY AN
ENLISTED SOLDIER, A SPECIALIST, NORMALLY SOMEONE FAIRLY JUNIOR. BUT THIS
INDIVIDUAL WAS VISIBLY OLDER THAN MOST; WHITE HAIRED AND A PERSON WHO
HAD A BIT OF LIFE UNDER HIS BELT. I RECALL ASKING HIM, SPECIALIST, WHAT IS
YOUR STORY? YOU'RE A BIT OLDER THAN MOST OF OUR TROOPERS. HE
PROCEEDED TO TELL ME HE WAS AN INVESTMENT BANKER ON WALL STREET
WHEN 9/11 HAPPENED, AND HE KNEW THAT HE HAD TO DO HIS PART. HE
WALKED AWAY FROM A VERY LUCRATIVE JOB TO SERVE HIS NATION DURING
WARTIME. HIS STORY AND THE STORY OF COUNTLESS OTHER SELFLESS NEW
YORKERS IS THE STRENGTH OF OUR NATION. FROM THE REGIMENTS OF THE NEW
YORK LINE DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION TO UNITS LIKE THE FIGHTING
IRISH OF THE 69TH INFANTRY REGIMENT IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, NEW
YORKERS HAVE FOUGHT AND SERVED WITH VALOR AND DISTINCTION, WITH SOME
MAKING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. THE UNITED STATES ARMY HAS ALWAYS
HAD A STRONG PRESENCE IN NEW YORK, TO INCLUDE WEST POINT, FROM ITS
EARLY DAYS AS A STRATEGIC GARRISON IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE BRITISH AND THE
49
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
DEFENSE OF THE AMERICAN COLONIES TO OUR ROLE TODAY AS THE WORLD'S
PREEMINENT LEADER DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTION. AND JUST AS WEST POINT
HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT THREAD IN THE FABRIC OF THE EMPIRE STATE, SO, TOO,
HAVE NEW YORKERS BEEN AN IMPORTANT THREAD IN THE FABRIC OF WEST
POINT AND THE ACADEMY. IN ADDITION TO THE 275 CADETS CURRENTLY
ATTENDING, MORE THAN 7,700 GRADUATES -- NEARLY TEN PERCENT OF THE
LONG GRAY LINE -- CLAIM NEW YORK AS THEIR BIRTHPLACE. AND MANY OF
WHOM HAVE EARNED THEIR PLACE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS AS LEADERS NOT ONLY
IN THE ARMY, BUT IN GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, ACADEMIA AND MORE.
OUR MISSION AT WEST POINT IS TO ENHANCE THE READINESS
OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY BY DEVELOPING LEADERS OF CHARACTER WHO ARE
READY TO FIGHT AND WIN OUR NATION'S CONFLICTS. THIS VERY DAY, OVER 100
WEST POINT GRADUATES ARE CURRENTLY SERVING IN EASTERN EUROPE, TO
INCLUDE FOUR BATTALION AND BRIGADE COMMANDERS. DEVELOPING LEADERS
OF CHARACTER REQUIRES STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH MANY
OUTSIDE STAKEHOLDERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT TODAY IS ABOUT. AND WE WOULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL
WITHOUT THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT OF STATE, LOCAL AND COUNTY LEADERS. A
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE OP-ED THIS VERY MORNING BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL
ADAM SCHER HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS.
ADAM SCHER IS A (INAUDIBLE) GRADUATE WHO WAS INTRODUCED ON THE FLOOR
OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY AS A CADET ON WEST POINT DAY IN 2004, THIS VERY
EVENT. TWO YEARS LATER HE FOUND HIMSELF LEADING TROOPS IN IRAQ, AND ON
12 FEBRUARY OF 2006 AN ENEMY SNIPER KILLED CORPORAL ANDREW
KEMPLE. KEMPLE'S FUNERAL WAS IN MINNESOTA SHORTLY AFTERWARDS AND IT
50
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
WAS PROTESTED. ADAM SCHER WROTE ASSEMBLYMAN CUSICK ABOUT
CORPORAL KEMPLE'S FUNERAL EXPERIENCE. ASSEMBLYMAN CUSICK THEN
SPONSORED AND GOVERNOR PATERSON LATER SIGNED A BILL PROTECTING
MILITARY FUNERALS IN NEW YORK. I UNDERSTAND THAT TODAY IS
ASSEMBLYMAN MICHAEL CUSICK'S LAST WEST POINT DAY AS A MEMBER OF
THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. SIR, THANK YOU AND THANK THE MEMBERS
OF THIS ESTEEMED BODY FOR PRESERVING THE DIGNITY OF OUR SERVICE
MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
(APPLAUSE)
OUR COMMITMENT TO STRONG PARTNERSHIPS MEAN THAT WE
ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS WITH TOWNS AND
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO
CONNECT AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNER TOGETHER ON OPPORTUNITIES
THAT WILL NOT ONLY ENHANCE THE LEADER-DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE AT WEST
POINT, BUT ALSO BENEFIT COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
MILITARY MEMBERS ARE OFTEN THANKED FOR THEIR SERVICE,
BUT I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. A
STRONG AND CIVIL MILITARY RELATIONSHIP AND THE MUTUAL TRUST BETWEEN THE
MILITARY AND SOCIETY IT SERVES AS A CORNERSTONE FOR OUR DEMOCRACY. SO
ON BEHALF OF THE WEST POINT COMMUNITY, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR
SUPPORT. SO WE'D LIKE -- LIKE TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HONORING US
TODAY. THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, COLONEL
KUHLMAN.
51
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
AND NOW, MS. SOLAGES.
MS. SOLAGES: MR. SPEAKER, SEVERAL OF OUR
COLLEAGUES ARE REPRESENT DISTRICTS WHERE THESE OUTSTANDING MEN AND
WOMEN ARE FROM. IT IS NOW THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO ALLOW THESE
MEMBERS TO INTRODUCE THE CADETS WHO ARE FROM THEIR DISTRICT.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY.
MR. BURDICK.
MR. BURDICK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE AS A
MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE DISTRICT IN WHICH ONE OF OUR
COURAGEOUS CADETS RESIDES. I'M GOING TO BE INTRODUCING IN JUST ONE
MOMENT. I ALSO RISE AS A MEMBER OF THE VETERANS' COMMITTEE, AND I
CERTAINLY APPLAUD THE WORK OF OUR CHAIR AND THE COMMITTEE. AND THIS
TRULY IS A VERY PROUD DAY, AS OUR CHAIR HAD MENTIONED, IT BEING THE
220TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WEST POINT ACADEMY. AND I
REMEMBER VERY FONDLY GOING TO WEST POINT MANY YEARS AGO WITH MY
SON WHO THEN WAS A CUB SCOUT AND I WAS THE CUB SCOUT MASTER AND HE
WENT WITH OUR PACK. AND WE HAD A TOUR OF WEST POINT FOLLOWED BY THE
LEGENDARY ARMY-NAVY GAME, AND OF COURSE WE WERE ROOTING FOR ARMY
AND ARMY WON THAT DAY. AND I -- I COULD SEE FACILITIES, I COULD SEE
WHY WEST POINT IS THE PREEMINENT MILITARY INSTITUTION IN THIS NATION.
AND -- AND SO IT REALLY IS NO SMALL UNDERTAKING FOR ANY OF OUR CADETS TO
BE GOING THROUGH WEST POINT.
AND I WISH TO INTRODUCE GIOVANNI CHRISTIAN STONE
BIONDO. AND -- AND THANK YOU FOR RISING. AND CAN WE ALL APPLAUD HIM
FOR HIS SERVICE?
52
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
(APPLAUSE)
AND LET ME JUST SAY A FEW QUICK POINTS ABOUT THIS
OUTSTANDING YOUNG GENTLEMAN. GIOVANNI HAS DRAWN ON SELF-DISCIPLINE
AND CHARACTER THAT HE FIRST DEVELOPED AT WILBRAHAM & MONSON
ACADEMY IN MASSACHUSETTS. HE NOW HAS COURAGEOUSLY DETERMINED TO
SERVE HIS COUNTRY, AND HE'S THROWN HIMSELF WHOLEHEARTEDLY INTO THE
PROCESS OF HONING HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND DELVING INTO THE
COMPLEXITIES OF 21ST CENTURY SECURITY CHALLENGES. AGAIN, NO SMALL
FEAT. THE TRAINING THAT HE IS ACQUIRING IN BOTH THE TACTICAL AND ETHICAL
NUANCES OF MILITARY CONFLICT WILL UPON HIS GRADUATION HELP SHAPE THE
NATURE OUR COUNTRY'S ROLE IN THE WORLD WILL TAKE.
AND SO I'M VERY PROUD TO INTRODUCE GIOVANNI, AND I
CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THE FEAT THAT YOU ARE UNDERTAKING NOW AND YOUR
TREMENDOUS SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY.
THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
MR. LAWLER FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.
MR. LAWLER: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT IS A
GREAT HONOR TO STAND BEFORE THIS BODY AND WELCOME A FELLOW SUFFERN
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE FROM MY HOMETOWN OF SUFFERN, NEW YORK, PART
OF THE 97TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, CADET 4TH CLASS STEVEN TROMBETTA.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING STEVEN TO THE CHAMBER.
(APPLAUSE)
STEVEN HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A SUFFERN
53
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
MOUNTIE ON THE WRESTLING TEAM. OVER HIS FOUR YEARS HE WON DOZENS OF
MATCHES, EARNING THE HONOR OF BEING NAMED THE ROCKLAND COUNTY
ALL-WRESTLING TEAM FOR THE 2019-2020 SEASON. STEVEN IS A PLEBE. HE
WILL BE A GRADUATE OF THE CLASS OF 2025 WHERE HE IS MAJORING IN SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING, AND HE IS HOPEFUL TO BE IN THE INFANTRY UPON GRADUATION.
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF STEVEN, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE
MEN AND WOMEN WHO CHOOSE TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND KEEP OUR
COMMUNITIES, OUR STATE AND OUR NATION SAFE. AND WE KEEP THEM IN OUR
PRAYERS, ESPECIALLY AT THIS MOMENT IN A TIME OF WAR AND UNCERTAINTY IN
EASTERN EUROPE. MY COUSIN DOMINICK IS SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES
ARMY IN POLAND AT THIS MOMENT. AND WE ARE A THANKFUL TO EVERY SINGLE
PERSON WHO STEPS UP TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY IN DEFENSE OF IT. AND I
ESPECIALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO STEVEN ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS
OF THE 97TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT FOR SERVING OUR NATION, AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS FROM YOU IN THE YEARS TO COME. GOD BLESS.
(APPLAUSE)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. FERNANDEZ.
MS. FERNANDEZ: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND
WELCOME TO OUR AMAZING CADETS HERE TO THE STATE CHAMBERS OF THE
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT AND RECOGNIZE ONE
OF THE 80TH'S GREATEST -- AS I LIKE TO CALL THE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT "THE
GREATEST 80TH", WE EXUDE GREATNESS. AND TO CADET YUSEN ZHENG, I
WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THANK YOU
FOR DEDICATING YOURSELF TO THIS COUNTRY AND TO OUR SAFETY. IT TAKES A BIG
PERSON, A NOBLE PERSON, ONE THAT IS SELFLESS AND WITH A BIG HEART TO TAKE
54
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
THIS POSITION AND PUT YOURSELF FORWARD FOR THIS COUNTRY AND OUR SAFETY.
SO I RECOGNIZE YOU AND I THANK YOU, BUT I ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
POSITION AS A PLATOON LEADER WITHIN THE FIELD ARTILLERY BRANCH. IT'S NOT
EASY DOING THOSE JOBS, AND YOU DO SO WITH EASE.
SO, CHAMBER, PLEASE RECOGNIZE AND --
(APPLAUSE)
-- WELCOME TO OUR CHAMBER CADET YUSEN ZHENG.
(APPLAUSE)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. SMITH.
MR. SMITH: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY
ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE 5TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT ON LONG ISLAND IN
RECOGNIZING A GREAT WEST POINT CADET, JESSICA DESENA. I WANT TO JUST
TAKE A MOMENT TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN THANKING YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE,
YOUR SELFLESS SACRIFICE FOR JOINING THIS ESTEEMED INSTITUTION. JESSICA IS A
-- A LAW MAJOR WITH A SPANISH MINOR. SHE'S HOPING TO BE INVOLVED WITH
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY DURING
THESE TOUGH TIMES, TO PROTECT BOTH CIVILIANS AND FELLOW SERVICE
MEMBERS TO KEEP THEM OUT OF HARM'S WAY.
AND ON BEHALF OF -- EVERYBODY HAS A NAME FOR THEIR
DISTRICT; I GUESS OURS WOULD BE THE FIGHTING 5TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT,
WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST VERY HUMBLE, A VERY MIDDLE-CLASS
COMMUNITY. WE'RE JUST SO PROUD OF PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF, JESSICA. AND
IF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD JOIN ME IN JUST THANKING AND CONGRATULATING
JESSICA FOR HER SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
(APPLAUSE)
55
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
WE'RE SO PROUD TO HAVE YOU AND YOUR FELLOW CADETS
HERE. THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.
MS. GRIFFIN.
MS. GRIFFIN: THANK YOU. I AM SO PROUD TO BE HERE
TODAY TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE A CONSTITUENT AND CADET FROM LYNBROOK,
ANTHONY CARL MARCO, III, ON WEST POINT DAY. ON BEHALF OF THE
RESIDENTS OF ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 21, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING CADET
ANTHONY CARL MARCO, III.
(APPLAUSE)
ANTHONY IS A 2019 GRADUATE OF MALVERNE HIGH
SCHOOL, WHERE HE WAS THE CO-SALUTATORIAN OF THE GRADUATING CLASS. HE
WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE ESTEEMED MALVERNE HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING
BAND, WHICH PLACED FIRST IN THEIR DIVISION AT THE 2018 NEW YORK STATE
FIELD BAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP. ANTHONY RECEIVED A CITATION
FROM MALVERNE MAYOR ALAN BEACH FOR HIS ACCEPTANCE INTO THIS
PRESTIGIOUS ACADEMY. IN THE FALL OF 2019, ANTHONY BEGAN ATTENDING
THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT TO PURSUE A HISTORY
MAJOR. HE INTENDS TO SERVE IN THE INFANTRY WITH THE BRAVE AMERICAN
ARMED FORCES STATIONED IN VICENZA, ITALY. ANTHONY SERVES AS THE
SENIOR EDITOR OF THE WEST POINT UNDERGRADUATE HISTORICAL REVIEW, AND
VOLUNTEERED WITH THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SUFFOLK COUNTY.
INSPIRED BY THE BAND OF BROTHERS, ANTHONY HAS BEEN DRIVEN TO PURSUE A
CAREER IN THE ARMED FORCES FROM AN EARLY AGE, AND EVEN WORE HIS
BROWN COMBAT BOOTS TO HIS PRE-PROM PHOTO SHOOT. ANTHONY IS A
56
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
DEDICATED STUDENT WHO HAS SELFLESSLY PURSUED A MILITARY CAREER TO
PROTECT AMERICAN INTERESTS AT HOME AND ABROAD.
I, ASSEMBLYWOMAN JUDY GRIFFIN, DO HEREBY HONOR,
CONGRATULATE AND CELEBRATE ANTHONY CARL MARCO, III ON WEST POINT
DAY. I HONOR AND SALUTE ALL OF THE CADETS HERE TODAY AND WELCOME YOU
HERE. CONGRATULATIONS, ALL OF YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. TANNOUSIS FOR AN
INTRODUCTION.
MR. TANNOUSIS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AS THE
PROUD ASSEMBLYMEMBER REPRESENTING THE 64TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE EAST SHORE OF STATEN ISLAND AND A PORTION OF
BAY RIDGE, BROOKLYN, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME CADET AMYA ARIEL WHITE,
WHO RESIDES IN THE FORT WADSWORTH SECTION OF STATEN ISLAND. SHE IS IN
THE CLASS OF 2024. SHE MAJORS IN ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT. AND
ADDITIONALLY, HER POST IS FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA. AMYA, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR NATION, TO OUR COMMUNITY. YOU MAKE
STATEN ISLAND PROUD.
PLEASE, I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN WELCOMING
AMYA.
(APPLAUSE)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. SILLITTI.
MS. SILLITTI: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO WELCOME MY CADET HERE FROM MY HOMETOWN OF
PORT WASHINGTON, CADET CHRISTOPHER DANTE RICCIARDI. I AM HONORED TO
57
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN RECOGNIZING YOUR WORK, YOUR DEDICATION AND
YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVE. CADET RICCIARDI IS A SQUAD LEADER, DOUBLE
MAJORING IN DEFENSE AND STRATEGIC STUDIES AND MILITARY HISTORY. HE
INTENDS TO ENTER THE SPECIALIZED FIELD OF ENGINEERING, AND HIS POST
WOULD BE AT THE JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON IN ALASKA. CADET
RICCIARDI, YOU NOT ONLY VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE OUR NATION, BUT YOU'RE
JOINING THE RANKS OF A DISTINCT AND ELITE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TO BE THE
LEADERS OF TOMORROW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR NATION. YOU
BRING HOPE AND LIGHT TO THE PORT WASHINGTON COMMUNITY, OUR COUNTRY
AND OUR GREAT STATE.
EVERYONE PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING CHRISTOPHER
DANTE RICCIARDI TO THE CHAMBER.
(APPLAUSE)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WALSH FOR THE
PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.
MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT IS AN
ABSOLUTE HONOR TO BE HERE IN PERSON ON WEST POINT DAY. AND FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN THE SIX YEARS THAT I'VE SERVED ON BEHALF OF THE 112TH
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, WE HAVE A CADET FROM MY DISTRICT. AND IT'S JUST --
I'VE BEEN SO LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO INTRODUCE HER TO YOU
TODAY, CADET MICAELA CHOI, WHO IS A GRADUATE OF BURNT HILLS-BALLSTON
LAKE HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE TWO OF MY BOYS GRADUATED FROM. SHE COMES
FROM MY HOMETOWN. MICAELA HAS HAD SUCH A DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE
FOR YEARS, THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL. SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE, I BELIEVE
FAMOUS, CERTAINLY LOCALLY FAMOUS, STATE CHAMPION GIRL'S VOLLEYBALL
58
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
TEAM THAT HAS VISITED THE CAPITOL BEFORE AND WE'VE HONORED PREVIOUSLY.
SHE'S ALSO A BLACK BELT IN TAEKWONDO AND IS NATIONALLY RANKED AND
RECOGNIZED. SHE -- SHE'S A STUDENT ATHLETE. SHE IS A MAJOR RIGHT NOW IN
SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND IS VERY INTERESTED IN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. I
THINK ONE OF THE REMARKABLE THINGS ABOUT MICAELA IS HER FAMILY SERVED
AS -- BOTH OF HER PARENTS ARE WEST POINT GRADUATES AND SERVED POST-9/11
AND WERE DEPLOYED IN THE MIDDLE EAST. AND -- HER MOM IN
INTELLIGENCE AND HER FATHER AS A FINANCE OFFICER. THEY BOTH RETIRED AS
CAPTAINS. HER FATHER WAS RECALLED LATER TO THE ARMY RESERVES. BUT
SERVICE OBVIOUSLY RUNS IN HER FAMILY. AND SHE REPRESENTS HER FAMILY
AND HER COMMUNITY AND MY DISTRICT EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.
SO WOULD YOU PLEASE ALL JOIN ME IN WELCOMING AND
THANKING MICAELA CHOI FOR HER SERVICE.
(APPLAUSE)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MRS. BARRETT.
MRS. BARRETT: I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE MY OWN NAME.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE
SO PROUD OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES WHO ARE HERE
TODAY, AND FOR ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE. FOR THE ESCORTS, FOR JUST
BRINGING TO OUR CHAMBER THIS VERY SPECIAL GROUP OF YOUNG LEADERS. WE
-- WE KNOW THAT THE FUTURE IS IN GOOD HANDS WHEN WE SEE A
COMMITMENT AND A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, COMMITMENT TO LEAD THAT
WE'VE SEEN HERE TODAY. I HAVE THE GREAT PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING THE
ONE CADET WHO'S ACTUALLY NOT FROM NEW YORK STATE, AND THAT IS CADET
FIRST CLASS DIEGO SOTO. DIEGO, WOULD YOU STAND, PLEASE? THANK YOU.
59
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
WE HOPE THAT WE WILL ENTICE YOU TO MOVE INTO NEW YORK STATE.
(LAUGHTER)
CADET FIRST CLASS DIEGO SOTO IS A SECOND REGIMENTAL
COMMANDER. HE HAILS FROM MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS. SOTO IS AN APPLIED
STATISTICS AND DATA SCIENCE MAJOR IN THE CLASS OF 2022. SO, HE'LL BE
GREATLY SHORTLY. AND HE IS A THOUGHTFUL YOUNG LEADER. HE HAS STATED
THAT, QUOTE, AS SECOND REGIMENTAL COMMANDER HE HOPES THAT HE WILL
CREATE A CULTURE OF PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST. HE BELIEVES THAT FOCUSING ON
PEOPLE THROUGH ACTIONS, NOT THROUGH WORDS, HE WILL LEAD TO CREATING AN
ENVIRONMENT OF INCLUSION, COMPARISON AND GETTING RESULTS. AND RESULTS
IS WHAT WE ALL TRY TO ACHIEVE.
SO WE WELCOME YOU HERE TODAY, DIEGO, AND THANK YOU
FOR BEING PART OF THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY IN NEW YORK STATE IN THE NEW
YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WELCOMING CADET DIEGO SOTO.
(APPLAUSE)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MRS. BARRETT.
MRS. BARRETT: MR. SPEAKER, WILL YOU PLEASE
WELCOME DIEGO HERE TODAY?
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF
OF THE SPEAKER, CARL HEASTIE, ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK
STATE ASSEMBLY, WE EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. WE
WELCOME YOU HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE HOPE THAT
YOU HAVE ENJOYED YOUR TIME WITH US IN THE STATE CAPITOL. BUT MORE
THAN THAT, I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH WE, AS A BODY, APPRECIATE
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
THE WORLD THAT YOU LIVE IN AND THE PLACES THAT YOU WILL GO. AND WE
HOPE THAT YOU GO THERE SAFELY AND ARE ALWAYS ASSURED THAT YOU HAVE A
HOME HERE IN THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. THANK YOU SO VERY
MUCH.
(APPLAUSE)
MS. SOLAGES.
MS. SOLAGES: SO MANY INSPIRING YOUNG MEN AND
WOMEN HERE. MR. SPEAKER, LET ME TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE TO
THE BODY COLONEL KWENTON KUHLMAN. COLONEL KUHLMAN IS A 1999
GRADUATE OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT WHERE
HE RECEIVED HIS COMMISSION AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE INFANTRY. IN
ADDITION, HE EARNED A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM KINGS COLLEGE LONDON,
JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, AND AS WELL
AS THE UNITED STATES ARMY WAR COLLEGE. COLONEL KUHLMAN CURRENTLY
SERVES AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE SIMON CENTER FOR THE PROFESSIONAL
MILITARY ETHICS. LAST YEAR HE SERVED AS THE THIRD REGIMENT TACTICAL
OFFICER. HIS LAST OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENT WAS AT FORT BRAGG, NORTH
CAROLINA, WHERE HE SERVED AS AN INFANTRY BATTALION COMMANDER IN THE
82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION AND WAS DEPLOYED TO HELMAND, AFGHANISTAN.
HE WILL ALSO -- HE WILL TAKE COMMAND OF THE 1-2 STRYKER BRIGADE
COMMAND [SIC] TEAM AT JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD IN THE SUMMER OF
2022. COLONEL KUHLMAN HAS BEEN DEPLOYED TO KOSOVO, IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN. HE HAS COMMANDED A COMPANY AND IS A BATTALION IN THE
COMMAND [SIC]. HE HAS ALSO RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS AND
DECORATIONS THROUGHOUT HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER, INCLUDING HIS BRONZE
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
STAR MEDALS. COLONEL KUHLMAN GREW UP NEAR KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.
HE IS MARRIED AND HE HAS TWO CHILDREN.
MR. SPEAKER, PLEASE GIVE HIM A WARM WELCOME TO THIS
OFFICER WHO DECIDED TO SERVE OUR NATION IN WAYS THAT MANY DO NOT.
PLEASE THANK HIM SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND WELCOME HIM TO THE
PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF
OF MS. SOLAGES, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE AGAIN WELCOME
YOU HERE, SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LEADING THIS DELEGATION. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORDS OF -- OF WISDOM AS YOU HAVE ADDRESSED THIS BODY.
KNOW THAT, AGAIN, YOU HAVE -- ALWAYS HAVE THE PRIVILEGES OF THIS FLOOR
AND ARE WELCOME HERE ANY TIME YOU DECIDE TO DROP BY. THANK YOU SO
VERY MUCH.
(APPLAUSE)
MR. SCHMITT.
MR. SCHMITT: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AS THE
ASSEMBLYMAN FOR WEST POINT, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE SOME OF
THE OTHER GUESTS THAT HAVE JOINED US HERE TODAY FROM WEST POINT,
STARTING WITH LIEUTENANT COLONEL SMITH. LIEUTENANT COLONEL SMITH.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL SMITH IS --
(APPLAUSE)
YES.
(APPLAUSE)
LIEUTENANT COLONEL SMITH SERVES THE UNITED STATES
MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT AS THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER. A VERY
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
DIFFICULT JOB, AS WE ALL KNOW, DEALING WITH MEMBERS OF THE -- THE PRESS.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT INQUIRIES ARE GOING TO COME IN, BUT WE
APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS BEING FORWARD-LEADING AND ENSURING THAT THE
COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD-AT-LARGE HAS THE LATEST AND MOST ACCURATE
INFORMATION. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, MA'AM.
(APPLAUSE)
WE ALSO HAVE SERGEANT FIRST CLASS BROOKS.
(APPLAUSE)
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS BROOKS IS A NON-COMMISSIONED
OFFICER IN CHARGE OF WEST POINT'S (INAUDIBLE) WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH
THE LIEUTENANT COLONEL. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AS WELL.
(APPLAUSE)
AS AN NCO MYSELF IN THE ARMY, I KNOW SOME OF THE
STUFF YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE HAVE OUR CHAPLAIN -- CHAPLAIN. CHAPLAIN
AKERIWE, THANK YOU. HE IS THE GARRISON CATHOLIC CHAPLAIN. HE OPENED
UP OUR SESSION TODAY WITH A -- WITH A BEAUTIFUL INVOCATION AND PRAYER.
AND ON TOP OF THAT NOT ONLY SERVES AS A SPIRITUAL LEADER FOR THE CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY AT WEST POINT, BUT MANY FROM THE LARGER AREA IN THE
HUDSON VALLEY DO ATTEND HIS SERVICES. AND CHAPLAINS HAVE A LOT OF
RESPONSIBILITY AND THEY CARE NOT JUST FOR THE SPIRITUAL, BUT THE
EMOTIONAL, MENTAL AND OTHER HEALTH NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE WEST POINT
COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU, CHAPLAIN, AND GOD BLESS YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
WE ALSO HAVE WITH US CAPTAIN NICHOLAS TRITONE, THE
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
UNITED STATES CORPS OF CADETS TACTICAL OFFICER, COMPANY C-4.
CAPTAIN?
(APPLAUSE)
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SERVICE AND THE ROLE THAT
YOU DO TO MOLD OUR FUTURE LEADERS.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE JIM FOX WHO IS WEST
POINT'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CHIEF. JIM?
(APPLAUSE)
JIM IS FREQUENTLY SEEN ACROSS THE COMMUNITY AND THE
REGION REPRESENTING WEST POINT AT ROTARY, CHAMBER MEETINGS. YOU
NAME IT, HE'S THERE AND HE'S ALWAYS LOOKING TO ENGAGE THE MILITARY
ACADEMY IN WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU, JIM. AND
AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF ALL THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE 99TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT,
YOUR NEIGHBORS AND THE SURROUNDING AREA OF WEST POINT, THANK YOU TO
ALL OF THE LEADERS WHO CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT THIS DAY EXISTS YEAR AFTER
YEAR.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF
ASSEMBLYMEMBER SCHMITT, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE
EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE JOINED US HERE
TODAY AND COMMEND YOU ON THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE THE STATE OF
NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WE HOPE THAT YOU
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE. AND FEEL COMFORTABLE IN KNOWING
THAT WE IN THE ASSEMBLY ARE AT YOUR BECK AND CALL. THANK YOU SO VERY
MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. WE APPRECIATE IT.
(APPLAUSE)
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
MS. SOLAGES.
MS. SOLAGES: MR. SPEAKER, THAT CONCLUDES OUR
OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THESE FINE MEN AND WOMEN AND OFFICERS. WE
THANK THEM FOR THEIR PRESENCE AND HONOR THEIR COURAGE, AND ALSO IN OUR
GRATITUDE FOR THEIR SELFLESS SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN
ON BEHALF OF THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY.
(APPLAUSE)
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. SOLAGES.
MS. SOLAGES: MR. SPEAKER, DO YOU HAVE ANY
FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WE HAVE RESOLUTIONS.
WE WILL TAKE THEM UP WITH ONE VOTE.
ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING
AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.
(WHEREUPON, ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NOS. 694-696
WERE UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.)
MS. SOLAGES.
MS. SOLAGES: COULD YOU PLEASE RECOGNIZE MS.
HUNTER FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT?
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. HUNTER FOR THE
PURPOSES OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
MS. HUNTER: YES, MR. SPEAKER. OUR WORK IS NOT
COMPLETE TODAY. THE MAJORITY CONFERENCE WILL NEED TO BE CONVENING
AT 3:00 P.M. IN THE HEARING ROOM TODAY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2022
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, MS.
HUNTER.
MS. SOLAGES.
MS. SOLAGES: I NOW MOVE THAT THE ASSEMBLY
STAND ADJOURNED UNTIL FRIDAY, MARCH 25TH, TOMORROW BEING A
LEGISLATIVE DAY, AND THAT WE RECONVENE AT 2:00 P.M., MARCH 28TH,
MONDAY BEING A SESSION DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE ASSEMBLY STANDS
ADJOURNED.
(WHEREUPON, AT 1:15 P.M., THE HOUSE STOOD ADJOURNED
UNTIL FRIDAY, MARCH 25TH, THAT BEING A LEGISLATIVE DAY, AND TO
RECONVENE ON MONDAY, MARCH 28TH AT 2:00 P.M., THAT BEING A SESSION
DAY.)
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