TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2024 2:39 P.M.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE HOUSE WILL COME

TO ORDER.

ARCHBISHOP ELPIDOPHOROS WILL OFFER A PRAYER.

ARCHBISHOP ELPIDOPHOROS: LET US BOW OUR

HEADS IN PRAYER. IN THE NAME OF GOD WHO ASKS ONLY THAT WE DO JUSTLY,

THAT WE LOVE MERCY, AND THAT WE WORK HUMBLY IN THE DIVINE PRESENCE,

AMEN. WE GIVE YOU THANKS AND PRAISE, O GOD, FOR GATHERING US

TOGETHER TODAY. WE HOPE YOUR BLESSINGS AND MERCY UPON THE NOBLE

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR MAGNIFICENCE

UPON EVERY MEMBER OF THIS ASSEMBLY WHO EARNESTLY PURSUE THEIR GOAL

FOR ALL CITIZENS FOR THE GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK. WE GIVE YOU THANKS

AND PRAISE FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE GREEK WAR OF INDEPENDENCE. WE

ASK YOUR SPECIAL GRACE AND WISDOM AND UPON THE ASSEMBLY AS YOU

BLESSED THE WISE KING SOLOMON, WE BESEECH THAT YOU INSPIRE THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

VIGILANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK AS YOU

INSPIRED THE JUDGE OF ISRAEL, DEBORAH. FINALLY, GRANT THEM THE STRENGTH

OF THE JUDGE SAMPSON, THAT THEY MAY PERSEVERE IN JUSTICE AND

RIGHTEOUSNESS ALL THE DAYS OF THEIR SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE AND THUS,

RENDER GLORY, REVERENCE AND HONOR TO YOU WHO ARE THE SOURCE AND

FOUNDATION OF THE LAW. AMEN.

MEMBERS: AMEN.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: PLEASE REMAIN

STANDING AS WE TURN OUR THOUGHTS TO THE FALLEN POLICE OFFICER JONATHAN

DILLER WHO DIED FROM INJURIES HE SUSTAINED YESTERDAY. LET US KEEP

HIM, HIS FAMILY, AND HIS COMMUNITY IN OUR THOUGHTS.

(WHEREUPON, A MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED.)

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.)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE

JOURNAL OF MONDAY, MARCH 25TH.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE TO

DISPENSE WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF MONDAY, MARCH

26TH [SIC] AND THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO

ORDERED.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. COLLEAGUES AND GUESTS THAT ARE IN THE CHAMBERS, I WOULD LIKE

TO SHARE A QUOTE WITH YOU TODAY. THIS ONE COMES FROM HELEN KELLER.

HER WORDS FOR US TODAY, "NEVER BEND YOUR HEAD. ALWAYS HOLD IT HIGH,

LOOK THE WORLD STRAIGHT IN THE EYE." AGAIN, THESE WORDS ARE FROM

HELEN KELLER, AN AMERICAN AUTHOR, A DISABILITIES RIGHTS ADVOCATE, AND A

POLITICAL ACTIVIST.

MR. SPEAKER, MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESK A MAIN

CALENDAR AS WELL AS A DEBATE LIST. AFTER YOU HAVE DONE ANY

INTRODUCTIONS OR HOUSEKEEPING, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP RESOLUTIONS ON

PAGE 3 OF THAT CALENDER, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP THE FOLLOWING

BILLS ON DEBATE. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH CALENDAR NO. 1 BY MS.

ROSENTHAL; FOLLOWED BY CALENDAR NO. 9 BY MS. PAULIN; THEN CALENDER

NO. 31 BY MR. JACOBSON; AND THEN CALENDAR NO. 69 BY MS. PAULIN.

THERE PROBABLY WILL BE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FLOOR ACTIVITY, MR.

SPEAKER. WE WILL ANNOUNCE THAT AS WE PROCEED.

THAT'S THE GENERAL OUTLINE OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY, SIR.

IF YOU HAVE INTRODUCTIONS OR HOUSEKEEPING, NOW WOULD BE A GREAT TIME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: NO HOUSEKEEPING,

BUT INTRODUCTIONS BY MR. TANNOUSIS.

MR. TANNOUSIS: MR. SPEAKER, IT IS MY DISTINCT

HONOR TO INTRODUCE ON THE FLOOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY,

ARCHBISHOP ELPIDOPHOROS, HEAD OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

AMERICAS. HE IS THE 8TH ARCHBISHOP TO SERVE AS THE HEAD OF THE GREEK

ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THE AMERICAS, AND HE SERVES THE HUNDREDS OF

PARISHES THAT ARE IN THE AMERICAS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. HE

CAME TODAY IN HONOR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE, WHICH WAS MARCH 25TH.

WE HELD A RECEPTION EARLIER TODAY, AND IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE HIM

ON THE FLOOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. TANNOUSIS, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, ARCHBISHOP, WE

ARE SO PLEASED THAT YOU CAME AND JOINED US TODAY AND STARTED OUR DAY

WITH PRAYER. WE GIVE YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. PLEASE KNOW THAT

YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE. GOD BLESS YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. LEMONDES.

MR. LEMONDES: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'D LIKE

TO INTRODUCE A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON IN OUR CHURCH'S COMMUNITY, MIKE

LABATOS AND HIS WIFE, CONNIE ARE WITH US TODAY. MIKE IS A -- AN

AHEPA MEMBER AND AN AHEPA LEADER, THAT'S AMERICAN HELLENIC

EDUCATIONAL PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN ATLANTA,

GEORGIA TO FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, BIGOTRY AND

HATRED FELT AT THE HANDS OF THE KKK. IT IS THE LARGEST AND OLDEST

GRASSROOTS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN CITIZENS OF GREEK HERITAGE, WITH

MORE THAN 400 CHAPTERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA,

AND EUROPE. MIKE IS THE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR FROM OUR CHAPTER. HE HAS

BEEN RECOGNIZED AS SUCH TODAY, AND IT'S WITH GREAT HONOR THAT I TELL YOU

A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HIM.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

HE'S ALSO A UNITED STATES NAVAL VETERAN WHO WAS A

VIETNAM VETERAN, AS WELL. HE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE OUR

COMMUNITY, SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF OUR LOCAL CHAPTER. HE'S BEEN A

PARISH COUNCIL MEMBER AND A VOLUNTEER IN CHURCH AND COMMUNITY,

CHAMPIONING MULTIPLE CAUSES THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE OF SERVANTS. HE IS

COMMITTED TO THE FURTHERANCE OF HELLENISM AND RECENTLY ELECTED

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK'S AHEPA EMPIRE DISTRICT 6,

ATTENDING STATE AND NATIONAL MEETINGS ON OUR BEHALF, AND CHAIRMAN OF

THE BOARD OF AHEPA CHAPTER 37. HE'S A LIFELONG SERVANT TO HIS

FAMILY, FAITH, COMMUNITY AND NATION, AND IS MY BROTHER IN CHRIST HERE

TODAY.

MR. SPEAKER, IF YOU COULD PLEASE OFFER THE CORDIALITIES

OF THE HOUSE AND WELCOME MIKE AND CONNIE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. LEMONDES, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU

HERE, MIKE AND CONNIE, TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND

TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. HOPE THAT YOUR TRIP HERE WILL BE

BENEFICIAL. CERTAINLY PLEASED THAT YOU DETERMINED THAT YOU WOULD

SPEND THIS TIME WITH US. KNOW THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. SLATER FOR THE PURPOSES OF A INTRODUCTION.

MR. SLATER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.

TODAY YOU SEE AROUND THE CHAMBER DOZENS OF HEROES, AMERICAN

HEROES, WHO WHEN OUR COUNTRY CALLED UPON THEM ANSWERED ITS CALL AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

DEFENDED DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM IN VIETNAM. THEY DID NOT GET THE

WELCOME HOME THAT THEY DESERVED, BUT TODAY WE CELEBRATE THEIR SERVICE

AND THEIR SACRIFICE, AND TOGETHER WE SAY MISSION ACCOMPLISHED AND

WELCOME HOME.

MR. SPEAKER, I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE THE FOLLOWING

VETERANS WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY. WE HAVE PETER PALAMIDES OF

ASSEMBLYMAN JOE DESTEFANO'S 3RD DISTRICT; DR. VINCENT MALIGNO OF

ASSEMBLYMAN SAM PIROZZOLO'S 63RD DISTRICT; FROM MY HOME DISTRICT,

JOHN SETTEMBRINO, TOM COLLELA, PATRICK NIMPHIUS, AND HONS MINNICH

OF THE 94TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT; ALSO LENNY SIRIG - EXCUSE ME, LENNY

SIRINTHIANA (PHONETIC). DID I GET THAT RIGHT, LENNY? I GOT THAT, RIGHT?

THERE WE GO. WE ALSO HAVE FROM ASSEMBLYMAN MAHER'S DISTRICT OF

THE 101ST, DAVE PENNY; FROM ASSEMBLYMAN TAGUE'S 102ND DISTRICT,

SHERIFF RONALD STEVENS AND THOMAS ANDREASSEN, ANDREASSEN. WE

ALSO HAVE FROM ASSEMBLYMAN SCOTT BENDETT'S DISTRICT, WE HAVE RONALD

PRISCO. FROM ASSEMBLYMAN SIMPSON'S DISTRICT, UNFORTUNATELY HE COULD

NOT BE HERE BUT WE DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE EDWARD BRALEY, JR., AND OUR

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH HIM AND HIS FAMILY TODAY. FROM

ASSEMBLYMAN SMULLEN'S DISTRICT, WE HAVE PETER TAUTZNIK AND STEVE

RIACH, FROM AGAIN ASSEMBLY SMULLEN'S DISTRICT. FROM LEADER

BARCLAY'S DISTRICT, WE HAVE HERB HAWKER AND SHAUN MILLS. FROM JOHN

LEMONDES' DISTRICT, THOMAS MURRAY; FROM ASSEMBLYMAN PHIL

PALMESANO'S DISTRICT WE HAVE EARLE GLEASON; AND FROM ASSEMBLYMAN

MIKE NORRIS' DISTRICT, PHILLIP YODER. WE ARE ALSO JOINED TODAY, MR.

SPEAKER, BY IRENE BERGER, THE WIDOW OF VIETNAM VETERAN BARRY

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

BERGER FROM ASSEMBLYMAN BROOK-KRASNY'S DISTRICT, AND CONNIE

RONOCCHIA OF ASSEMBLYMAN CARROLL'S DISTRICT IN THE 44TH ASSEMBLY

DISTRICT.

I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT, MR. SPEAKER, IF I COULD

TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE MEMBERS HERE IN THE CHAMBER WHO ALSO

SERVED OUR COUNTRY: WE HAVE ASSEMBLYMAN KEN BLANKENBUSH AND WE

ALSO HAVE ASSEMBLYMAN ANGELO MORINELLO - JUDGE MORINELLO - AS

WELL. AND SEEING JUDGE MORINELLO WALK AROUND IN HIS HAT ALL DAY, IT

JUST PUT A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE SO MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, SIR; WELCOME

HOME. WE ALSO HAVE WITH US TWO VIETNAM-ERA VETERANS, STEVE HAWLEY

AND DAVE MCDONOUGH. AND, SIR, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE

SERGEANT-OF-ARMS FOR THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, WAYNE JACKSON,

A PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT.

(APPLAUSE)

AND SO MR. SPEAKER, AGAIN, WE ASK FOR YOU TO PROVIDE

THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE TO THESE AMAZING AMERICAN HEROES AND,

AGAIN, I SAY TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED,

WELCOME HOME, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR SACRIFICE.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. SLATER, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, THOSE WHO REPRESENT

SOME OF YOU AND THOSE OF US WHO DON'T REPRESENT ANYONE IN THAT CROWD,

WE WELCOME YOU HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, EXTEND TO YOU

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. OUR THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR

SERVICE. OUR PLEASURE THAT YOU DECIDED TO SPEND THIS DAY HERE WITH US

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

TO REMIND US OF THE WAY A CITIZEN SERVES HIS COUNTRY. THANK YOU SO

VERY MUCH, KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. PAULIN FOR THE PURPOSES OF A INTRODUCTION.

MS. PAULIN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER; GREAT,

THANKS, WAYNE. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME HERE TODAY TO THE NEW YORK STATE

ASSEMBLY THE SCARSDALE HIGH SCHOOL HONORS WIND ENSEMBLE.

THEY'RE FROM WESTCHESTER COUNTY AND THEY'RE FROM MY HOMETOWN.

AND IF YOU HAD THE PRIVILEGE, AS I DID, TO HEAR THEM PLAY ON THE

CONCOURSE, YOU WOULD KNOW HOW TALENTED THEY ARE. THE ENSEMBLE IS

AN AUDITION-ONLY BAND AND PLAYS EVERYTHING FROM CONTEMPORARY TO

CLASSICAL BAND PIECES. THE BAND TRAVELED HERE TODAY AND PERFORMED

SEVERAL PIECES IN OUR SOUTH CONCOURSE FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF THE PUBLIC,

AND FOR MY PERSONAL ENJOYMENT. THANK YOU TO THE SCARSDALE HIGH

SCHOOL WIND ENSEMBLE FOR JOINING US. WE VALUE YOUR MUSIC AND WE

ARE SO HAPPY THAT YOU CAME TO ALBANY TODAY. AND I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR

SPEAKER IF HE COULD EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MS. PAULIN, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, THIS EXTRAORDINARY

GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE US WITH THE MUSIC THAT SOOTHES OUR

SOULS, WE WELCOME YOU HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE

EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. LET ME TELL YOU, YOU ARE

LOOKING SHARP; BOY, LET ME TELL YOU. AND SO WE ARE SO PLEASED TO HAVE

YOU HERE, PLEASED THAT YOU'VE TAKEN THE TIME BOTH TO ENTERTAIN US AND

JOIN US. HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED THIS TRIP, PLEASE KNOW YOU ARE ALWAYS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

WELCOME. AND CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. TAYLOR FOR THE PURPOSES OF A INTRODUCTION.

MR. TAYLOR: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, THANK YOU.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE AN INNOVATOR, AN ORIGINATOR, AND REVEREND,

KURTIS BLOW. HE IS JOINED THIS AFTERNOON WITH TAMMY JONES AND

GREGORY JOHNSON, AS WELL AS WILLIAM WARING WHO IS CREDITED FOR

WRITING BASKETBALL. AND ALSO HE WAS RECENTLY INDUCTED LAST NIGHT INTO

THE ALBANY -- I BELIEVE THIS REGION, THEY HAD AN INDUCTION OF HIM LAST

NIGHT.

SO LET ME JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION FOR

THOSE THAT ARE NOT IN THE KNOW. KURTIS BLOW IS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS AND

CREATORS OF RECORDED RAP, A TIMELESS ARTIST AND HIP-HOP LEGEND. KURTIS

BLOW BLAZED THE TRAIL FOR EARLY HIP-HOP ARTISTS, AND HE WILL SOON CARRY

THE TOUCH OF HIP-HOP MUSIC INTO NEW ARENAS. KURTIS IS CREDITED WITH

MANY FIRSTS, INCLUDING FIRST RAPPER SIGNED TO A MAJOR LABEL, FIRST RAPPER

CERTIFIED GOLD AS A RAP ARTIST WITH THE GREATS, FIRST RAPPER TO TOUR U.S.

AND EUROPE SIMULTANEOUSLY, FIRST RAPPER TO RECORD A NATIONAL

COMMERCIAL, FIRST RAPPER TO USE AND SAMPLE FROM THE DRUM MACHINE,

FIRST RAPPER TO PRODUCE A MUSIC VIDEO - SLOW DOWN - WHICH WAS

BASKETBALL, FIRST RAPPER TO APPEAR ON A SOAP OPERA, ONE LIFE TO LIVE FOR

THOSE WHO KNOW. AND IT GIVES ME GREAT JOY TO INTRODUCE AND PRESENT

TO OTHERS, THE ORIGINATOR, OFTEN IMITATED BUT NEVER QUITE DUPLICATED,

NONE OTHER THAN MR. KURTIS BLOW HIMSELF.

(APPLAUSE)

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. TAYLOR, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, KURTIS AND MY FRIEND,

PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU ARE WELCOME HERE. WE ARE HONORED THAT YOU

HAVE JOINED US TODAY. WE HAVE A LOT OF MUSIC; WE HAVE MUSIC UP, WE

HAVE MUSIC DOWN, THIS IS A MUSICAL DAY FOR US. THANK YOU SO VERY

MUCH FOR BEING HERE. GOD BLESS AND CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK. THANK

YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. GALLAHAN FOR THE PURPOSES OF A INTRODUCTION.

MR. GALLAHAN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR THE

PRIVILEGE TODAY TO INTRODUCE MY FRIEND AND COWORKER FOR MANY YEARS,

MR. GARY BAXTER TO THE CHAMBER. GARY IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF

ONTARIO COUNTY AND HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY

THAT HE LOVES. HE'S ENJOYED A LONG, SUCCESSFUL CAREER OF PUBLIC SERVICE,

AND IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF NUMEROUS VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS. GARY IS

A DEDICATED HUSBAND, FATHER, GRANDFATHER, AND FRIEND TO MANY AND IS

JOINED HERE TODAY BY HIS LOVELY WIFE OF 42 YEARS, DONNA BAXTER, HIS

DAUGHTER-IN-LAW STACEY BAXTER, GRANDSONS CARSON AND HUGH, AND HIS

GREAT FRIENDS OWEN AND ORION JOHNSTON.

GARY JOINED THE GENEVA POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 1978

AND SERVED THERE UNTIL 1998. DURING THAT TIME, HE FULFILLED THE ROLES OF

DETECTIVE, YOUTH OFFICER, AND D.A.R.E. OFFICER. I SHOULD NOTE THAT HE

HELPED ESTABLISH ONE OF THE FIRST D.A.R.E. PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK CITY

-- I'M SORRY, IN NEW YORK STATE IN THE CITY OF GENEVA, HIGH SCHOOL.

HE ALSO SERVED AS DEPUTY SHERIFF IN THE ONTARIO COUNTY SHERIFF'S

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

DEPARTMENT FROM 2000 UNTIL 2005. HE WAS THEN APPOINTED COUNTY

TREASURER BY GOVERNOR GEORGE PATAKI. GARY SERVED AS ONTARIO COUNTY

TREASURER FOR OVER 19 YEARS, WHERE HE FULFILLED HIS IMPORTANT ROLE WITH

HUMOR, DEDICATION, HONOR, AND CREDIBLE PROFESSIONALISM. AND DURING

HIS TENURE, HE HAD ADDITIONAL PRIVILEGE AS SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF

THE NEW YORK STATE TREASURERS AND FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION,

WHERE HE SET A POSITIVE EXAMPLE FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS THROUGHOUT THE

STATE OF NEW YORK. AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, GARY IS THE ONLY COUNTY

TREASURER THAT I KNOW OF, MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE MAY NOT AGREE WITH

ME, BUT THAT I KNOW OF THAT WOULD GO DOOR-TO-DOOR, TO CONTACT EACH AND

EVERY PROPERTY OWNER IN ONTARIO COUNTY AND GET THEM -- TO TRY TO GET

THEM OFF THE TAX OPTION LIST. LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN, EVERY SINGLE

PROPERTY THAT WAS ON THAT LIST, THIS MAN WENT DOOR-TO-DOOR TO TRY TO GET

THEM OFF THE LIST AND WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN DOING SO.

OUTSIDE OF HIS OFFICIAL DUTIES, GARY IS PAST TREASURER

COMMANDER AND PROUD MEMBER OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

THROUGH GENEVA WINNEK POST 396. HE'S THE FORMER SCOUTMASTER FOR

BSA TROOP 4 AND CURRENTLY SERVES AT THE SENECA WATERWAYS BOY

SCOUT COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS. HE IS PAST PRESIDENT OF THE AENEAS

MCDONALD POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. I'D LIKE TO THANK GARY

BAXTER ONCE AGAIN FOR ALL HE'S DONE FOR ONTARIO COUNTY, AND I

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME HIM TO THE CHAMBER AND TO

HAVE PRESENTED YESTERDAY'S RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF HIS LIFELONG

DEDICATION TO HIS PUBLIC SERVICE.

MR. SPEAKER, WOULD YOU PLEASE OFFER THE CORDIALITIES

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

OF THE FLOOR TO MR. BAXTER, HIS FAMILY, AND FRIENDS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. GALLAHAN, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, GARY, WELCOME

HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE ARE ASTOUNDED BY THE KIND

OF CAREER -- PUBLIC CAREER THAT YOU HAD. TO YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND

FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE WITH YOU, WE ACCORD YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE

FLOOR. BUT OUR RESPECT AND OUR HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE A

PRODUCTIVE AND BEAUTIFUL LIFE AS YOU HAVE IN THE PAST. THANK YOU SO

VERY MUCH FOR GIVING. THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. BROOK-KRASNY.

MR. BROOK-KRASNY: MR. SPEAKER, GOOD

AFTERNOON.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: GOOD AFTERNOON.

MR. BROOK-KRASNY: ALWAYS MY BIG HONOR AND

PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE VIETNAM VETERANS, AMERICAN VETERANS,

AMERICAN HEROES. TODAY I RISE TO INTRODUCE THE FAMILY OF A GREAT

FRIEND, BRIAN BERGER, BERGER'S FAMILY IS HERE WITH US TODAY. IRENE

BERGER IS HERE ON THE FLOOR WITH ME. WE HAVE DYAN BERGER, LONI

DELAWN, AND CONNIE RANOCCHIA WHO IS A FAMILY FRIEND, BUT ALSO AN

AMERICAN VETERAN. THERE ARE CERTAIN OUTSTANDING MEMBERS OF OUR

COMMUNITY WHO THROUGH THEIR SELFLESS COMMITMENT PORTRAY (INAUDIBLE)

DEDICATION HAVE SERVED TO BETTER THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS

AND COMMUNITY. BRIAN BERGER WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THEM. IT WAS WITH

GREAT SORROW THAT WE HAD TO SAY GOODBYE TO BARRY ON DECEMBER 4TH OF

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

LAST YEAR, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND ALL MY

COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING A RESOLUTION IN HIS MEMORY.

HE HAS A UNIQUE BIOGRAPHY. HE WAS BORN IN

CHERKASY, UKRAINE ON MARCH 11, 1941. BARRY BERGER AND HIS FAMILY

RETURNED TO WROCLAW, POLAND IN 1946. IN DECEMBER OF 1958, HE

ESCAPED TO WEST GERMANY WITH HIS FATHER AND IMMIGRATED TO THE

UNITED STATES ON JUNE 1ST, 1959. SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVING IN THE UNITED

STATES, BARRY BERGER MADE THE BRAVE AND HONORABLE DECISION TO DEFEND

OUR NATION, ENLISTING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY IN 1961. IN 1969,

BARRY BERGER WAS DEPLOYED TO VIETNAM WHERE HE COURAGEOUSLY SERVED

AS AN ADVISOR TO THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE ARMY IN THE DELTA REGION

BEFORE RETURNING TO THE STATES IN DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR. BARRY BERGER

WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON MARCH 11TH, 1970, AFTER MORE THAN EIGHT

YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THIS GREAT NATION. AFTER HAVING BACK

SURGERY IN 1974, BARRY BERGER BECAME A LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS CHAPTER 154, WHERE HE HELD THE POSITIONS

OF PRESIDENT AND TREASURER. HE WAS ALSO A LIFETIME MEMBER OF CHAPTER

72 OF VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA AND HELD THE POSITION AS FIRST VICE

COMMANDER. PROFESSIONALLY, BARRY BERGER SPENT HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER

AS A SENIOR COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST FOR LOEWS CORPORATION AND

RETIRED IN 2005.

BARRY'S COMMITMENT TO THE MILITARY COMMUNITY DID

NOT END WHEN HE LEFT THE SERVICE. BARRY VOLUNTEERED AS A FINANCIAL

ADVISOR ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD FOR THE UNITED MILITARY VETERANS OF

KINGS COUNTY MEMORIAL DAY PARADE COMMITTEE, WHERE HE ASSISTED

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

WITH THE PLANNING FOR BROOKLYN'S MEMORIAL DAY PARADE. HE WAS

AWARDED THE PATRIOTISM AWARD FOR HIS VOLUNTEERISM BY THE UNITED

MILITARY VETERANS OF KINGS COUNTY IN 2012. BARRY WAS ALSO MARRIED TO

HIS BELOVED WIFE, IRENE, FOR 51 YEARS AND HAD A DAUGHTER, DYAN.

BARRY'S SELFLESSNESS AND COMPASSION WILL SHINE ON THROUGH HIS FAMILY'S

HAPPY MEMORIES. HIS INSIGHT AND STRENGTH WILL FOREVER SERVE AS A

BEACON OF LOVE, LIFE, AND HOPE TO THE COUNTLESS LIVES HE TOUCHED. BARRY

WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED AND DESERVED THE TRIBUTE OF THIS STATE ASSEMBLY.

MR. SPEAKER, ON A VERY PERSONAL NOTE, ON BEHALF OF ALL

THE REFUGEES FROM THE FORMER SOVIET UNION, LIKE I SAID IT'S ALWAYS MY

HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL WE ALL ARE TO VIETNAM AND

KOREAN VETERANS. THEY PUT A FOUNDATION IN THE PROCESS OF DISMANTLING

THE SOCIALIST EMPIRE CALLED SOVIET UNION. WITHOUT THEM, WITHOUT THEIR

SACRIFICE, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LEAVE SOVIET UNION. THEY WOULDN'T

LET TO LEAVE, PERESTROIKA, GORBACHEV IN THE TIME WHEN WE CAN ESCAPE

THE SOVIET UNION.

MR. SPEAKER, I HOPE EVERYONE HERE TAKES TIME TODAY

TO REMEMBER THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF NOT JUST BARRY BERGER, BUT OF

VETERANS AND OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT LIVES ON THE LINE FOR

US EVERYDAY. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU. ON

BEHALF OF MR. BROOK-KRASNY, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, IRENE,

WELCOME TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE WELCOME YOU HERE,

WE EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR GUESTS.

WE HOPE THAT YOU TAKE MEASURE THAT WE APPRECIATE THE SACRIFICE THAT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

BARRY MADE AND THE SACRIFICE THAT YOU HAVE MADE, AND HOPE THAT YOU

WILL CONTINUE IN HIS MEMORY TO ENJOY AND PERSEVERE HERE IN THE STATE

OF NEW YORK. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. EACHUS FOR THE PURPOSES OF A INTRODUCTION.

MR. EACHUS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON BEHALF

OF MYSELF AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER JOHN MCGOWAN, I RISE TO INTRODUCE A

FANTASTIC GROUP OF STUDENTS, FUTURE HEROES. THEY CAME HERE FROM

DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY FOR THE PURPOSES OF CELEBRATING SOCIAL WORKERS

MONTH. THEY HAVE COME TO ALBANY TO SEE OUR WORK IN ACTION. THEY

ARE STUDENTS OF SOCIAL WORK, PSYCHOLOGY, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND MORE.

THE THEME FOR SOCIAL WORK MONTH 2024 IS

EMPOWERING SOCIAL WORKERS, AND THESE STUDENTS HERE TODAY CERTAINLY

EMBODY THAT MANTRA. THIS INCREDIBLY BRIGHT GROUP CAME PREPARED WITH

QUESTIONS ON LEGISLATION AND STUMPED ME A COUPLE OF TIMES, THAT AFFECT

SOCIAL WORKERS AROUND THE STATE. AS EXPECTED THE QUESTIONS WERE

THOUGHTFUL AND WE EXPLORED HOW THEY COULD BEST ADVOCATE AND BECOME

INVOLVED WITH THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO SO

EVEN AS THEY EMBARK ON THEIR OWN CAREERS OUTSIDE OF POLITICS. LIKE

MANY PROFESSIONS THAT EXIST IN THE SERVICE OF OTHERS, THE IMPERATIVE

WORK THAT SOCIAL WORKERS PERFORM IN OUR STATE IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND

TAKEN FOR GRANTED. THESE ARE DEDICATED WORKERS WHO ENSURE THAT THE

CRITICAL PROGRAMS WE CREATE IN THESE VERY HALLS ARE IMPLEMENTED

PROPERLY AND REACH THE IN-NEED COMMUNITIES. THEY NAVIGATE THESE

COMPLEX SYSTEMS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY NAVIGATING THE INTRICACIES OF

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

HUMAN EMOTIONS, PSYCHOLOGY AND MANY INTERNAL STRUGGLES THAT COME

WITH EXPERIENCING SOCIAL-ECONOMIC ISSUES.

WHILE WE HERE IN ALBANY CRUNCH THE NUMBERS SIDE OF

THESE SOCIAL PROGRAMS, THESE FOLKS HERE DEAL WITH IT ON A HUMAN TO

HUMAN CONNECTION, THE REAL WORK OF HELPING THE NEW YORKERS THAT

WE'RE HERE TO SERVE EVERY DAY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEIR WORK IS NECESSARY

FOR ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENCIES. SO PLEASE JOIN ME AS WE CONGRATULATE

THESE STUDENTS ON THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN SCHOOL AND

THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY WILL DO AS THEY EMBARK

ON THEIR FUTURE CAREERS.

MR. SPEAKER, PLEASE OFFER THEM THE CORDIALITIES OF THE

FLOOR OF THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. EACHUS, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU

HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF

THE FLOOR. HOPE THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE IN ALBANY DEEPENS YOUR

COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE THOSE IN NEED WITH HELP. WE HOPE THAT WE, AS

A BODY, WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU AS YOU HEAD TO THIS GRAND PROFESSION.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. LEMONDES.

MR. LEMONDES: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S MY

DISTINCT HONOR TO INTRODUCE TWO GREAT CONSTITUENTS FROM THE 126TH

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, CINDY AND JOHN MILEY. WE ARE HONORING CINDY AS

THE -- FOR ALL OF HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO VETERANS' CAUSES. SHE IS THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE ONONDAGA COUNTY VETERANS' SERVICE AGENCY

IN SYRACUSE, NEW YORK. SHE ALSO FORMERLY SERVED AS THE VETERAN

OUTREACH COORDINATOR FOR SKANEATELES, NEW YORK WHERE SHE

DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED A MODEL OF COMMUNITY VETERAN AND

MILITARY OUTREACH THAT IS MAKING A DIRECT IMPACT IN THE CENTRAL NEW

YORK REGION. A SEASONED TOTAL FORCE MILITARY SPOUSE OF NEARLY 30

YEARS, AND PARENT OF TWO ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE MEMBERS, SHE HAS

DIVERSE EXPERIENCE ACROSS THE ENLISTED, OFFICER AND ACTIVE DUTY AIR

FORCE/AIR NATIONAL GUARD COMMUNITIES. SHE UTILIZES THIS EXPERIENCE

TO BUILD PROGRAMS TO ASSIST MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS

WELL AS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THEY FACE FROM

ENTRY INTO MILITARY SERVICE THROUGH SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT. HER

EFFORTS HAVE CREATED A COMMUNITY OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT TODAY'S

NATIONAL GUARD ROLE IS, AS WELL AS SHED LIGHT ON THE CHALLENGES THEY

FACE WHILE LIVING UP TO THE MISSION OF ALWAYS READY, ALWAYS THERE.

SHE HOLDS MULTIPLE DEGREES AND IS ONE OF THE FIRST NON-VETERANS IN NEW

YORK STATE TO RECEIVE DUAL CONGRESSIONALLY-RECOGNIZED ACCREDITATION

FROM THE NEW YORK DIVISION OF VETERANS' SERVICES AND THE NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER, INC.

CINDY CURRENTLY IS SERVING AS A MEMBER OF THE

MILITARY FAMILY AND ADVISORY NETWORK, ADVISORY BOARD, A MEMBER OF

THE MILITARY SPOUSE ADVOCACY NETWORK FOR NEW MILITARY SPOUSES AND

IS THE KEY SPOUSE MENTOR FOR HER HUSBAND'S MILITARY UNIT. SHE IS ALSO A

MEMBER OF THE VFW AND AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY, AND FINALLY WAS

NAMED THE 2022 ARMED FORCES INSURANCE NATIONAL GUARD SPOUSE OF

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

THE YEAR REMAINS COMMITTED TO ADVOCATING FOR QUALITY OF LIFE

LEGISLATION AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL. SHE EPITOMIZES

VETERAN SERVICE, AND HAS HELPED COUNTLESS LOCAL CNY VETS FIND THE

SERVICES THEY NEED. SHE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER HUSBAND, JOHN, WHO IS

ALSO CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE COLONEL.

MR. SPEAKER, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE OFFER THE

CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE TO CINDY AND JOHN MILEY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. LEMONDES, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU

HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, CINDY AND JOHN. PLEASE KNOW

THAT WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE, CINDY, AS

WELL AS SERVING WITH YOUR HUSBAND AS A PROVIDER OF SERVICES TO THIS

STATE AND A PROTECTOR OF THE STATE. CONTINUE YOUR GREAT WORK, KNOW THAT

YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE, WE WILL ALWAYS STAND BEHIND YOU.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. SAYEGH.

MR. SAYEGH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.

I RISE TO INTRODUCE A DEAR FRIEND AND FOR MANY HERE, AS HE HAD THE

PLEASURE OF SERVING IN THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYMAN [SIC], AND

TODAY HE SERVES AS THE MAYOR OF THE THIRD LARGEST CITY IN NEW YORK

STATE, CITY OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, MICHAEL SPANO, WHO'S HERE. HE'S

ACCOMPANIED BY DENISE EGIZIACO WHO IS HIS DEPUTY STAFF MEMBER.

AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, HAVING BEEN A RESIDENT OF YONKERS NEARLY MY

ENTIRE LIFE, I'VE WITNESSED AS AN EDUCATOR THE TREMENDOUS ROLE THAT MIKE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

SPANO AND HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN TO REALLY BRING ABOUT A

TREMENDOUS RENAISSANCE WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,

AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT

FOR ME SERVING A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT'S 75 PERCENT STUDENTS OF COLOR, THE

MAYOR WHO IS LOOKED UPON IN OUR CITY AS THE MAYOR OF EDUCATION, HAS

BROUGHT UPON A TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT AND A 90 PERCENT

GRADUATION RATE FOR AN URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND INITIATED A MODEL

NATIONAL PROGRAM, MY BROTHER'S KEEPER, THAT PROVIDES MENTORSHIP AND

SUPPORT ENCOURAGING SO MANY STUDENTS OF COLOR TO GO TO COLLEGES AND

CAREERS.

SO TODAY, MR. SPEAKER, IT IS REALLY A PRIVILEGE TO

WELCOME BACK TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYMAN -- TO THE NEW

YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, ASSEMBLYMAN MIKE SPANO, FORMER, MAYOR

MIKE SPANO TO THIS BODY AND IF YOU COULD GIVE HIM THE CORDIALITY OF

THE HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. SAYEGH, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, MICHAEL, ONCE A

MEMBER, ALWAYS A MEMBER. YOU NEED NO WELCOME BACK. WE EXTEND

TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR BECAUSE IT COMES WITH A TITLE. WE

HOPE THAT YOUR TERM AS MAYOR CONTINUES AND THAT YOUR SUCCESS IN

SERVING YOUR CONSTITUENTS CONTINUES AS WELL. PLEASE KNOW YOU'RE

ALWAYS WELCOME HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. HUNTER FOR THE PURPOSES OF A INTRODUCTION.

MS. HUNTER: YES, THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'LL BE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

SPEAKING ON THIS RESOLUTION LATER TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE MEMORIALIZING

TODAY TO BE CREDIT UNION DAY SO I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING A

GROUP OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVEN DIFFERENT CREDIT UNIONS THAT SERVE

THE RESIDENTS OF MY DISTRICT, MR. SPEAKER. WE HAVE CODY SEWARD FROM

SUMMIT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION; DAVE COLAVITA, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET

FROM MY HOUSE FROM THE SYRACUSE COOPERATIVE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION;

ANDREW SMITH FROM SYDNEY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION AND ANNA BANKS

FROM SIDNEY, AS WELL; BILL SWEENEY FROM CORE; ALL FROM VISIONS

FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, WE HAVE PATRICIA SHERMOT, SHAWN GAMBLE AND

MARY ROBINSON. MR. SPEAKER, DERRICK REED FROM ACMG FEDERAL

CREDIT UNION AND KAYLA HUGHES FROM THE NORTHERN FEDERAL CREDIT

UNION.

IF YOU COULD PLEASE EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THIS

HOUSE KNOWING THAT THOSE FOLKS RIGHT THERE ARE REPRESENTATIVES AND

HAVE THE FINANCIAL BACKS OF THE RESIDENTS OF MY COUNTY, BUT ACROSS NEW

YORK STATE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MS. HUNTER, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU

HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, COMMEND YOU ON THE WORK THAT

YOU'RE DOING IN ASSISTING PEOPLE IN THEIR FINANCIAL WORLD. PLEASE KNOW

THAT WE ARE ALWAYS GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE. YOU ALWAYS ARE

WELCOME HERE AND WE GIVE YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU

SO VERY MUCH.

(APPLAUSE)

RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 3, THE CLERK WILL READ.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1022, MS.

HUNTER.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 26, 2024, AS CREDIT UNION DAY IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. HUNTER ON THE

RESOLUTION.

MS. HUNTER: YES, THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, ON THE

RESOLUTION. TODAY, WE ARE MEMORIALIZING MARCH 26TH, 2024, AS CREDIT

UNION DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. CREDIT UNIONS ARE NOT-FOR-PROFIT

FINANCIAL COOPERATIVES OWNED AND OPERATED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE

MEMBERS THAT THEY SERVE. IN 1913, NEW YORK BECAME THE SECOND STATE

IN THE NATION TO ENACT A CREDIT UNION LAW. CREDIT UNIONS WERE AN

IMPORTANT AND STABLE PART OF OUR FINANCIAL INDUSTRY AND DURING THE

GREAT DEPRESSION, NO CREDIT UNION IN NEW YORK WAS LIQUIDATED AND

REMAINED AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY TODAY. NEW YORK

IS HOME TO 300 CREDIT UNIONS REPRESENTING OVER 7 MILLION NEW

YORKERS, AND MR. SPEAKER, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IN NEW YORK STATE IS

ESTIMATED AT 6.6 BILLION, NEARLY 1 BILLION IN TAX REVENUE, AND THEY

PROVIDE JOBS TO OVER 26,000 PEOPLE AND I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO BRING

THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD AND JOIN ME IN HONORING THESE CREDIT UNIONS.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU. ON THE

RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE

RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1023, MS.

WALSH.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 26, 2024, AS PURPLE DAY IN THE STATE

OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WALSH ON THE

RESOLUTION.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER,

AND THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES WHO WORE PURPLE TODAY. I'M

PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION, PURPLE DAY, AGAIN THIS

YEAR. PURPLE DAY IS ANOTHER NAME FOR EPILEPSY AWARENESS DAY.

EPILEPSY AWARENESS DAY AIMS TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE OF A

NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION AFFECTING NEARLY 50 MILLION INDIVIDUALS

GLOBALLY. EPILEPSY IMPACTS THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM CAUSING

SEIZURES AND OTHER SYMPTOMS. IT AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, AND MUCH

LIKE OTHER CONDITIONS, IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.

PURPLE DAY WAS STARTED IN 2008 BY CANADIAN CASSIDY

MEGAN TO ENCOURAGE AWARENESS AND CAST AWAY SOME OF THE MYTHS THAT

EXISTS SURROUNDING EPILEPSY. CASSIDY WAS MOTIVATED BY HER OWN

DIAGNOSIS TO EDUCATE THOSE AROUND HER. PURPLE WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE

LAVENDER IS RECOGNIZED AS THE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER OF EPILEPSY. DESPITE

ALL THE EXISTING TREATMENTS AND THERAPIES, AND THERE ARE NEW ONES

COMING OUT EVERY YEAR, THANKFULLY, THERE'S MUCH -- STILL MUCH MORE TO

BE DONE AND MUCH MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED. I'VE BEEN A PROUD

SUPPORTER OF THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION OF NORTHEASTERN NEW YORK,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

WHICH HAS INCLUDED SUPPORTING MY BROTHER, BOB BAIN AND MY

SISTER-IN-LAW, DEBBIE BAIN WHO HAVE BOTH WORKED AT THE EPILEPSY

FOUNDATION OF NORTHEASTERN NEW YORK, AND THEY WERE IN FACT,

MOTIVATED BY THEIR OWN ADVOCACY FOR MY NEPHEW CHRISTOPHER BAIN,

WHO IS NOW IN HIS EARLY 40S AND HAS TWO GREAT YOUNG DAUGHTERS OF HIS

OWN. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO MY COLLEAGUES AND FOR HELPING ME TO

SUPPORT PURPLE DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THANK YOU MR.

SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

ASSEMBLY NO. 1025, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1025, MR.

K. BROWN.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM AUGUST 31, 2024, AS OVERDOSE AWARENESS

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. 1026, MR.

RIVERA.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY C. HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 15 - OCTOBER 15, 2024, AS

HISPANIC LATINO HERITAGE MONTH IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

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. 1027, MR.

TANNOUSIS.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2024, AS GREEK HISTORY MONTH IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMEMORATION OF THE

203RD ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE.

(PAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. LEMONDES.

MR. LEMONDES: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON THE

RESOLUTION.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. LEMONDES: I'D LIKE TO THANK THE SPONSOR FOR

PUTTING THIS FORWARD ON BEHALF OF ALL GREEK PEOPLE WORLDWIDE, THANK

YOU. GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY ESTABLISHED ON MARCH 15TH, 1838,

DESIGNATED 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 5 MILLION PEOPLE OF GREEK ORIGIN LIVING OUTSIDE OF

GREECE, SCATTERED IN 140 COUNTRIES ACROSS THE GLOBE; HOWEVER, NEW

YORK HAS THE LARGEST GREEK AMERICAN POPULATION TOTALING AROUND

300,000, WITH THE MAJORITY LOCATED IN THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

AREA, AND THE REST OF US SCATTERED AROUND THE STATE AND NATION IN SMALLER

COMMUNITIES. IT'S 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, AND IN 1832 GREECE WAS REESTABLISHED AS AN INDEPENDENT

KINGDOM FROM THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE WITH THE TREATY OF CONSTANTINOPLE

ASSISTING THE GREEKS WITH THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE WITH BRITAIN,

FRANCE, AND RUSSIA. AMERICAN SUPPORT OF THE WAR OF THE 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 ST.

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA IN 1776.

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,

MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. JENSEN ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. JENSEN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER,

ON THE RESOLUTION. AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF GREECE IN NEW YORK, THE

TOWN OF GREECE, I AM SO HAPPY TO RISE AND THANK MEMBERS TANNOUSIS

AND LEMONDES FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION TO THE CHAMBER. THE TOWN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

OF GREECE ORIGINALLY NAMED NORTHAMPTON, WAS RENAMED AS IT IS TODAY

IN APPRECIATION OF THE GREEK WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE AND WE STAND WITH

ALL THE GREEK AMERICANS AND THE GREEKS IN GREECE, BOTH GREECE, NEW

YORK AND GREECE THE NATION, IN CELEBRATING THEIR HISTORY AND THEIR

HERITAGE AND THEIR INDEPENDENCE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

NO. 1024, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1024, MS.

JEAN-PIERRE.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 29, 2024 AS VIETNAM VETERANS DAY

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. JEAN-PIERRE ON

THE RESOLUTION.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR

ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. AS CHAIR OF THE

VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF

THIS RESOLUTION ON VIETNAM VETERANS' DAY, AND TO RECOGNIZE THE MORE

THAN 200,000 VIETNAM VETERANS FROM NEW YORK STATE, AND TO

REMEMBER ALL THOSE WHO PERISHED DURING THIS CONFLICT AND REMAIN

MISSING-IN-ACTION TO THIS DAY.

THE VIETNAM WAR WITH ITS COMPLEXITIES AND

CONTROVERSIES, TESTED OUR NATION AND THE BRAVERY OF OUR SERVICE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MEMBERS. OUR SOLDIERS FACED UNIMAGINABLE HARDSHIPS, ENDURING

RELENTLESS COMBAT, WITNESSING THE HARSH REALITIES OF WAR. TODAY, WE

HONOR THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO DEFENDING FREEDOM AND

DEMOCRACY EVEN IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY. SOME MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT

THE VIETNAM WAR WAS THE FIRST MAJOR U.S. CONFLICT THAT WAS FOUGHT

WITH A FULLY INTEGRATED MILITARY, WITH PRESIDENT TRUMAN HAVING TO SIGN

AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, INTEGRATING AMERICA'S ARMED FORCES IN 1948. THE

VIETNAM WAR WAS ALSO ONE OF THE FIRST WIDELY TELEVISED WARS, WHERE

THE PUBLIC WAS ABLE TO SEE THE CONFLICT AS IT OCCURRED.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE THE

STORY OF DAN BULLOCK, A YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIER. DAN WAS

BORN IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND HIS FAMILY LATER MOVED TO BROOKLYN. HE

WAS JUST 14 YEARS OLD. BULLOCK WALKED INTO THE U.S. MARINE CORPS

RECRUITMENT STATION. HE FALSIFIED THE DATE OF HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE TO

READ DECEMBER 21ST, 1949 SO HE COULD PASS AS 18 YEARS OLD. BULLOCK

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, 1968. HIS

FAMILY WAS UNAWARE OF THIS DECISION UNTIL HE CAME HOME WITH HIS

PAPERS IN HIS HAND. BULLOCK WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE BOOT

CAMP IN PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA AND HE ARRIVED IN VIETNAM ON

MAY 18TH, 1969. ON JUNE 6TH, 1969, BULLOCK WAS KILLED BY SMALL ARMS

FIRE WHILE ON THE NIGHT WATCH AT AN HOA COMBAT BASE. HE WAS JUST

15 YEARS OLD. HE WAS THE YOUNGEST AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBER TO BE

KILLED IN THE VIETNAM WAR.

DAN'S STORY IS ONE OF THE MANY THAT HIGHLIGHT THE

CONTRIBUTIONS OF SOLDIERS OF COLOR MADE DURING THE WAR. OVER 300,000

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

BLACK AMERICANS, INCLUDING DAN BULLOCK SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR.

I LEARNED ABOUT DAN'S SERVICE AND SACRIFICE WHILE VISITING THE WALL THAT

HEALS IN MY DISTRICT THAT THE TOWN OF BABYLON HOSTED ON OCTOBER -- IN

OCTOBER OF 2023. THE WALL THAT HEALS IS A TRAVELING EXHIBIT WHICH WAS

UNVEILED ON VETERANS' DAY 1996, BY THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL

FUND. IT IS A REPLICA OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL IN

WASHINGTON, D.C., DESIGNED TO TRAVEL TO COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE

UNITED STATES. SINCE ITS DEDICATION, THE WALL THAT HEALS HAS BEEN

DISPLAYED AT NEARLY 700 COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION, SPREADING

THE MEMORIAL'S HEALING LEGACY TO MILLIONS.

IT IS ALSO NOTABLE THAT ALTHOUGH THE MILITARY DID NOT

ASSIGN WOMEN TO COMBAT ROLES IN THE VIETNAM WAR, MORE THAN 265,000

WOMEN SERVED IN THE MILITARY DURING VIETNAM AND APPROXIMATELY

10,000 MILITARY WOMEN SERVED IN WAR ZONES DURING THE WAR -- DURING

THE CONFLICT. IT IS A COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT ALL WOMEN SERVING THE

VIETNAM WERE NURSES; THAT IS INCORRECT. MILITARY WOMEN SERVED IN

HEALTH CARE, COMMUNICATIONS, INTELLIGENCE, ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS.

AS WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THE VALOR OF OUR SOLDIERS, WE

MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROFOUND CHALLENGES MANY VIETNAM

VETERANS ENCOUNTERED UPON RETURNING HOME. UNLIKELY -- UNLIKE THE

PREVIOUS CONFLICTS, THEY WERE NOT ALWAYS GREETED WITH THE GRATITUDE AND

SUPPORT THEY DESERVED. INSTEAD, THEY FACED MISUNDERSTANDING STIGMA

AND NEGLECT. TOO OFTEN, THEIR SACRIFICES WERE OVERLOOKED AND THEIR

SERVICE WENT UNAPPRECIATED. THE VIETNAM WAR WAS ALSO ONE OF THE

MOST DIVISIVE WARS IN AMERICAN HISTORY. AS A RESULT, MANY VIETNAM

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

VETERANS WERE TREATED WITH HOSTILITY AND ANGER BY THE PUBLIC FOR THEIR

PARTICIPATION IN WAR. THIS MADE THE READJUSTMENT FOR RETURNING

VETERANS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.

TODAY SHOULD SERVE AS A REMINDER, ESPECIALLY AT THE

HEIGHT OF THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK TO

ENSURE THAT OUR VETERANS REMAIN A TOP PRIORITY FOR US AS ELECTED

OFFICIALS. LET US PLEDGE TO SUPPORT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS

THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF VIETNAM VETERANS, INCLUDING ACCESS TO QUALITY

HEALTH CARE, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

OPPORTUNITIES. LET US WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THAT THEY RECEIVE THE

BENEFITS AND ASSISTANCE THAT THEY REQUIRE TO LEAD FULFILLING LIVES AS THEIR

SERVICE TO OUR NATION.

FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY TAKE A MOMENT TO

RECOGNIZE A PROUD VIETNAM, OUR FRIEND AND OUR FEARLESS

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS, WAYNE JACKSON. MR. JACKSON BEGAN HIS SERVICE IN

THE ARMY IN 1967 AND WAS A MEMBER OF THE 19TH INFANTRY DELTA UNIT

AND A RECIPIENT OF THE PURPLE HEART. MR. JACKSON AND HIS TEAM WORKED

EXTREMELY HARD TO KEEP US SAFE IN THIS CHAMBER. HE EXEMPLIFIES A TRUE

PUBLIC SERVANT AND WE ARE EXTREMELY THANKFUL FOR HIS SERVICE TO THIS

CHAMBER. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE JOHN

COUCH WHO WORKS IN THE OFFICE OF SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. MR. COUCH IS A

VIETNAM VETERAN WHO SERVED FROM JANUARY 1968 TO 1969 IN THE

SERGEANT AIR FORCE 12 COMBAT SUPPORT GROUP.

ONCE AGAIN, I AM PROUD TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO

SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND I AM THANKFUL FOR MY COLLEAGUES FOR JOINING

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

ME IN SUPPORT. GOD BLESS OUR VIETNAM VETERANS AND MAY GOD

CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR TROOPS, BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD. THANK YOU,

MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. MANKTELOW ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. MANKTELOW: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK CHAIRWOMAN JEAN-PIERRE FOR BRINGING THIS

RESOLUTION FORWARD. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR VIETNAM VETERANS FOR

BEING HERE TODAY. I REALLY WANT TO TIE THIS IN A LITTLE BIT. THERE'S

200,000 -- OR MORE THAN 200,000 VIETNAM VETERANS HERE IN NEW YORK

STATE. I WANT TO TALK VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT THREE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. ONE

OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WAS AN INFANTRYMAN. HIS NAME WAS HANK TREVI

(PHONETIC), AND I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK WITH HANK, SPEND SOME

TIME WITH HIM. I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO GO ON AN HONOR FLIGHT WITH HIM IN

ABOUT A MONTH-AND-A-HALF. HE TOLD US WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO GO OUT IN THE

BUSH ON A MISSION, COME BACK, GET GEARED UP, AND GET READY TO HEAD

BACK OUT WHEN THE NEXT CALL CAME. BUT WHAT'S SO UNIQUE IS HOW THESE

THREE INDIVIDUALS THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT ARE REALLY TIED TOGETHER,

AND THEY'RE ALL FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF NEW YORK STATE.

THE SECOND INDIVIDUAL I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, HIS NAME

IS IVAN FISHER. HE WAS A DOOR GUNNER ON A HUEY HELICOPTER. AND I'VE

GOTTEN TO KNOW HIM OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE, YEAH, MY MOM'S DATING THE

GUY SO I GET A CHANCE TO MEET WITH HIM A LITTLE BIT. AND HE TOLD US

ABOUT THE MISSIONS THAT HE FLEW ON, NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT SOME OF THEM.

AND THEN TODAY HERE IN ALBANY, I GOT TO MEET ANOTHER YOUNG LADY. HER

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

NAME WAS SPECIALIST CONNIE RINNOCHIO. THANK YOU, CONNIE. CONNIE

WAS ALSO AN ELECTRICIAN'S TECHNICIAN WORKING ON HELICOPTERS. SHE

WORKED ON OH-58S, CHINOOKS, COBRA GUNSHIPS, AND ALWAYS THE

FAMOUS HUEY HELICOPTERS. WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS IS THESE

THREE INDIVIDUALS NEVER REALLY KNEW EACH OTHER, BUT SHE HELPED KEEP

THOSE HELICOPTERS FLYING. IVAN HELPED KEEP THE INFANTRYMEN SAFE AS A

DOOR GUNNER GOING OUT TO THE BUSH, AND AS HENRY WAS SET OUT -- OUT

THERE IN THE BUSH KNOWING THAT THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WILL BE THERE TO

PULL HIM BACK OUT.

SO I WANT TO SAY TO THOSE THREE INDIVIDUALS, I WANT TO

SAY TO ALL OF OUR VIETNAM VETERANS, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE

DONE FOR THIS COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THE FREEDOMS

THAT WE HAVE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO ASSEMBLE HERE TODAY, TO BE

HERE, TO VOTE ON BILLS, TO HAVE THE FREEDOMS THAT WE PROBABLY MAY NOT

EVER HAVE IF IT WASN'T FOR THESE TYPE OF INDIVIDUALS, THESE MEN AND

WOMEN THAT SERVE OUR COUNTRY. SO MAY GOD BLESS THESE MEN AND

WOMEN, MAY GOD BLESS THEIR FAMILIES, MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF US BECAUSE

OF INDIVIDUALS LIKE THIS, MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA. THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR FOR THIS RESOLUTION, AND CERTAINLY

WANT TO THANK ALL THE VETERANS THAT ARE IN THE CHAMBERS TODAY FROM ANY

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

WAR THAT THEY WERE IN, IN PARTICULAR VIETNAM BECAUSE ALL WARS ARE

DIFFICULT, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, BUT ITS IMPACT ON OUR COUNTRY,

BOTH IN VIETNAM AND IN AMERICA WAS A VERY CHALLENGING ONE. IT WAS

VERY DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE WERE THERE, AND

UNFORTUNATELY MANY PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE PROCESS OF IT. BUT FOR

THOSE GENTLEMEN AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WERE THERE, THANK YOU

VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DID.

NOW, I KNOW I'VE TOLD MANY OF YOU THIS BEFORE, I

COME FROM A FAMILY WHERE MY MOTHER'S MOTHER HAD 13 CHILDREN. AND

SEVERAL OF HER CHILDREN HAD CHILDREN WHO ACTUALLY SERVED IN VIETNAM.

AND AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THEIR NAMES, THOMAS JAMES

AND WILLY B. SWANS WERE SONS OF MY MOTHER'S OLDEST BROTHER, JOHN

SWANS. BENNY SWANS, JR., WHO ALSO RECEIVED A PURPLE HEART FOR HIS

SERVICE IN VIETNAM, WAS THE SON OF MY MOTHER'S BROTHER BENNY SWANS.

REGINALD DAVIS, JAMES DAVIS, AND CHARLES DAVIS WERE THE SONS OF MY

MOTHER'S SISTER, MARY SWANS-DAVIS. AND REGGIE SETTLES WAS THE SON

OF MY MOTHER'S SISTER MAVIS SWANS-SETTLES.

AND SO THIS WAR TOUCHED EVERYBODY'S FAMILY ACROSS

AMERICA, AND I AM VERY PROUD OF THE EFFORTS THAT MY COUSINS, FIRST

COUSINS DID IN THIS WAR, I AM PROUD OF THE EFFORTS THAT MY ANCESTORS

WHO FOUGHT IN LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE WAR THAT AMERICA'S EVER BEEN IN,

PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME, AFRICAN AMERICANS, MY FAMILY MEMBERS

HAVE SERVED. AND SO I'M HONORED THAT THEY SERVED, AND I'M HONORED TO

SERVE AND LOVE AMERICA JUST THE SAME WAY THAT THEY DID.

SO AGAIN, I WANT TO HONOR ALL THE VETERANS AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

CERTAINLY HONOR THE SPONSOR OF THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION -- RESOLUTION

THAT'S BEFORE US, AS WELL AS THE RANKER FROM THE COMMITTEE. IT TAKES

COURAGE. IT TAKES COURAGE TO GO TO WAR AND FIGHT FOR THE PRINCIPLES AND

HONORS THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS PROVIDED FOR US. AND SO I HONOR ALL OF THE

COURAGE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE DONE SO. THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. MORINELLO.

MR. MORINELLO: THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO THANK

CHAIRWOMAN KIMBERLY JEAN-PIERRE, JOSH JENSEN, BRIAN MAHER, THE

ENTIRE ASSEMBLY FOR MAKING US FEEL WELCOME. I'M GOING TO SPEAK AS

SOMEONE WHO CAME BACK TO A NATION THAT WAS IN TURMOIL, A NATION THAT

WAS FIGHTING, A NATION THAT DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE WENT AND WHY

WE SACRIFICED, A NATION THAT RIDICULED. THEY THREW FECES AT US, THEY

THREW URINE AT US, THEY CALLED US BABY KILLERS, NEVER RECOGNIZING IT WAS

THE SACRIFICES THAT ALLOWED THEM TO DO THAT WITH IMPUNITY.

MY FELLOW COMRADES IN ARMS AND I WANT TO THANK YOU

FOR WELCOMING US TODAY, THE WELCOME THAT WE DID NOT RECEIVE. AND

THAT SPURNED A FOCUS ON WHERE THIS COUNTRY NEEDED TO GO. I SERVED WITH

AFRICAN AMERICANS, THERE WAS NO PREJUDICE, THERE WAS NO RACISM, THEY

WERE BROTHERS. THEY WERE BROTHERS BECAUSE WE RELIED ON EACH OTHER,

AND I DON'T KNOW OF ANY VIETNAM VETERAN THAT HAS ANY PREJUDICE IN

THEM BECAUSE WE TOGETHER, WITH OUR COMRADES, FOUGHT FOR THE FREEDOMS

THAT WE ENJOY TODAY. WE MUST REMEMBER, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

THERE ARE THOSE OF US WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE ALL. AND SOME DID GIVE

ALL, AND SOME CAME BACK AND LEFT PART OF THEM THERE.

BUT I WANT TO TRULY THANK EVERYONE IN THIS ASSEMBLY

FOR RECOGNIZING THAT YES, THERE'S TURMOILS, AND WE HAVE SIDES, BUT WE

HAVE TO LEARN TO NOT TAKE THEM PERSONALLY. WE HAVE TO LEARN TO BE ABLE

TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE HERE. WE'RE HERE FOR

OUR DISTRICTS. EACH DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT. EACH DISTRICT HAS DIFFERENT

NEEDS AND I THINK IF WE ALL OPEN OUR EARS AND STOP HAVING DECISIVENESS

WE MAY BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER TO GET SOME COMMON GROUND TO

MOVE US FORWARD IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION. BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU FROM

THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU. THE RECEPTION I HAVE RECEIVED NOT

ONLY IN MY EIGHT YEARS HERE, BUT TODAY ESPECIALLY. AND I'M NOT SURE IF I

MENTIONED BRIAN, BUT I WANT TO THANK BRIAN, OKAY, BECAUSE THESE TWO

GENTLEMEN ALONG WITH THE CHAIRWOMAN PUT TOGETHER A FUNCTION THAT

WILL GO ON IN HISTORY AND WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO BE GREATER. AND THANK

YOU, AGAIN; AND THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. TAGUE ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. TAGUE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AS A

GRANDSON OF A WORLD WAR II VETERAN AND SON OF A VIETNAM VETERAN

AND COSPONSOR OF THIS RESOLUTION, THANK YOU TO THE SPONSOR AND OTHER

COSPONSORS OF THIS RESOLUTION. AND THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS AND STAFF

WHO WORKED SO HARD TO PUT ON A GREAT LUNCHEON FOR OUR VIETNAM

VETERANS TODAY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR

SERVICE TO THE VETERANS WHO SERVE WITH US EVERYDAY IN THIS CHAMBER.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS WAYNE JACKSON, ASSEMBLYMAN KEN BLANKENBUSH,

AND ASSEMBLYMAN ANGELO MORINELLO, WELCOME HOME, GENTLEMEN,

GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU. SECONDLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE TWO

VETERANS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY FROM MY ASSEMBLY DISTRICT,

THOMAS ANDREASEN. HE STARTED HIS MILITARY CAREER IN 1965 AS SOON AS

HE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL. HE STARTED HIS MARINE TRAINING IN 1966 AT

CAMP LEJEUNE. HE SERVED AS AN EQUIPMENT OPERATOR FOR THE SEABEES

IN THE NAVY FROM 1965 TO 1969. TOM DID TWO TOURS IN VIETNAM IN

1966 AND 1967 IN VIETNAM AND SERVED FOUR MONTHS IN THE ANTARCTICA.

HE IS DECORATED WITH A COMBAT INSIGNIA, NATIONAL DEFENSE, AND

ANTARCTICA RIBBON. TOM LIVES WITH HIS WIFE, JOY, IN CATSKILL IN GREENE

COUNTY; TOM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

SHERIFF RON STEVENS. SHERIFF RON STEVENS STARTED HIS

MILITARY CAREER IN 1966 AND SERVED IN VIETNAM IN 1968 AND 1969. HE

SERVED AT A TRANSPORTATION OUTFIT AND TRANSPORTED PROJECTILES TO THE

BASES. RON IS A UNITED STATES ARMY VETERAN, A RECIPIENT OF THE BRONZE

STAR FOR HIS ACTIONS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. AFTER HIS MILITARY CAREER,

HE SERVED AS A CAPTAIN IN THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE. CURRENTLY, RON

IS THE SCHOHARIE COUNTY SHERIFF. HE AND HIS WIFE, KATHY LIVE IN

SCHOHARIE, NEW YORK.

MR. SPEAKER, IN CLOSING, LET US ALSO NOT FORGET THE

BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THESE GREAT VIETNAM VETERANS THAT MADE THE

ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. GOD BLESS THEM. GOD BLESS THIS GREAT NATION, THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

GREATEST THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN. TO OUR VIETNAM VETERANS, I SAY

THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WELCOME HOME,

WELCOME HOME. MR. SPEAKER, I PROUDLY VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ON THIS

RESOLUTION. GOD BLESS YOU, GOD BLESS AMERICA AND THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. DESTEFANO.

MR. DESTEFANO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR

THIS OPPORTUNITY. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO DO THE SAME AS MY COLLEAGUE, MR.

TAGUE. I WANT TO INTRODUCE MY CONSTITUENT THAT LIVES IN MY DISTRICT,

MR. PETER PALAMIDES AND HIS WIFE, PATRICIA. PETER IS A PURPLE HEART

RECIPIENT. HE HAD HIS BASIC TRAINING AND ADVANCING FOR TROOP TRAINING

IN FORT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA. HE WAS SENT TO VIETNAM IN

NOVEMBER OF 1968. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 196TH LIGHT INFANTRY

BRIGADE OF THE AMERICAL, SPENT ONE FULL YEAR AND WOUNDED IN LATE JUNE

OF 1968 IN A FIRE FIGHT. HE RETURNED BACK HOME IN 1969, DID THE

REMAINING SIX MONTHS IN FORT CARSON, COLORADO, AND DISCHARGED IN

1970. HE LIVES IN MY DISTRICT WITH HIS WIFE, HE HAS TWO CHILDREN AND

FIVE GRANDCHILDREN.

NOW TO THE WAR ITSELF. UPON THE RETURN FROM

VIETNAM, MANY U.S. SOLDIERS FACED A LACK OF SUPPORT AND

UNDERSTANDING FROM THEIR OWN COUNTRY. UNLIKE SOLDIERS IN PREVIOUS

WARS, VIETNAM VETERANS WERE NOT WELCOMED HOME AS HEROES. INSTEAD,

THEY WERE OFTEN MET WITH INDIFFERENCE AND HOSTILITY. MANY SOLDIERS

STRUGGLED WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ISSUES STEMMING FROM THEIR TIME IN

VIETNAM, INCLUDING PTSD, SUBSTANCE ABUSE WITH EXPOSURE TO AGENT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

ORANGE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AT THE TIME WAS

ILL-EQUIPPED TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS LEADING TO MANY VETERANS FALLING

THROUGH THE CRACKS. ADDITIONALLY, VIETNAM VETERANS FACED SOCIAL

STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION WITH SOME BEING LABELED AS BABY KILLERS, AS

WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, AND BLAMED FOR THE WAR ITSELF. THIS ADDED TO A

SENSE OF ISOLATION, ALIENATION UPON THEIR RETURN. IT WAS ONLY THEN IN

LATER YEARS THAT THE TREATMENT OF VIETNAM VETERANS BEGAN TO IMPROVE

WITH INCREASED RECOGNITION OF THE SACRIFICES AND EFFORTS TO PROVIDE

BETTER SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR THEIR NEEDS; HOWEVER, THE LEGACY OF

HOW THESE SOLDIERS WERE TREATED UPON THEIR RETURN SERVES AS A PAINFUL

REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HONORING AND CARING FOR THOSE WHO

SERVE THEIR COUNTRY. LET US NOT FORGET THE 58,000 OR SO MEMBERS OF THE

SERVICE THAT WERE LEFT BEHIND IN VIETNAM AND VETERANS THAT ARE ALSO,

THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL THOUSANDS STILL ALIVE TODAY THAT STILL SUFFER FROM

THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE AILMENTS THEY RECEIVED FROM VIETNAM.

MR. SPEAKER, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO ALL THE VETERANS THAT MADE THE TRIP TO

ALBANY TODAY. WE RESPECT YOU, WE THANK YOU, AND WE LOVE THIS

COUNTRY AS THEY DO. THANK YOU, SIR.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

MR. MAHER.

MR. MAHER: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, ON THE

RESOLUTION. I WANTED TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE COLLEAGUES THAT I

HAVE THE HONORING OF SERVING WITH. HELPING TO PUT TOGETHER ACTIVITIES

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

FOR THIS DAY, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE SOME PRIVATE MOMENTS AND

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE SERVICE OF MEMBER BLANKENBUSH AND MEMBER

MORINELLO AND MANY OTHERS. AND IT REALLY IS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO

HEAR SOME FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THAT WILL TRULY HUMBLE

EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM. SO I WOULD WELCOME ANYONE WHO

HAS NOT SAT DOWN WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES TO TALK ABOUT THAT SERVICE, IF

THEY'RE WILLING, TO REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE,

BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY DOES PUTS OUR WORK HERE AND

THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES IN PERSPECTIVE.

FOR ME, I HAVE THE HONOR OF ESCORTING MR. DAVID

PENNEY, SERGEANT DAVE PENNEY, WHO JOINED THE ARMY, FIRST TRIED TO

ENLIST, WASN'T ACCEPTED AND THEN WAS PART OF THE DRAFT. HE TOLD ME AN

INTERESTING STORY ABOUT THAT. THEY ENDED UP IN A TWO-AND-A-HALF YEAR

PERIOD, SENT HIM TO VIETNAM, AND ALSO WITH RESPECT TO OUR MAJORITY

LEADER, HE IS ONE OF 17 CHILDREN, NOT 13, WHICH I FOUND ABSOLUTELY

ASTONISHING, AND HIS PARENTS' NAMES - I JUST HAD TO PUT THIS INTO THE

RECORD - THEY ARE GREAT NAMES, HE IS THE SON OF DECATUR BUTTERWORTH

PENNEY AND OLA MAE ROBUCK, ONE OF 17 CHILDREN.

DAVE PENNEY SERVED IN '67 TO 1969, WAS AWARDED THE

AIR MEDAL, BRONZE STAR, ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT

MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE MEDAL AND VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL. BUT

AFTER MR. PENNEY GOT BACK FROM THE WAR, HE BECAME A SERVANT TO THE

VETERANS' COMMUNITY, SOMEBODY WHO HAS FOR MANY YEARS BEEN THE

COMMANDER OF OUR WALDEN VFW, A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION,

AND SOMEONE WHO IS A MENTOR AND A CHAMPION FOR OTHER YOUTH AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

VETERANS GOING THROUGH A TERRIBLE TIME. HE TOOK HIS EXPERIENCE AT WAR

AND HIS SERVICE AND OVER THE LAST 50 TO 60 YEARS HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE

TO THE GREATER WALDEN COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE AND TO

REACH VETERANS WHO ARE IN VERY, VERY TOUGH SITUATIONS. HE HAS PUT

TOGETHER THE WALDEN MEMORIAL DAY PARADE AND VETERANS' DAY

CEREMONY, AND REALLY HAS ACCOMPLISHED COUNTLESS, COUNTLESS ACCOLADES

FOR HIS COMMUNITY.

AND ONE THING THAT DAVE AND I GOT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY

IN ALBANY, IT REALLY MADE ME THINK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS

RESOLUTION AND OUR WORK IN HONORING OUR VIETNAM VETERANS EVERY

SINGLE YEAR AND EVERY DAY, HOPEFULLY, THINK ABOUT THAT LIFE OF SERVICE.

THINK ABOUT THAT AMAZING PILLAR IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT MR. PENNEY IS,

AND THINK ABOUT HOW MANY TENS OF THOUSANDS WHOSE LIVES WERE LOST,

WHO THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THOSE FAMILIES WHO WERE ROBBED OF PEOPLE

LIKE MR. DAVID PENNEY. AND WE REMEMBER THOSE INDIVIDUALS, THOSE

THAT DAVID SERVED WITH, THAT MEMBER MORINELLO AND MEMBER

BLANKENBUSH SERVED WITH, AND LET'S REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT IMPACT AND

THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL OF US TO HONOR THAT SERVICE AND TO HONOR THEIR

MEMORY HERE TODAY.

SO MR. SPEAKER, ON THE RESOLUTION, THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR VIETNAM

VETERANS. WELCOME HOME, AND THANK YOU FOR SERVICE AND NOW YOU'RE

FAMILY.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. GIGLIO.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MR. GIGLIO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'M GOING TO

TALK ABOUT SOMEBODY A LOT MORE PERSONAL. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT MY

ELDEST BROTHER, NICHOLAS C. GIGLIO, WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM. AMONG

HIS HONORS WAS THE NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, TWO BARS; ARMY

COMMENDATION MEDICAL [SIC] WITH "V" DEVICE, COMBAT INFANTRY

BADGE, FIRST AWARD; GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL; VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL

WITH THREE BRONZE STARS; VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH A DEVICE; AND

A PURPLE HEART.

I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE MY BROTHER, OBVIOUSLY HE'S MY

ELDEST BROTHER, I'VE ALWAYS LOOKED UP TO HIM AND HE SET A GREAT

EXAMPLE. I ALSO BRING IT UP BECAUSE THIS WILL BE MY LAST TIME ON THE

FLOOR WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AND HE WOULD'VE KILLED ME IF I WOULD'VE

BROUGHT IT UP ANY SOONER. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WHAT PEOPLE DO,

AND THEY HAVE ALLUDED TO IT, THE FAMILIES ALSO SERVE WITH THEM. BUT I

WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT ONE MORE THING, MY BROTHER NICK WAS A VERY

DEVOUT CATHOLIC. AND WHAT THOSE BULLETS DIDN'T DO, AGENT ORANGE DID

AT THE END OF HIS LIFE. AND IT TOOK HIS YOUTH AND THEY TOOK HIS SENIOR

YEARS. BUT THE MOST REMARKABLE THING IS MY PARENTS ARE BURIED IN A

CATHOLIC CEMETERY AND NICK CHOSE TO GO TO A NONDENOMINATIONAL

CEMETERY, AND I ONLY FOUND THAT OUT AFTER HE DIED. AND HE DECIDED TO

BE BURIED IN A PLACE CALLED THE FIELD OF VALOR, BECAUSE I GUESS ONCE A

SOLDIER, ALWAYS A SOLDIER, AND THE LOVE THAT HE HAD FOR HIS COMBAT ARMS

NEVER WANED AND THAT'S WHY HE DID IT.

SO I'M VERY PROUD TO STAND HERE AS HIS BROTHER AND

BRING UP HIS NAME IN THIS PLACE, ALONG WITH ALL THESE GENTLEMAN AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

LADIES AND LET YOU KNOW ALTHOUGH THERE WAS GREAT SACRIFICE, WHEN THEY

CAME HOME, WE HAD A GREAT TIME. WE WELCOMED OUR HEROES HOME, WE

DIDN'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY ELSE THOUGHT. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER DAIS: MR. PALMESANO.

MR. PALMESANO: YES, MR. SPEAKER. I, TOO, RISE

TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION AND WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SPONSOR FOR

BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION TO THE FLOOR OF THE ASSEMBLY. IT IS

AN HONOR TO WELCOME ALL OF OUR VIETNAM VETERANS WHO ARE HERE ON THE

FLOOR WITH US TODAY AS WE PROCLAIM TODAY AS VIETNAM VETERANS' DAY

HERE IN NEW YORK. YOU ARE OUR HEROES. AND PLEASE KNOW THAT THE

WORDS WE SPEAK ON THE FLOOR HERE TODAY DO NO JUSTICE TO THE DEBT OF

GRATITUDE WE WILL ALWAYS OWE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, BUT WE CAN

AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO SAY THANK YOU. SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR

SERVICE AND WELCOME HOME.

ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE

MR. MORINELLO, FOR VERY POWERFUL WORDS ON THE FLOOR HERE TODAY. AND,

ANGELO, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL. OF COURSE TO MR.

BLANKENBUSH FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL, AND OF COURSE OBVIOUSLY TO MR.

WAYNE JACKSON FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE THANK YOU AND WE WELCOME YOU

HOME.

I'D JUST LIKE TO INDULGE YOU FOR A MINUTE TO INTRODUCE

TO YOU A VERY SPECIAL MAN, HIS NAME IS P. EARLE GLEASON, HE'S ON THE

FLOOR OF THE ASSEMBLY HERE WITH US TODAY, HE'S FROM PENN YAN, NEW

YORK, IN YATES COUNTY. EARLE IS NOT -- EARLE IS A VIETNAM VETERAN, BUT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

HE IS ALSO MY FRIEND. I'VE KNOWN AND WORKED WITH EARLE FOR NEARLY 30

YEARS, SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE EARLE HERE ON THE FLOOR WITH US TODAY. JUST

TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EARLE WITH YOU ALL, EARLE WAS DRAFTED IN

JANUARY OF 1968. HE SERVED IN THE U.S. ARMY AS PART OF THE AMERICAL

DIVISION, NAMED AFTER AMERICA AND NEW CALEDONIA, THE 23RD INFANTRY

DIVISION. HE SERVED IN VIETNAM FROM SEPTEMBER 1968 TO SEPTEMBER

OF 1969. HE WAS A COMBAT VET, MORTARMAN WITH THE INFANTRY.

EARLE'S SERVICE TO HIS FELLOW VETERANS AND COUNTRY AND

COMMUNITY DID NOT END THERE. EARLE'S LIFE HAS EPITOMIZED SERVICE.

EARLE HAS ALSO SERVED 20 YEARS AS A YATES COUNTY VETERANS' SERVICE

DIRECTOR, WHERE I FIRST GOT TO KNOW HIM WORKING WITH HIM AS A STAFFER

FOR OUR FORMER MEMBER, PREDECESSOR, JIM BACALLES, AND THEN AGAIN AS A

MEMBER. HE DEDICATED THAT TIME TO HELP AND SERVE HIS FELLOW VETERANS

WHO NEEDED ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE. THAT'S THE KIND OF GUY EARLE

GLEASON IS; HE'S A VETERANS' VETERAN. IN ADDITION TO THAT SERVICE SERVING

OUR VETERANS AND OUR COUNTRY, EARLE ALSO SERVED HIS COMMUNITY. HE

SERVED FOR 24 YEARS ON THE MILO TOWN BOARD, AND HE ALSO SERVED

SIX YEARS AS A MEMBER OF THE YATES COUNTY LEGISLATURE BEFORE HE

DECIDED TO RETIRE A COUPLE YEARS BACK AGO.

IT IS REALLY AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO HAVE MY

FRIEND, EARLE GLEASON, HERE ON THE FLOOR WITH US TODAY. EARLE, WE SAY

THANK YOU TO YOU, BUT WE ALSO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE VIETNAM

VETERANS WHO ARE HERE IN THIS ROOM WITH US TODAY, AND THOSE WHO CAN'T

JOIN US AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THIS COUNTRY. WE WILL ALWAYS

THANK YOU, WE WILL ALWAYS APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US, AND WE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER DAIS: MR. NORRIS.

MR. NORRIS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD ON THIS RESOLUTION. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE

SPONSOR AND ALL THE COSPONSORS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE VIETNAM

VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED THIS NATION. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY TO

ASSEMBLYMAN KEN BLANKENBUSH, AND MY RIDING PARTNER IN THE CAR,

JUDGE ANGELO MORINELLO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL AS OUR

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. BUT LONG BEFORE I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH JUDGE

MORINELLO IN THE CAR, OR ASSEMBLYMAN BLANKENBUSH AT DINNER, I HAD A

GENTLEMAN WHO REALLY TAUGHT ME ABOUT LIFE. SOMEBODY WHO EXPLAINED

TO ME WHAT IT IS TO BE AN AMERICAN. I AM VERY PROUD TODAY TO SAY IN

THE CHAMBER, I HAVE VIETNAM VETERAN, PHIL YODER FROM LOCKPORT,

NEW YORK.

MR. YODER ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AT 18 IN 1969. HE

WENT TO VIETNAM IN FEBRUARY OF 1970 AND HE WAS WOUNDED IN JUNE OF

1970. HE WAS AWARDED A PURPLE HEART AND RECEIVED A BRONZE STAR

WITH VALOR. AFTER HIS SERVICE, HE CAME BACK HOME TO LOCKPORT AND

GAVE SO MUCH TO HIS COMMUNITY. HE SERVES AS AN ASSISTANT

SCOUTMASTER FOR TROOP 82 IN LOCKPORT. HE'S HELPED MANY WITH

WRESTLING, YOUTH WRESTLING. ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WAS MYSELF. AS A

YOUNG SCOUT, EAGLE SCOUT, HE HELPED MOLD ME AND SO MANY OTHERS. I

AM FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR NATION, BUT ALSO TO OUR

LOCKPORT COMMUNITY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

AND I'D LIKE TO JUST SHARE A STORY, BECAUSE 30 YEARS

AGO OR SO THIS HAPPENED AND I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN THIS STORY FOR AS LONG

AS I LIVE. WE WERE ON A HIGH ADVENTURE TRIP IN THE ADIRONDACKS, UP

TRAVELING TO MOUNT MARCY, TRAVERSING ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. ONE OF

OUR SCOUTS HAD A DIFFICULT TIME COMING DOWN. WELL, I WAS A SENIOR

PATROL LEADER AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO GO AHEAD OF THE PACK

AND SET UP THE CAMP. MR. YODER SMILES BECAUSE WE GOT THERE, WE SET IT

ALL UP. MR. YODER AND A FEW OTHERS BROUGHT BACK THE SCOUT WHO WAS

INJURED. HE SAYS, PLEASE, I WANT YOU TO MOVE THIS CAMPSITE OVER THERE

ABOUT 500 YARDS. WE TORE IT DOWN, WE RESET IT UP. I SAID TO MYSELF,

WOW, I WAS ONLY TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. AT THAT CAMPFIRE THAT

EVENING WE WERE ALL AROUND AND HE SAYS, DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU DID

THAT? AND I SAID, I THINK I HAVE AN IDEA. HE SAYS, I WANT TO TELL YOU A

LIFELONG LESSON, NEVER LEAVE SOMEBODY BEHIND. YOU ALWAYS TRAVEL

TOGETHER AS A GROUP. AND I MUST TELL YOU, THAT LIFELONG LESSON HAS

CARRIED ON WITH ME AND SO MANY OTHER SCOUTS THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREER.

MR. YODER, THANK YOU FOR BEING A GREAT MENTOR, A GREAT FRIEND, A GREAT

LEADER, AND ALSO FOR YOUR GREAT SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. THANK YOU SO

VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER, FOR BEING HEARD ON THIS RESOLUTION.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER DAIS: MS. WALKER.

MS. WALKER: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR

ALLOWING ME TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO REFLECT ON THE GREAT HEROES AND

SHEROES OF THE VIETNAM WAR. YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER MY FAMILY IN

SOUTH CAROLINA, MANY OF WHOM ARE VETERANS FROM MANY DIFFERENT WARS,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES DURING THIS TIME. AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT

THOSE STORIES, I SAY WOW, THIS WAS A GREAT AMERICAN CONTRADICTION. IN

THE WAKE OF THE TET OFFENSIVE AND THE MY LAI MASSACRES WAS AN

ONGOING CONVERSATION AROUND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA. RIGHT AFTER LYNDON

B. JOHNSON, PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN PRESIDENTS,

ONE-TERM PRESIDENT, SADLY ENOUGH, WHO SIGNED THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT

AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, WORKING WITH CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS WHO WERE

IN THE TRENCHES FIGHTING AGAINST ECONOMIC AND RACIAL INJUSTICE. AND

THEY FOUGHT HARD. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WERE VISIONS ON THE -- THERE

WERE PICTURES ON THE TELEVISION THAT WERE SHOWING DOGS, HOSES, ET

CETERA, WHICH WERE BEING UTILIZED AND WEAPONIZED AGAINST INDIVIDUALS

HERE ON AMERICAN SOIL AT THE SAME TIME AS THESE VISIONS FROM THE

VIETNAM WAR WERE BEING SHOWN. IT WAS ALSO A SPLIT BETWEEN THE CIVIL

RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND IT ALSO BURGEONED A NEW BLACK POWER

MOVEMENT. MANY OF THESE POLITICAL AND RADICAL MOVEMENTS REALLY GOT

THEIR WORTH AS IT RELATES TO WHAT SIDE YOU WERE ON AND WHO YOU KNEW

AND HOW YOU FELT ABOUT THE VIETNAM WAR.

AND OF COURSE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT

WARS, YOU SAY YOU KNOW, THIS SHOULD BE A TIME WHERE PEOPLE ARE

CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER AND WERE A NUMBER OF

CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS WHO WERE CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE AT THAT TIME, BUT

THE NAACP STOOD UP ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE BLACK SOLDIERS WHO WERE

SERVING IN VIETNAM VALIANTLY ON BEHALF OF THEIR COUNTRY RISKING THEIR

LIVES EACH AND EVERY DAY NOT KNOWING IF THEY WOULD BE COMING HOME

TO THE SAME LEVEL OF SOCIETAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT THEIR COLLEAGUES AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

FELLOW SOLDIERS WERE WHO WERE RIGHT NEXT TO THEM, BUT THEY CONTINUED

TO SOJOURN THROUGHOUT THAT ENTIRE TIME. THERE WAS A SAYING THAT WAS

DONE DURING AN NAACP EVENT. IT WAS BY BISHOP SPOTTSWOOD. HE

STATED, ONWARD GHETTO SOLDIERS, MARCHING AS TO WAR, WITH THE GOALS OF

FREEDOM, GOING ON BEFORE, NAACP'ERS LEAD AGAINST THE FOE, FORWARD

INTO BATTLE, SEE OUR BANNERS GO!

AND AGAIN, WHEN MANY OF THESE LEADERS THOUGHT ABOUT

THE CONTRADICTIONS THAT PRESIDENT JOHNSON WAS GOING THROUGH, ONE OF

THE THINGS THAT THEY NOTED, THIS WAS BY ROY WILKINS, HE STATED TO

LYNDON JOHNSON AT AN EVENT, THE FREEDOM HOUSE ANNUAL AWARD

DINNER, FREEDOM AT HOME WAS NEVER MORE WIDELY SHARED NOR

AGGRESSION ABROAD MORE WISELY RESISTED THAN UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP OF

THE NATION.

AGAIN, I AM NOT NECESSARILY PUTTING MY OWN POLITICAL

VIEWS AS TO HOW IT IS I VIEWED ON PRESIDENT JOHNSON, BUT I AM SAYING

TODAY THAT YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS THAT YOUR SERVICE GAVE TO THIS

COUNTRY, GAVE TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, GAVE TO THE FREEDOMS THAT

WE ARE ENJOYING AS PER THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT. AND SO WHILE YOU WERE

FIGHTING A WAR ABROAD AND DIDN'T RECEIVE THE LEVEL OF SUPPORTS THAT YOU

FELT WERE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP MARCHING

FORWARD, I WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND BEHALF OF MY

CONSTITUENTS, AND ON BEHALF OF SO MANY PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT EVEN

RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU MADE, THANK YOU. WE OWE A

HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO YOU, AND IT HAS BEEN MY HONOR AND MY

PRIVILEGE, MR. SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO REFLECT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

ON THE VIETNAM WAR.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER DAIS: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL

THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. STECK FOR THE

PURPOSES OF A INTRODUCTION.

MR. STECK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I AM PLEASED

TO INTRODUCE THE 2024 CLASS A STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS,

CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL --

(APPLAUSE)

-- WHICH IS LOCATED IN LATHAM, NEW YORK, AT ST.

AMBROSE CHURCH, WHICH I CERTAINLY RECALL VISITING MANY TIMES DURING

MY YOUTH, ALTHOUGH IN THOSE DAYS CATHOLIC CENTRAL WAS A HUGE SCHOOL

OVER IN TROY. IT IS SMALLER TODAY, BUT THE BASKETBALL TEAM IS OBVIOUSLY

STILL A POWERHOUSE. WE ALSO HAVE AN ALUMNA OF CATHOLIC CENTRAL IN MY

OWN OFFICE, MEG BROWN, MY OFFICE DIRECTOR, ATTENDED AND GRADUATED

FROM CATHOLIC CENTRAL.

THEY FINISHED THE SEASON WITH A RECORD OF 25-1, LED BY

COACH AUDRA DIBACCO DEFEATING WALTER PANAS HIGH SCHOOL IN A 64-62

DOWN-TO-THE-WIRE GAME. THE LADY CRUSADERS ARE JOINED BY THEIR

COACH AND FAMILY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND

PRINCIPAL AND THEIR BIGGEST FAN, MS. BARRATO.

SO AGAIN, MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS GROUP OF

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

OUTSTANDING ATHLETES, AND TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF CATHOLIC HIGH FOR

THEIR SUCCESS IN DEVELOPING THIS TEAM AND OPERATING NOW FROM THEIR

NEW AND VERY BEAUTIFUL LOCATION AT ST. AMBROSE CHURCH IN LATHAM,

NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. STECK, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME CATHOLIC

HIGH GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE

ASSEMBLY, EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. OUR

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SUCCESS THAT YOU'VE HAD THIS YEAR KNOWING THAT

THAT SUCCESS WILL LEAD TO FURTHER SUCCESSES IN LIFE, WHETHER IT BE IN

BASKETBALL OR JUST IN GENERAL TERMS OF GOING ON TO COLLEGE AND MAKING

YOUR WAY IN THE WORLD. WE HOPE THAT IT HAS BEEN A POWERFUL

MOTIVATION FOR YOU TO PROCEED AND FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS. WE ARE JUST

HAPPY THAT YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO STAND WITH US TODAY AND SIT AND LISTEN

TO OTHERS WHO WENT THROUGH THEIR STRUGGLES OF LIFE THAT LED TO THE

SUCCESSES THAT YOU DO. I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO APPRECIATE THAT

SUCCESS AND CONTINUE TO GROW AND DEVELOP INTO THE BEAUTIFUL HUMAN

BEINGS THAT YOU WILL BECOME. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

(APPLAUSE)

PAGE 4, CALENDAR NO. 1, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00043-C, CALENDAR

NO. 1, L. ROSENTHAL, LEE, SEAWRIGHT, MAHER, THIELE, PAULIN,

LEVENBERG, DARLING. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, IN

RELATION TO LABELING OF INGREDIENTS OF DIAPERS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: AN EXPLANATION IS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

REQUESTED, MS. ROSENTHAL.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THANK YOU. THIS BILL REQUIRES

THE LABELING OF INGREDIENTS ON PACKAGES OF BOXES OF DIAPERS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WALSH.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WILL THE

SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. ROSENTHAL, WILL

YOU YIELD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. ROSENTHAL YIELDS.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I HAVE

ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT AREAS OF QUESTIONING THAT I'D LIKE TO TOUCH ON

ABOUT THIS BILL, WHICH IS NOT A VERY LONG BILL, BUT THE FIRST HAS TO DO -- SO

AS YOU SAID DURING THE EXPLANATION, WHAT THIS BILL TALKS ABOUT IS THE

LABELING OF DIAPERS, RIGHT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YUP.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. AND ON LINE 4 OF THE BILL IT

TALKS ABOUT AN INGREDIENT SHALL MEAN, QUOTE, AN INTENTIONALLY ADDED

SUBSTANCE PRESENT IN A DIAPER. BUT THE TERM "INTENTIONALLY" IS NOT

DEFINED; WHY IS THAT NOT DEFINED?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I THINK PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE

WORD "INTENTIONALLY" MEANS, BUT IN ADDITION, THIS BILL IS MEANT TO BE

PARALLEL TO THE MENSTRUAL PRODUCT LAW WHICH WE PASSED HERE IN 2019.

MS. WALSH: OKAY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: SO IT USES THE SAME LANGUAGE.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

IT'S AN INGREDIENT-LABELING BILL LAW, AS WELL.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. WELL, I'M ASKING BECAUSE THERE

ARE EXAMPLES IN OUR NEW YORK STATE LAW WHERE THE TERM IS DEFINED,

AND I REFER YOU TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW, SECTION

37-0121, 37-0209, 37-0901 WHERE "INTENTIONALLY ADDED" GENERALLY

MEANS A CHEMICAL IN A PRODUCT THAT SERVES AN INTENDED FUNCTION IN THE

PRODUCT COMPONENT. SO I JUST ASK, IN SOME AREAS OF THE LAW WE DO

DEFINE "INTENTIONALLY" BUT IN THIS -- IN THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF

LEGISLATION WE'RE NOT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: CORRECT.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. AND I ASK ALSO BECAUSE JUST

USING A HYPOTHETICAL THAT, LET'S SAY THAT THE DIAPERS ARE PRODUCED USING

WATER, AND THAT WATER HAPPENS TO CONTAIN PFAS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING -- IF IT WAS USED IN THE WAY THAT THE

PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED, IT COULD BE, I WOULD SAY, AN UNINTENTIONAL

CONTAMINATION, BUT DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT, IT COULD BE AN

ADDED -- AN ADDED SOMETHING THAT WAS PUT INTO THE PRODUCT; DO YOU SEE

WHAT I MEAN? SO...

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY, BUT WE WANTED TO PARALLEL

MENSTRUAL PRODUCT LABELING IN THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO -- WELL, I PROBABLY WOULD'VE

ARGUED THE SAME THING ON THAT BILL, TOO. HERE WE ARE ON THIS ONE.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE WOULD BE LET'S SAY THAT A DIAPER CONTAINS COTTON THAT

IS GROWN OUT IN A FIELD AND, AS WE KNOW, IN MANY OLD FIELDS AND OLD

FARMLAND THERE COULD BE ARSENIC, TRACE AMOUNTS IN THE SOIL. IF THAT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MADE WAY ITS WAY INTO THE COTTON FIBERS WHICH THEN MAKE THEIR WAY

INTO THE DIAPER, THAT WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACTURER

WOULD HAVE INTENTIONALLY ADDED TO THE PRODUCT, BUT IT COULD FIND ITS

WAY INTO THE PRODUCT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: MM-HMM.

MS. WALSH: IS IT YOUR INTENTION IN DEVELOPING THIS

BILL THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT SITUATION WOULD NOT SUBJECT THE

MANUFACTURER TO ANY KIND OF -- OF CIVIL PENALTY FOR FAILING TO LABEL

ARSENIC IN A PRODUCT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S

100 PERCENT ORGANIC COTTON WHERE YOU WOULD ASSUME THERE -- THERE IS

NO SUCH CONTAMINATION, AND IF YOU JUST SAY COTTON, THEN I SUPPOSE A

CONSUMER COULD -- COULD THINK WELL MAYBE THERE IS SOME IN THERE OR

NOT.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. AND I'M SORRY, I'M JUST HAVING

A LITTLE TROUBLE HEARING YOU, I'M AFRAID.

MS. ROSENTHAL: SORRY.

MS. WALSH: SO IS IT YOUR POSITION, THEN, THAT UNDER

THIS LEGISLATION THAT AN INTENTIONALLY ADDED SUBSTANCE WOULD NOT

INCLUDE SOMETHING WHERE YOU HAVE TRACE AMOUNTS THAT WERE EITHER OF

SOME KIND OF A SUBSTANCE THAT WAS -- GETS INTO THE PRODUCT THROUGH

EITHER THE FARMING OF WHAT THE RAW MATERIALS OR THE ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT

AND MANUFACTURE OF THE PRODUCT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? I DIDN'T

HEAR THE LAST PART.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MS. WALSH: OKAY. WELL, I'M JUST SAYING, IS IT -- IS

IT -- I'M TRYING TO ASCERTAIN --

MS. ROSENTHAL: -- BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TALKING.

MS. WALSH: -- THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT HERE OF THIS

PART OF THE BILL WHICH TALKS ABOUT INTENTIONALLY ADDED SUBSTANCES.

MS. ROSENTHAL: RIGHT.

MS. WALSH: IS IT YOUR POSITION THEN THAT SOMETHING

LIKE THE TWO EXAMPLES THAT I GAVE OF THE TRACE AMOUNTS OF ARSENIC IN THE

SOIL THAT MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE COTTON OR THE WATER THAT'S USED IN THE

-- THE PRODUCTION OF THE MATERIAL THAT'S -- THAT'S GOT A PFA IN IT. WOULD

THAT BE -- THAT WOULD BE, IN YOUR VIEW, AN UNINTENTIONAL ADDITION RATHER

THAN AN INTENTIONAL ADDITION.

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS -- THIS JUST

REQUIRES LISTING. SO IF THERE'S A HIGH ENOUGH PERCENTAGE OF THAT AND

THEY FIGURE THAT OUT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO LIST IT.

MS. WALSH: BUT THIS BILL DOESN'T CALL OUT ANY

THRESHOLD PERCENTAGES OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD TRIGGER THE NEED TO LIST.

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT'S TRUE, IN ORDER OF --

MS. WALSH: I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT'S IN ORDER OF HOW MUCH IS IN

THE PRODUCT. I MEAN, THIS PARALLELS THE MENSTRUAL BILL WHICH HAS BEEN

VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THIS STATE AND OTHERS, SO I DON'T THINK THOSE ISSUES

HAVE COME UP WITH THE MENSTRUAL LABELING BILL.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. BUT I MEAN, I'M JUST RAISING

ISSUES THAT I'M SEEING LOOKING THROUGH THIS PARTICULAR BILL.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY.

MS. WALSH: I APPRECIATE YOUR SAYING THAT THERE'S

ANOTHER BILL THAT HASN'T CAUSED THESE ISSUES --

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, WELL THAT'S A LAW, THAT'S A

LAW AND SO WE'VE LEARNED THAT THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ISSUES WITH THAT SO IT

SEEMED TO BE NO REASON TO ADDRESS IT IN THIS -- IN THIS BILL.

MS. WALSH: AND MAYBE I DIDN'T HEAR YOU, I'M

SORRY, BUT I THOUGHT YOU JUST SAID THAT IF THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF --

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF THERE WAS LIKE A HUGE

PERCENTAGE OF ARSENIC, THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO BE LABELED.

MS. WALSH: WELL, HOW MUCH IS A HUGE

PERCENTAGE? IT'S NOT CALLED OUT IN HERE AT ALL.

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT'S IN ORDER OF PREDOMINANCE, SO

I THINK IN GENERAL, BELOW A CERTAIN VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE YOU DON'T

HAVE TO LIST IT.

MS. WALSH: IS THAT IN ANOTHER SECTION OF LAW THAT IS

-- THAT I DON'T HAVE IN FRONT OF ME? BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THIS BILL AND

IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY OF THAT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY. SO IF THE MANUFACTURER

DID NOT KNOW THAT ARSENIC WAS IN THE COTTON, THEY WOULD NOT

INTENTIONALLY BE ADDING IT, SO THIS IS ABOUT INTENTIONALLY ADDING.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. OKAY, THANK YOU. I THINK THAT

THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO THE SECOND THING I'D LIKE TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

TOUCH ON IS THE EFFECTIVE DATE. THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS LEGISLATION IS

NO LATER THAN 12 MONTHS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, EACH

PACKAGE OR BOX CONTAINING DIAPERS SOLD IN THE STATE SHALL CONTAIN A

PLAIN AND CONSPICUOUS PRINTED LIST OF ALL INGREDIENTS WHICH SHALL BE

LISTED IN ORDER OF PREDOMINANCE. SO -- AND THEN THE LEGISLATION ITSELF,

IN SECTION 2, SAYS THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. SO ONE

CONCERN THAT'S BEEN RAISED BY MANUFACTURERS IS THAT CHANGING

PACKAGING IN ANY WAY, I MEAN, ACROSS INDUSTRIES, IS A VERY

TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS RIGHT AWAY.

AND I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN ARTWORK CHANGE ON PACKAGING CAN SOMETIMES

TAKE YEARS IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE CHANGED, THEN TO HAVE EVERYTHING IN THE

MANUFACTURING PROCESS CHANGED TO FIT THAT AND THEN TO HAVE PRODUCT

COMING OFF THE LINE WITH THAT NEW PACKAGING. SO IS -- WHY WOULD YOU

THINK THAT 12 MONTHS WOULD BE A REASONABLE TIME FRAME IN ORDER TO

ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING LIKE THIS LABELING OF DIAPERS?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I THINK A FULL YEAR IS -- IS A LONG

TIME, ACTUALLY, AND WHAT WE ARE CONSIDERING HERE IS PEOPLE WHO ARE

BUYING DIAPERS FOR THEIR BABIES AND FOR THEIR ADULT NEEDS, I THINK A YEAR

IS ENOUGH TIME.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. OH, SO THIS -- JUST -- JUST TO

CLARIFY WHAT YOU JUST SAID, THAT THE DIAPER LABELING, THAT THAT WOULD

INCLUDE BOTH DIAPERS FOR BABIES AND -- AND ADULT USE DIAPERS -- DIAPERS

AS WELL.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES, YES.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. OKAY. SO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

HAVE YOU BEEN CONTACTED AT ALL BY, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, PROCTER & GAMBLE

IS CONCERNED AND OPPOSED TO THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE OF THAT VERY ISSUE.

THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY DON'T -- THAT WILL NOT GIVE THEM ENOUGH TIME IN

ORDER TO MAKE THE LABELING CHANGES THAT THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW, WE -- WE KNOW THAT

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MENSTRUAL PRODUCT LABELING WAS SUCCESSFUL AND

COMPANIES CAME INTO COMPLIANCE BY THE EFFECTIVE DATE. PROCTER &

GAMBLE IS NOT MY GO-TO ADVOCATE AND I ACTUALLY HAVE MANY MEMOS

FROM WOMEN'S VOICES FOR THE EARTH, NEW YORK SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS

COALITION, WE ACT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, CITIZENS CAMPAIGN FOR

THE ENVIRONMENT, (INAUDIBLE) PUTTING TOXIC CHEMICALS IN DIAPERS ALSO

HAS AN IMPACT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT, BROOKLYN DIAPER PROJECT --

MS. WALSH: BUT THEY'RE NOT MANUFACTURERS, RIGHT?

NONE OF THEM. THEY'RE JUST -- THEY'RE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES, BUT

THEY'RE NOT -- THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK OF MAKING THE

CHANGES, RIGHT, TO THE PACKAGING?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I CHOSE TO LISTEN TO THESE

ADVOCATES HERE.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. YOU CHOSE TO LISTEN TO THE -- TO

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES AND NOT THE MANUFACTURERS WHO ACTUALLY

HAVE TO --

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE MANUFACTURERS --

MS. WALSH: -- IMPLEMENT THIS LEGISLATION.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE MANUFACTURERS, YES.

MS. WALSH: OKAY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE MANUFACTURERS HAVE

SELF-INTEREST. THEY ARE NOT A -- THEY'RE NOT TECHNICIANS AND THEY ARE NOT

UNBIASED.

MS. WALSH: WE -- WE ALL -- WE ALLL HAVE BIASES,

I'M SURE. THE -- THE OTHER ISSUE THAT IT COMES UP WITH THE

MANUFACTURING EFFECTIVE DATE IS THAT -- THAT WAS RAISED TO ME WAS, WHAT

DO YOU ABOUT -- IF -- IF YOU'RE BASING THE EFFECTIVE DATE ON A YEAR FROM

FROM WHEN THE -- THE LEGISLATION IS PASSED, HOW DO YOU ACCOUNT FOR

OLDER PRODUCT THAT IS NOT MOVING QUICKLY ON -- ON THE SHELVES OF -- YOU

KNOW, IF YOU GET INTO, YOU KNOW, LIKE A BIG RETAILER OR SOMETHING WHERE

THERE IS -- THERE'S FAST TURNOVER, THAT'S ONE THING, BUT IF YOU HAVE MAYBE

LIKE A BODEGA WHERE THEY MIGHT HAVE SOME DIAPERS OR PRODUCTS LIKE

THIS IN THE BACK, MAYBE THERE'S A LAYER OF DUST ON THEM, I DON'T KNOW,

MAYBE THEY'RE NOT SELLING. THEY COULD HAVE THE OLD LABELING ON THEM

AND WOULDN'T IT BE FAIRER TO MEASURE THE EFFECTIVE DATE FROM

MANUFACTURE OF THE PRODUCT RATHER THAN THE -- THE DATE FROM THE PASSAGE

OF THE LEGISLATION?

MS. ROSENTHAL: SO WHAT I'M CONCERNED WITH

HERE IS HAVING CAREGIVERS, PARENTS, GUARDIANS, ANYONE WHO TAKES CARE

OF A BABY AND UP TO TODDLER AGE, YOU KNOW, KIDS WEAR DIAPERS MAYBE

UNTIL THEY'RE FOUR, IS TO ENSURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT IS IN THE INGREDIENTS

IN THE DIAPERS THAT THEY PURCHASE FOR THEIR BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN.

THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM, AND I THINK IT'S BEST. A YEAR IS A LONG

TIME, AND I THINK IT'S BEST TO OPERATE IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY SO

PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON THEIR CHILDREN'S BEHINDS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MS. WALSH: OKAY. NOW, IF THE MANUFACTURER DOES

NOT FOLLOW THIS LEGISLATION, THEN THE LAST PART OF YOUR BILL IMPOSES A

CIVIL PENALTY. COULD YOU TALK HOW THAT WAS FIGURED OUT, HOW THAT CIVIL

PENALTY WORKS?

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT'S -- IT'S THE SAME PENALTY AS

MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS PENALTY, YEAH. YOU KNOW, WE WRITE LAWS. IT'S ON

BUSINESSES, INDIVIDUALS TO FOLLOW THE LAW, AND I THINK THIS IS PERFECTLY

REASONABLE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BABIES AND THEIR

HEALTH AND SAFETY.

MS. WALSH: YUP. SO THE CIVIL PENALTY IS 1 PERCENT

OF THE MANUFACTURER'S TOTAL ANNUAL IN-STATE SALES, NOT TO EXCEED $1,000

PER PACKAGE OR BOX; IS THAT CORRECT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF YOU'RE READING FROM THE BILL,

YES.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW

MUCH THAT COULD BE -- THAT COULD BE FOR A MANUFACTURER?

MS. ROSENTHAL: AS I SAID BEFORE, THE INTENT OF

THIS LEGISLATION IS TO ALLOW PEOPLE WHO PURCHASE DIAPERS FOR USE ON

BABIES, TODDLERS, FOR THEM TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS OF THAT

DIAPER. YOU KNOW, WE FOUND THAT WHEN WE PASS LAWS, BUSINESSES,

INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO ABIDE BY THEM. IN A CASE LIKE THIS, THEY WILL HAVE

TO GET THEIR PACKAGING READY WITHIN A YEAR.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. NOW, GOING BACK TO THE

12-MONTH IMPLEMENTATION.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MS. WALSH: IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SENATE'S

VERSION WAS AMENDED TO 18 MONTHS. ARE YOU GOING TO AMEND YOURS TO

18 MONTHS AS WELL, OR NO?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, I'M NOT.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO WE WON'T HAVE MATCHING.

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, WE WON'T.

MS. WALSH: THAT'S FINE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THEY CAN AMEND THEIRS, AND I

THINK THEY WILL.

MS. WALSH: OKAY, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO

MUCH.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THANK YOU.

MS. WALSH: MR. SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL.

MS. WALSH: SO I CAN COMPLETELY APPRECIATE THAT

THE SPONSOR'S GOAL HERE IS TO PROVIDE WHAT SHE BELIEVES IS CONSUMER

PROTECTION. I JUST THINK THAT YOU ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THE REST OF IT

WHICH IS WHO'S GOT TO TAKE THIS LEGISLATION AND TRY TO IMPLEMENT IT. IS IT

REASONABLE THE WAY THAT IT'S WORDED, OR IS IT AMBIGUOUS, AND IS THERE A

REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME WITHIN WHICH TO COMPLY OR FACE A CIVIL

PENALTY WHICH COULD BE SIGNIFICANT. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BILL

COULD BE CONSIDERABLY IMPROVED IF IT DID HAVE A DEFINITION FOR WHAT

WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE INTENTIONALLY ADDED. WE'VE DONE THAT IN

OTHER AREAS OF THE LAW, SUCH AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW

SECTIONS THAT I'VE READ EARLIER, INTENTIONALLY ADDED COULD SIMPLY MEAN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

THAT IT WAS SOMETHING IN A PRODUCT THAT SERVED --

(BUZZER SOUNDING)

-- I'D LIKE TO KEEP GOING -- AN INTENDED FUNCTION IN THE

PRODUCT COMPONENT. I MEAN IT'S NOT HARD TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF

DEFINITIONAL INTO THERE, ESPECIALLY IF THE MANUFACTURER IS GOING TO BE

FACING A PENALTY IF THEY DON'T GUESS RIGHT ABOUT WHETHER IT'S CONSIDERED

TO BE UNINTENTIONALLY OR INTENTIONALLY ADDED. I THINK THAT IF YOU TAKE A

LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF WHAT THAT YEAR-LONG DATE, OR IN THE CASE OF THE

SENATE, 18-MONTH DATE IS GOING TO BE RUN FROM, YOU DO HAVE AN ISSUE

WHERE YOU'VE GOT PRODUCT THAT COULD BE SITTING ON THE SHELVES FOR A

CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, THEREBY EXPOSING MANUFACTURERS TO

LIABILITY FOR PRODUCT THAT ALREADY CAME OFF -- OFF THE MANUFACTURING LINE

AND HAD BEEN SITTING ON SHELVES BEFORE THIS BILL EVEN PASSED, OR WAS

SIGNED INTO LAW. AND THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE FAIR TO ME EITHER. IT

SEEMS MUCH MORE FAIR TO GIVE (INAUDIBLE) -- TO LISTEN TO THE

MANUFACTURERS WHO ARE WILLING TO COMPLY BUT NEED FURTHER GUIDANCE

SPELLED OUT IN THE LAW AND IN THE LEGISLATION AND A REASONABLE AMOUNT

OF TIME TO COMPLY.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE SPONSOR TO PERHAPS CONSIDER

WHAT THE SENATE HAS DONE IN TERMS OF AMENDING THEIR VERSION TO

18 MONTHS AT LEAST. I -- YOU KNOW, I THINK IT COULD BE AS MUCH AS TWO

YEARS TO ACTUALLY GET THIS DONE IN AN APPROPRIATE TIME FRAME, AND ALSO

TO ADD ENOUGH DEFINITION TO THE LEGISLATION SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS

WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WHAT AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO

ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE. I DON'T DOUBT THE SPONSOR'S CARING FOR THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

ADVOCATES DESIRE TO HAVE THESE THINGS LABELED, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE

HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY

GOING TO BE COMPLYING WITH THIS, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH

CLEAR LANGUAGE IN THE LEGISLATION TO ALLOW THAT TO TAKE PLACE AND HAVE IT

TAKE PLACE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL BE VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS

PIECE OF LEGISLATION, MR. SPEAKER, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY

COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, MS.

WALSH.

MR. GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WOULD

THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. ROSENTHAL, WILL

YOU YIELD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: SURE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. ROSENTHAL YIELDS.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MS. ROSENTHAL. TO

YOUR KNOWLEDGE, HAS THE U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCTS COMMISSION ISSUED

ANY ADVISORIES ON DIAPERS?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I'M -- I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT.

MR. GOODELL: AND WHAT ABOUT THE FEDERAL TRADE

COMMISSION?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT. BUT WE

ARE TALKING ABOUT BABIES AND SAFETY. A POINT THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

RESPONSE --

MR. GOODELL: I -- I -- IF IT'S OKAY, I JUST WANTED TO

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY, YOU GOT MY ANSWER.

MR. GOODELL: YEAH. AND AM I CORRECT THE EPA

IS NOT MOVING TO BAN ANY PRODUCTS FROM BABY DIAPERS OR THE DEC?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I DON'T KNOW THAT THE EPA HAS

BEEN ASKED NOR HAS IT WEIGHED IN ON THAT.

MR. GOODELL: I SEE. AND DO WE HAVE ANY DATA AS

TO ANY INJURIES OR OTHER HEALTH EFFECTS INVOLVING BABY DIAPERS?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WE ACTUALLY KNOW THAT

PREEMIES, BABIES THAT ARE PREEMIE AND THAT -- WHOSE HEALTH IS

COMPROMISED WHO HAVE WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEMS, WE REALLY DON'T WANT

TO EXPOSE THEM TO CHEMICALS, PHTHALATES, OTHER INGREDIENTS. SO WHAT

THIS BILL DOES IS IT ACTUALLY HAS A LIST OF INGREDIENTS SO THAT THE PURCHASER

CAN MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION.

MR. GOODELL: I SEE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: DO I WANT MY BABY TO BE

EXPOSED TO THESE OR NOT, AND THAT IS CONSUMER CHOICE.

MR. GOODELL: AND -- WELL, MY QUESTION WAS, DO

WE HAVE ANY DATA -- DO YOU -- DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA ON HOW MANY

CHILDREN HAVE SUFFERED ILL EFFECTS FROM THE CONTENTS OF DIAPERS? DO WE

KNOW -- I MEAN, ARE WE TALKING A FEW HUNDRED, A FEW DOZEN?

MS. ROSENTHAL: SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT A PARENT

SHOULD RISK --

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MR. GOODELL: NO, I'M JUST ASKING IF WE HAVE ANY

DATA.

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, ACTUALLY THERE -- THERE WAS

THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY JOURNAL IN

FRANCE HAS TALKED ABOUT MORE THAN 200 CHEMICALS, INCLUDING DIAXON,

FORMALDEHYDE, PCBS, PAHS IN POPULAR DIAPER BRANDS AND -- AND THAT

BABIES HAVE SUFFERED RASHES, ALLERGIES THAT HAS HAPPENED AFTER THEY'VE

WORN THOSE DIAPERS.

MR. GOODELL: AND DID THE FRENCH -- FRENCH

OSHA GROUP IDENTIFY HOW MANY CASES WE'RE -- THEY WERE TALKING

ABOUT? WAS THERE ANY DATA IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OR FREQUENCY OR

MAGNITUDE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT -- THAT IT'S

FINE TO HAVE TOXINS IN DIAPERS?

MR. GOODELL: NO, I'M JUST ASKING, DO WE HAVE

ANY DATA AT ALL ON THE NUMBER OR FREQUENCIES OF ANY --

MS. ROSENTHAL: I THINK -- I THINK --

MR. GOODELL: -- ILL EFFECTS REPORTED BY BABIES? I

UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CHEMICALS IN EVERYTHING WE USE. THERE'S

CHEMICALS IN OUR CLOTHES, OUR SOCKS, OUR SHOES. EVERYTHING WE EAT AND

DRINK HAS CHEMICALS. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT JUST BECAUSE THERE'S A

LOT CHEMICALS IN THE SOFT DRINKS THAT WE DRINK THAT PEOPLE ARE DYING OR

HAVING ILL EFFECTS. SO THE QUESTION THEN IS, HOW -- DO WE HAVE ANY DATA

AS TO ANY NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT HAVE ILL EFFECTS FROM THE CONTENTS OF

DIAPERS?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW, IT'S IMMATERIAL. ALL

THIS IS IS A LAW THAT WOULD SAY YOU MUST LIST INGREDIENTS. IN SOFT DRINKS

THERE IS A LIST. IF YOU DON'T WANT ASPARTAME, DON'T BUY THAT DIET SODA.

THE SAME CHOICE NEEDS TO BE AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS --

MR. GOODELL: I UNDERSTAND --

MS. ROSENTHAL: LET ME FINISH. TO CONSUMERS --

MR. GOODELL: I -- I --

MS. ROSENTHAL: -- WHEN THEY'RE PURCHASING

SOMETHING THAT IS ON THEIR BABY'S SKIN FOR A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME,

UP TO FOUR-PLUS YEARS OF THEIR BABY'S LIFE.

MR. GOODELL: I UNDERSTAND THAT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THAT'S GOOD.

MR. GOODELL: I'M SORRY IF I WASN'T CLEAR IN MY

QUESTIONING. I UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL. I UNDERSTAND THAT

THERE ARE MULTIPLE CHEMICALS THAT ARE USED IN CREATING DIAPERS. I

UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY -- ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DIAPER THAT'S NOW

MANUFACTURED HAS SUPER-ABSORBENT POLYMERS. I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THAT'S GOOD.

MR. GOODELL: DO WE HAVE ANY DATA ON ANY

NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT HAVE SUFFERED ANY EFFECT? THAT'S EITHER A YES

OR NO QUESTION, AND THEN --

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, IT'S NOT A YES OR NO. AND IF

IT WERE EVEN ONE, I WOULD STILL PROPOSE THIS BILL --

MR. GOODELL: I SEE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: -- BECAUSE ONE IS TOO MANY FOR

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

BABIES TO BE EXPOSED TO CHEMICALS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT THEIR

HEALTH.

MR. GOODELL: AND THEN JUST ONE FOLLOW-UP

QUESTION, IF I MAY. I UNDERSTAND WE DON'T HAVE ANY DATA, OR AT LEAST

WE'RE NOT AWARE OF ANY, THAT CORRELATE BETWEEN THE CONTENTS OF THE

DIAPER WHEN IT'S MANUFACTURED. WE DO, OF COURSE, HAVE A DRAMATIC

AMOUNT OF DATA ON THE CON -- CONTENTS THAT ARE INTENTIONALLY ADDED AFTER

THE DIAPER'S ON THE BABY, INCLUDING THE ILL EFFECTS OF E. COLI, WHICH IS

UNAVOIDABLE. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TOXICITY OF THE

DIAPER ITSELF COMPARED TO THE TOXICITY OF THE INTENTIONALLY-ADDED

COMPONENTS AFTER THE DIAPER IS PUT ON THE BABY?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I'M NOT SURE YOU REALLY

UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THIS BILL.

MR. GOODELL: OH, BELIEVE ME, I'VE CHANGED

HUNDREDS OF DIAPERS. I UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM.

(LAUGHTER)

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL THEN IF YOU -- THEN YOU

WOULD CARE THAT PARENTS HAVE THE OPTION OF PICKING DIAPERS WITH OR

WITHOUT CHEMICALS.

MR. GOODELL: THANK -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH,

MS. ROSENTHAL. I DO APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

MS. ROSENTHAL: I'M SURE YOU DO.

MR. GOODELL: SIR, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, MR.

GOODELL.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MR. GOODELL: YOU KNOW, HAVING FOUR KIDS AND

NOW MULTIPLE GRANDKIDS, I'VE HAD MY SHARE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO WITNESS

THE TOXICITY OF THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE ADDED INTENTIONALLY AFTER THE

DIAPER IS APPLIED TO THE BABY. IT MAY BE A DIRTY SECRET TO SOME, BUT THE

INTENTIONALLY-ADDED PRODUCTS AFTER THE DIAPER IS APPLIED ARE MUCH,

MUCH WORSE THAN ANYTHING THE MANUFACTURER COULD CONCEIVABLY PUT IN

FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND EVERY OTHER ASSET -- ASPECT, WHICH IS

WHY WE ALWAYS TRIED TO DISPOSE OF THOSE PRODUCTS SAFELY AND QUICKLY AS

POSSIBLE. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE SPONSOR'S CONCERN ABOUT WHAT MIGHT

BE IN THE DIAPER BEFORE IT'S APPLIED TO THE BABY, BUT WE KNOW THAT WHAT

IS APPLIED AFTERWARDS FAR EXCEEDS IT IN TERMS OF DANGEROUSNESS AS WELL

AS TOXICITY.

AND SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE'S CONCERN,

BUT I THINK WE REGULATE ENOUGH IN NEW YORK STATE AND WE DON'T NEED

TO ADD TO THE COST TO THE CONSUMERS WHEN THEY'RE FACING AN OBVIOUS

PROBLEM AFTER THE DIAPER HAS BEEN APPLIED. THANK YOU, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. DINOWITZ.

MR. DINOWITZ: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS

MY GRATITUDE FOR TWO THINGS; ONE, IS THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DEBATING A BILL

AT 4:30 AFTER ALL THOSE HOURS; AND SECOND, TO THE SPONSOR BECAUSE I

BELIEVE THIS BILL IS IMPORTANT. NOT THAT I CHANGED MOST OF THE DIAPERS,

BUT WHEN MY KIDS WERE LITTLE ONE OF MY CHILDREN HAD BAD REACTIONS TO

PAMPERS OR THE -- SOME -- OR THE OTHER BRAND, AND WE ACTUALLY HAD TO

USE CLOTH DIAPERS. IF ONLY WE KNEW THE INGREDIENTS THAT WERE IN THOSE

PAMPERS OR OTHER BRANDS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER. SO YOU

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

NEVER KNOW. KNOWLEDGE IS IMPORTANT, CONSUMERS HAVE A RIGHT TO

KNOW THINGS, AND I HOPE THAT FUTURE CONSUMERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO

HAVE THIS LABELING INFORMATION. BECAUSE THE CONSUMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. ROSENTHAL, WILL

YOU YIELD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU. MS. -- MS.

ROSENTHAL, IS THIS THE FIRST TIME YOU HAD THIS BILL IN? YOU'VE HAD THIS IN

FOR A COUPLE YEARS, RIGHT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES, I HAVE. AND I'VE HAD IT --

IT'S GONE THROUGH COMMITTEES WITH UNANIMOUS VOTES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: HAVE YOU HAD -- HAVE

YOU HEARD FROM ANYONE IN THE INDUSTRY ABOUT YOUR BILL?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I BELIEVE I HAD A -- A E-MAIL OR

SOMETHING FROM PROCTOR & GAMBLE, THE -- A MANUFACTURER, SAYING WHAT

THEY WANTED IN THE BILL.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: AND DO YOU KNOW -- I

MEAN, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE DEFINITELY PAMPERS, AND THERE'S ONE OTHER

BRAND BECAUSE I HAVE A GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER AND I'VE -- I'VE BEEN

CHANGING DIAPERS. HOW MANY BRANDS ARE THERE THAT ACTUALLY PREPARE

BOTH DIAPERS FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN? HOW MANY DIFFERENT BRANDS ARE

THERE?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MS. ROSENTHAL: THERE -- THERE ARE BRANDS, THERE

ARE 100 PERCENT ORGANIC BRANDS, AND THEN THERE ARE STORE BRANDS AND

THERE ARE ALSO, YOU KNOW, BIG CORPORATION BRANDS.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: OKAY. AND THE REASON

WHY I ASKED YOU IF YOU HAD HEARD FROM THE INDUSTRY IS BECAUSE I THINK

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH YOU.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: I REMEMBER -- THANK YOU

VERY MUCH.

ON THE BILL. I REMEMBER AS A COUNTY LEGISLATOR, MR.

SPEAKER, I INTRODUCED A BILL THAT SIMPLY WOULD ASK THAT MILK BE LABEL --

LABELED WITH RBG2 IF IT HAS IT IN THERE. AND THE INDUSTRY CAME ALL THE

WAY FROM MINNESOTA TO ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO SPEAK ABOUT WHY IT

SHOULDN'T HAPPEN. FORTUNATELY FOR US, THE CITIZENS AND CONSUMERS,

EVENTUALLY IT DID HAPPEN BECAUSE WE REALLY SHOULD KNOW WHAT IS IN THE

PRODUCTS THAT WE'RE USING. SOME OF US MAY NOT WANT TO KNOW, SOME OF

US MAY NOT CARE TO KNOW. BUT SOME OF US WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS

IN WHAT -- WHATEVER PRODUCT IT IS WE'VE CHOSEN TO USE. AND I ACTUALLY

NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT -- WHAT ARE THEY USING TO MAKE THIS

DIAPER THAT GOES ON TO THE BOTTOM OF SOME OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS THINGS

WE HAVE IN LIFE, OUR BABIES. WHAT ARE THEY USING? AND HERE'S ONE

THING I KNOW FOR A FACT, IS THAT EVEN IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND

ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE WORLD, IN FACT, ON A REGULAR BASIS

WE'RE GRADUATING CHEMISTS AND SCIENTISTS WHO ARE PUTTING TOGETHER

THINGS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE OUR LIVES EASIER. AND UNDERSTANDING

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

THAT SOMETIMES WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO MAKE OUR LIFE EASIER DOESN'T ALWAYS

MAKE IT HEALTHIER. AND SO I THINK THOSE TWO THINGS NEED TO START

MEETING, AND I HOPE THAT IS THE INTENTION OF THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT

AT SOME POINT WHAT WE'RE CREATING TO MAKE OUR LIVES EASIER WILL ALSO

KEEP US SAFE. NOW, WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS A BABY THERE -- THERE WAS A

THING CALLED DIAPER COLLECTIONS. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WERE IN THE

BUSINESS OF COMING BY YOUR HOUSE AND COLLECTING YOUR DIAPERS AND

WASHING THEM AND BRINGING THEM BACK. THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO;

THINGS CHANGED. IT'S MORE CONVENIENT TO HAVE A DIAPER THAT YOU CAN JUST

THROW AWAY, BUT IT'S ALSO MORE CONVENIENT TO UNDERSTAND HOW WAS THAT

DIAPER AND WHATEVER IT IS MADE WITH COULD OR COULD NOT IMPACT YOUR

BABY, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO HAVE.

I WILL BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH MS. ROSENTHAL AND ANY

OTHER PART OF THE INDUSTRY THAT WANTS TO THINK THAT IT'S NOT A GOOD REASON

TO LABEL WHAT YOU USE TO MAKE THIS PRODUCT, TO HELP FIGURE OUT HOW WE

GET THAT DONE BECAUSE IT'S -- IT'S ONLY FAIR. IT'S SIMPLY FAIR, THAT'S ALL IT IS,

JUST KNOWING WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING ON YOUR CHILD AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO

HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. FLOOD.

MR. FLOOD: THANK YOU, SPEAKER.

ON THE BILL, PLEASE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.

MR. FLOOD: TYPICALLY, I'LL -- I'LL STAND UP HERE AND,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

YOU KNOW, MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NEW YORK BEING, YOU

KNOW, ANTI-BUSINESS, ANTI-LEGISLATION, SO I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE A

HYPOCRITE HERE. BUT I'M ALSO THE FATHER TO FIVE CHILDREN, OF WHICH AT

ONE TIME I HAD THREE IN DIAPERS AT THE SAME TIME. AND I CAN TELL YOU,

WHEN OF THESE CHILDS [SIC] STARTS SCREAMING AT NIGHT AND YOU DON'T KNOW

WHAT'S WRONG AND A RASH APPEARS BECAUSE MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING IN

THAT DIAPER OR YOU HAD TO BUY AN OFF-BRAND THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW WAS

THERE, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE WORLD MORE THAN WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS BE

ABLE TO FIX IT. YOU KNOW, I -- I HAVE, LIKE I SAID, I HAD FOUR CHILDREN,

THREE OF THEM IN DIAPERS AT THE SAME TIME. TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT'S

IN THE INGREDIENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE, YOU KNOW, AS A PARENT YOU

DON'T LOSE YOUR SANITY WHEN YOU JUST CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG, I

THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS -- IS KIND OF SOMETHING THAT'S NECESSARY. I

THINK IT'S -- IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE. I -- I DON'T THINK THIS IS GONNA

REQUIRE TOO MUCH MORE COSTS ON THE MANUFACTURER, SO SOMETHING LIKE

THIS I -- I BELIEVE WE SHOULD PASS. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: A PARTY VOTE HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MR. GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, SIR. THE REPUBLICAN

CONFERENCE IS GENERALLY OPPOSED TO THIS BILL, ALTHOUGH SOME OF MY

COLLEAGUES CLEARLY SUPPORT IT FOR THE REASONS THAT WERE ARTICULATED. AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

SO THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE MULTIPLE KIDS IN

DIAPERS, ARE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGED TO VOTE YES ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU,

SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, MR.

GOODELL.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. THE MAJORITY CONFERENCE IS GONNA BE IN FAVOR OF THIS

CONSUMER-FRIENDLY PIECE OF LEGISLATION. HOWEVER, SHOULD COLLEAGUES

DECIDE TO DO LIKE -- OTHERWISE, THEY SHOULD VOTE AT THEIR SEATS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, MRS.

PEOPLES-STOKES.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MR. GOODELL TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, SIR. AND I APPRECIATE

THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE IN SUPPORT OF

THIS BILL. PART OF THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE WHEN WE REQUIRE EVERY

CHEMICAL TO BE LISTED IN A PRODUCT IS THAT UNLESS YOU'RE A SCIENTIST OR A

CHEMIST OR WANT TO GET ONLINE TO -- TO RESEARCH, IT'S -- IT'S ALMOST

MEANINGLESS. I MEAN, IT ADDS COSTS AND CHALLENGES TO THE

MANUFACTURER. BUT MOST PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU SAID, OH, THIS

DIAPER CONTAINS SUPER-ABSORBANT POLYMERS WOULD SAY, WHOA, WHAT'S

THAT? WELL, THAT'S THE PRODUCT THAT MAKES THE DIAPER ABSORB LIQUID.

EACH GRANULAR ABSORBS 30 TO 60 TIMES ITS WEIGHT, AND THAT'S WHAT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

CONVERTS IT FROM GRANULAR TO A GEL AND IT'S VERY EFFECTIVE. AND THAT

PRODUCT, BY THE WAY, IS IN MOST SO-CALLED GREEN OR ORGANIC DIAPERS, TOO.

SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES' COMMENTS ON

BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE IN SUPPORT OF A CHEMICAL LISTING, BUT -- AND WE

DO HAVE SCIENTISTS ON THE FLOOR OF THE ASSEMBLY WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO

READ THAT AND UNDERSTAND IT, PARTICULARLY MY COLLEAGUE MR. FRIEND, BUT

OTHERS AS WELL. I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHT, BUT I'M NOT SURE IT'S ACTUALLY

GONNA CHANGE ANYONE'S DECISION ON WHICH DIAPER TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY

ANY. SO FOR THAT REASON I -- I'M NOT SUPPORTING IT, BUT I DO APPRECIATE

THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. GOODELL IN THE

NEGATIVE.

MR. ZACCARO.

MR. ZACCARO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. YOU

KNOW, I HAPPEN TO BE A FATHER OF A NIGHT -- A BEAUTIFUL TRIO OF CHILDREN.

MY EIGHT-, SIX- AND FOUR-YEAR-OLD WHO OVER THE YEARS YOU WILL LEARN AS

A PARENT HOW THE -- HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED FROM THE DAYS WHERE MY

GRANDMOTHER WOULD TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PUTTING SOME OF US OR SOME

OF HER SIBLINGS IN CLOTH DIAPERS, AND WE'VE SEEN THE EVOLUTION OF HOW

THAT CHANGES OVER TIME. AND AS, YOU KNOW, THAT EVOLUTION CHANGES SO

DO OUR CHILDRENS [SIC] AND THE WAY THEIR BODIES REACT TO THINGS. AND SO

I JUST WANT TO TAKE A SECOND TO APPRECIATE THE SPONSOR FOR BRINGING

FORTH A BILL THAT REALLY SAYS, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO LIST WHAT IS IN

THIS PRODUCT YOU ARE USING. WE DO IT FOR EVERYTHING TODAY. THERE ARE

PEOPLE WHO AT ONE TIME JUST DRANK STRICTLY WHOLE MILK AND NOW YOU

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF MILKS. AND PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, CANNOT EAT

OR DRINK CERTAIN THINGS, WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE PUTTING IN OUR

BODIES. AND SO TO SAY THAT THAT SHOULD STOP SHORT OF -- OF WHAT IT MEANS

TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT AFFECTED BY CHEMICALS THAT ARE IN

PRODUCTS THAT THEY'RE GONNA USE OVER THEIR COURSE OF GROWING, I -- I

THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS BILL WAS IMPORTANT AND I WANT TO THANK THE

SPONSOR FOR THAT, AND FOR THAT I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. ZACCARO IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. DAIS.

MR. DAIS: AS A DAD OF TWO, SHOOT, WHEN I WAS

YOUNGER, MY GRANDMA ALWAYS USED TO PUT TALCUM BABY POWDER ON ME.

AND NOW RECENTLY WE KNOW THAT TALCUM BABY POWDER CREATED CANCER IN

CERTAIN WOMEN; OVARIAN CANCER, OVARIAN CYSTS. SO WE HAVE TO REALIZE,

YES, WE DON'T WANT TO BE OVERBURDENSOME ON OUR BUSINESSES, BUT TO OUR

COLLEAGUE MR. FLOOD'S POINT, MAKING SURE WHAT WE KNOW IS IN OUR

PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE, ESPECIALLY TO OUR CHILDREN,

TO OUR BABIES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE PRODUCTS ARE SAFE FOR THEM.

AND HAVING THOSE ITEMS LISTED ON THE BOX WILL GIVE WHAT WE ALL CARE

FOR, WHICH IS FREEDOM OF CHOICE. THE ABILITY TO SAY, DO I WANT THIS

PRODUCT ON MY CHILD OR NOT? AND I THINK SIMPLY PUTTING IT ON THE BOX

IS NOT A BURDEN TO THE INDUSTRY. AT THE VERY LEAST, HOPEFULLY IT'S

PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN AND THAT'S WHY I'M VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MR. DAIS IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

MS. WALSH TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. SO, LET'S

LOOK AT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CONSUMER WHO HAS CHILDREN,

THAT'S MAKING THE PURCHASES, THAT WANTS TO MAKE A GOOD -- A GOOD

PURCHASE. WHAT WILL THIS BILL GET YOU IF YOU GO TO THE STORE AND YOU'RE

READING -- YOU'RE GONNA BE READING A LABEL, WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG

IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA LIST IN -- PLAIN AND CONSPICUOUS PRINTED LIST OF

ALL INGREDIENTS WHICH SHALL BE LISTED IN THE ORDER OF PREDOMINANCE. IF

THERE IS A CHEMICAL, IF THERE IS A SUBSTANCE, IF THERE'S -- IT'S NOT GONNA

CONTAIN ANY AMOUNT. YOU'RE NOT -- THE CONSUMER WON'T KNOW WHETHER

THAT AMOUNT IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT, WHETHER IT IS A MEANINGFUL

AMOUNT, WHETHER THAT AMOUNT MEANS ANYTHING IN TERMS OF THE HEALTH OF

THEIR CHILD. IT'S -- IT'S NOT GOING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT WILL

ACTUALLY BE HELPFUL TO THE CONSUMER. IT MIGHT SCARE THE CONSUMER, AND

IT'S CERTAINLY -- TAKING IT FROM THE OTHER SIDE, AS I TRY TO ON DEBATE, WHAT

IS IT DOING TO THE MANUFACTURER? IT'S PUTTING THE MANUFACTURER IN A

SITUATION WHERE THE MANUFACTURER DOESN'T KNOW IF IT'S INTENTIONALLY

ADDED. WHAT DOES THAT -- WHAT DOES THAT INCLUDE? DO I HAVE TO

INCLUDE SUBSTANCES THAT MAY HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE PRODUCT JUST SIMPLY

THROUGH THE FARMING OF A COMPONENT PART OR SOMETHING? AND IF THEY

GUESS WRONG, GUESS WHAT? THEY GET HIT WITH A BIG CIVIL PENALTY.

SO I THINK WHETHER YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A CONSUMER

POINT OF VIEW OR THE MANUFACTURER'S POINT OF VIEW, THIS IS NOT A GOOD

PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN MY OPINION, AND I CONTINUE TO VOTE NEGATIVE.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WALSH IN THE

NEGATIVE.

MS. CRUZ TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. CRUZ: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. YOU KNOW, IT

-- IT WAS A VERY -- IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS HERE WHERE SOME OF THE

ARGUMENTS HAD TO BE THE STRANGEST THINGS I'VE HEARD IN A LONG TIME.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIMPLE TRANSPARENCY. WHAT'S IN A PRODUCT THAT I'M

GONNA PURCHASE, NOT EVEN FOR MYSELF, FOR A CHILD. FOR SOMEONE WHO

CAN'T DEFEND THEMSELVES AND IS GOING TO DEPEND ON ME AS A PARENT TO

PURCHASE WHATEVER IT IS TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. SO WE ARE JUST SAYING,

GIVE US THE TRANSPARENCY SO THAT EVERY PARENT HERE CAN MAKE THEIR

OWN CHOICE. AND SOMEHOW WE ARE DELVING INTO, WELL, WHAT ARE THE

PRODUCTS IN THERE THAT ARE TRULY BAD FOR OUR CHILD? WHAT'S REALLY GOING

TO HURT THEM? YOU KNOW, IS IT WHAT'S ON THE DIAPER OR WHAT HAPPENS

ON THE DIAPER THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE MY CHILD HARM? WE ARE LITERALLY

ONLY ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY. I'M LEFT THINKING THAT PERHAPS WHAT WE'RE

AFRAID OF IS ACTUALLY GETTING A LIST OF THE INGREDIENTS AND REALIZING THAT

SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THE DIAPERS, THAT'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH WHAT

WE'RE PUTTING ON OUR CHILDREN.

AND SO I'M ALL FOR TRANSPARENCY. AND I GOT TO TELL YOU,

YOU KNOW, THERE'S RESEARCH OUT THERE. I WAS LOOKING QUICKLY HERE AND

71 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE THAT PURCHASE DIAPERS DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S

IN THEM. THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS A SELFLESS [SIC] CHILD OUT

THERE WHO'S DEPENDING ON A PARENT TO CARE FOR THEM, AND WE ARE MORE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER A MANUFACTURER HAS A YEAR TO COME UP WITH A

LIST THAT IF YOU'RE MANUFACTURING THE PRODUCT YOU SHOULD ALREADY HAVE.

I WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM 30 DAYS INSTEAD OF A -- OF A YEAR.

I'M GONNA BE VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU,

MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. CRUZ IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. LAVINE TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. LAVINE: SO, ANY -- ANY TIME ANY BUSINESS IS

REGULATED THERE'S A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS THAT SHOULD BE EMPLOYED.

NOW, ARGUMENTS AGAINST THIS BILL COME FROM TWO SEPARATE POINTS OF

VIEW. ONE IS, EVEN IF THESE INTERNATIONALLY-ADDED INGREDIENTS ARE LISTED

THAT WE WON'T KNOW. I WON'T KNOW, THAT'S FOR SURE, BUT I'LL STILL HAVE THE

OPTION OF READING THE INGREDIENTS. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAN WHETHER

I HAVE THE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW THE DANGER IN SOME OF THESE

INGREDIENTS BY LISTING THEM, THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE

THE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE WHO WILL BE ABLE TO BROADCAST, BROADCAST THE

DANGERS. AND SECONDLY, THIS WILL CAUSE AN EXPENSE, AN UNDUE EXPENSE

TO THE MANUFACTURERS. AS SOMEONE WHO CHANGED MANY DIAPERS, BOTH

FOR MY CHILDREN AND MY GRANDCHILDREN, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO BE

SENSITIVE TO PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE OF INFANTS. AND AS

SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN CAPITALISM AND MAY OWN SHARES OF STOCK IN --

AND PROBABLY DO, IN SOME OF THESE CORPORATIONS THAT MANUFACTURE THESE

PRODUCTS, I'M HAPPY TO GET BY WITH A COUPLE OF CENTS LESS IN DIVIDENDS

TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MOST PRECIOUS OF LITTLE CHILDREN ARE PROTECTED.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

THANK YOU, SPONSOR. I'M VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. LAVINE IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. MEEKS TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. MEEKS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR AN

OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I WANT TO COMMEND THE SPONSOR ON

THIS COMMONSENSE LEGISLATION. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT CONSUMER

PROTECTION, THIS IS ABOUT HAVING A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS. OUR BABIES

CAN'T ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, SO WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SO.

AND AS IT RELATES TO THE CORPORATIONS, THIS INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW, THE DIAPER

INDUSTRY IS A $46 BILLION INDUSTRY; $46 BILLION. IT'S PROJECTED TO BE AN

$80 BILLION INDUSTRY BY 2030.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T THINK THE COST TO LABEL

THESE PRODUCTS WILL HURT THEM. I THINK IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE

COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY SERVE, AND I'LL BE VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. MEEKS IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. RA TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. RA: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'M GOING TO BE

SUPPORTING THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, BUT I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, POINT

SOMETHING OUT. I -- I THINK WHEN POINTS ARE RAISED AND QUESTIONS ARE

ASKED FROM THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE ON A PIECE OF LEGISLATION LIKE THIS,

THEY'RE RAISED FOR GOOD REASON. AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ANY -- THAT

SOMEBODY WHO IS RAISING THEM OR IS VOTING NO DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN, THAT'S VERY MUCH NOT THE CASE. BUT THIS IS A

PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE OF BILL THAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR WE RAISE

POINTS ON THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE, THEY'RE IGNORED AND DISMISSED, AND THEN

WE END UP BACK HERE DOING A CHAPTER AMENDMENT ADDRESSING THE VERY

POINTS WE RAISED.

SO I -- I'M VOTING FOR THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND I

LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING FOR THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT NEXT YEAR. THANK

YOU.

(LAUGHTER)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RA IN THE DOUBLE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MS. ROSENTHAL TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THIS

BILL TO REQUIRE LABELING OF INGREDIENTS ON BOXES OR PACKAGES OF DIAPERS

IS REALLY A VERY SIMPLE PIECE OF LEGISLATION. CONSUMERS DESERVE THE

RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY PURCHASE. AND PARENTS

AND GUARDIANS AND CARERS OF CHILDREN NEED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO

DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO BUY DIAPERS THAT HAVE CONTAMINANTS OR IF THEY

WANT TO CHOOSE DIAPERS THAT DO NOT AND ARE 100 PERCENT ORGANIC. IT IS

SIMPLY A TRANSPARENCY MEASURE. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT

MANUFACTURER VERSUS A BABY'S BUTT, I'D SAY A BABY'S BUTT SHOULD WIN.

SECONDLY, FOR THOSE WHO TAKE CARE OF ELDERLY PARENTS, THIS BILL APPLIES

TO ADULT DIAPERS AS WELL, SO THE SAME LOGIC APPLIES. YOU WANT TO PUT ON

YOUR LOVED ONE'S PRIVATE AREAS SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT HARM THEM, AND

THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S IN THESE PRODUCTS. THE MAIN POINT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

IS IF THERE'S NOTHING TO HIDE, WHY ARE YOU OPPOSING THIS LEGISLATION?

AND I KNOW THIS WILL PASS. I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR WHO, HERSELF, IS A

MOM TO TWO AND A GRANDMA TO A BABY WHO USES DIAPERS WILL USE HER

COMMON SENSE AND SIGN THIS BILL INTO LAW.

AND I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. ROSENTHAL IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

PAGE 5, CALENDAR NO. 9, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00117-A, CALENDAR 9,

PAULIN, SILLITTI, SAYEGH, EPSTEIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH

LAW, IN RELATION TO FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION FOR APPLICATIONS FOR A

LICENSE TO OPERATE A BANK OR STORAGE FACILITY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 90TH

DAY

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD

THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MR. GOODELL TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, SIR. LAST YEAR, A

VERSION OF THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED THAT UNFORTUNATELY WOULD CREATE A

LOT OF CONCERN OVER HOW WE TREAT EMBRYOS, AND THE INTENT OF THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

LEGISLATION WAS ALWAYS TO ENSURE THAT EMBRYOS WERE PROTECTED AND

WERE STORED PROPERLY AND WERE AVAILABLE FOR USE AND THE INTENT WAS

ALWAYS POSITIVE. THERE WERE SOME LANGUAGE ISSUES, THOUGH, THAT THE

SPONSOR THANKFULLY ADDRESSED AND RESOLVED. AND SO WHILE LAST YEAR

THERE WERE OVER 40 NO VOTES, WITH THOSE LANGUAGE CHANGES THAT

CLARIFIED THE ACTUAL TEXT AND BROUGHT IT IN LINE WITH THE LAUDABLE

OBJECTIVES OF PROTECTING EMBRYOS, I'M CHANGING MY VOTE AND I

ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, MR.

GOODELL.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

PAGE 7, CALENDAR NO. 31, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00892, CALENDAR NO.

31, JACOBSON, OTIS, SAYEGH, GUNTHER, GIBBS, LEVENBERG. AN ACT TO

AMEND THE MUNICIPAL HOME RULE LAW, IN RELATION TO THE DEFINITION OF

"POPULATION" FOR PURPOSES OF PROVIDING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL WEIGHT FOR

THE POPULATION OF THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE ALLOCATION OF

REPRESENTATION IN THE LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BODY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. JACOBSON, AN

EXPLANATION HAS BEEN REQUESTED.

MR. JACOBSON: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THIS

BILL WOULD CODIFY THE EXISTING STATE LAW -- EXISTING CASE LAW THAT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

DISTRICTING OR REDISTRICTING IS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IN THE

DISTRICT, THE SAME STANDARD THAT WE USE FOR US HERE IN THE ASSEMBLY, THE

STATE SENATE OR CONGRESS. THIS BILL WOULD CORRECT SUBDIVISION 1 OF

SECTION 10 OF THE -- SORRY, I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THAT WOULD BE

HELPFUL.

MR. JACOBSON: WANT ME TO START OVER?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: YES.

MR. JACOBSON: ALL RIGHT. SORRY ABOUT THAT, I

THOUGHT IT WAS ON. THIS BILL WOULD CODIFY THE EXISTING CASE LAW THAT

DISTRICTING OR REDISTRICTING IS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IN THE

DISTRICT, THE SAME STANDARD THAT WE USE FOR US HERE IN THE ASSEMBLY, THE

STATE SENATE AND CONGRESS. THIS BILL WOULD CORRECT SUBDIVISION 1 OF

SECTION 10 OF THE MUNICIPAL HOME RULE LAW. IT WOULD CLARIFY THAT

SECTION SO THAT IT IS CLEAR THAT "POPULATION" FOR PURPOSES OF DISTRICTING

OR REDISTRICTING MEANS RESIDENTS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. BROWN.

MR. A. BROWN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. SINCE

STEVE -- WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. JACOBSON, WILL

YOU YIELD, SIR?

MR. JACOBSON: YES, I WILL YIELD.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. JACOBSON YIELDS,

SIR.

MR. A. BROWN: THANK YOU. SINCE STEVE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

LAWRENCE JUST DIED, I MAY AS WELL QUOTE STEVE AND EYDIE; IT SEEMS LIKE

WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, WE HAVE.

MR. A. BROWN: YOU KNOW, THAT FAMOUS SONG

"WHERE OR WHEN." SO MR. SPONSOR, MR. JACOBSON, ASIDE FROM CITING

WESBERRY AND [SIC] SANDERS AND REYNOLDS V. SIMS, CAN YOU EXPLAIN

WHY THE WORDING "CITIZEN" OR "REGISTERED VOTERS" HAVE BEEN STRICKEN

FROM LINE 6 AND 15, PLEASE?

MR. JACOBSON: AS I EXPLAINED, CASE LAW IS THAT --

POPULATION MEANS RESIDENTS, AND THAT WE ARE TO REDISTRICT FOR --

CONCERNING ALL OF THE RESIDENTS, WHETHER THEY'RE CITIZENS OR NOT CITIZENS,

WHETHER THEY'RE VOTERS OR NOT VOTERS.

MR. A. BROWN: THANK YOU, MR. JACOBSON. IF -- IF

THAT'S THE CASE, CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHY THE PEOPLE IN THE

CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE NOT COUNTED INTO THE LOCAL POPULATION AND

ILLEGAL CITIZENS ARE? AND IF I MAY REMIND YOU, LAST YEAR YOU HAD

CORRECTED ME BUT WE DIDN'T GET THE ANSWER, YOU SAID THAT THE STATE

CONSTITUTION DOES REFERENCE THEM, BUT WE DISCOVERED, YOU KNOW, YEARS

GONE BY THAT, IN FACT, THEY WERE REFERENCING PEOPLE WHO WERE SERVING

IN THE MILITARY AND, IN FACT --

MR. JACOBSON: NO --

MR. A. BROWN: -- PEOPLE IN CORRECT -- LET ME FINISH

-- PEOPLE IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE NOT BEING COUNTED.

MR. JACOBSON: THAT'S NOT -- THAT'S NOT CORRECT.

MR. A. BROWN: THE ONLY THING, IF -- IT -- IT'S

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

ALMOST AS IF THE CLEAN SLATE BILL HAD SUCH A TREMENDOUS EFFECT, IT EVEN

WIPED THEM OUT EVEN BEFORE THEY GOT OUT. I THINK WE SHOULD COUNT OUR

CITIZENS WHO ARE IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS VOTERS BEFORE WE COUNT

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, AS YOU KNOW, A STATUTE CAN'T

CORRECT THE STATE CONSTITUTION. AND THIS IS -- THIS, BY THE WAY,

CONCERNING THE RESIDENTS WHEN SOMEBODY IS EITHER IN THE MILITARY OR IS

IN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, IS ALSO IN SECTION 5-104 OF THE ELECTION LAW.

BUT SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND YOU QUESTION WHAT

I SAID LAST TIME, I'M GONNA READ IT TO YOU.

MR. A. BROWN: THANK YOU.

MR. JACOBSON: IT SAYS FOR PURPOSES OF VOTING, NO

PERSON SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE GAINED OR LOST A RESIDENCE BY REASON OF

HIS OR HER PRESENCE OR ABSENCE WHILE EMPLOYED IN THE SERVICE OF THE

UNITED STATES NOR WHILE ENGAGED IN NAVIGATION OF THE WATERS OF THE

STATE OR OF THE UNITED STATES OR OF THE HIGH SEAS, NOR WHILE A STUDENT OF

ANY SEMINARY OF LEARNING, NOR WHILE KEPT AT ANY ALMSHOUSE OR OTHER

ASYLUM -- AND THIS IS THE PART THAT I THINK YOU SHOULD LOOK AT -- OR

INSTITUTION WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUPPORTED AT PUBLIC EXPENSE OR BY CHARITY,

NOR WHILE CONFINED IN ANY PUBLIC PRISON. SO THAT'S WHAT IT IS IN THE

STATE CONSTITUTION. THEREFORE, WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE LAW. WHAT --

WHAT -- THE REASON THAT IT'S IN THE BILL IS SO THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT WHEN

YOU'RE DOING -- SO IT'S ALL IN ONE SPOT SO WHEN SOMEBODY READS IT,

THEY'RE NOT GONNA SAY, OH, WELL CAN WE COUNT THIS AND THAT? NO, WE

PUT IT IN THERE SO IT'S CLEAR, BUT IT JUST REFERENCES WHAT'S IN THE STATE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

CONSTITUTION.

MR. A. BROWN: THANK YOU, MR. SPONSOR.

MR. SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.

MR. A. BROWN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THIS BILL

SEEM TO BE A BLATANT POWER GRAB BY ONE PARTY TO SIMPLY CIRCUMVENT THE

RULE OF LAW BY REDEFINING THE WORD "POPULATION" THAT OUR FOUNDING

FATHERS HAVE ESTABLISHED AND WOULD ALLOW FOR ONE PARTY RULE, AND MORE

SO WILL DENY HOME RULE BY COUNTING PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THE

POPULATION WHO AREN'T ACTUALLY RESIDENTS.

(PAUSE)

SORRY FOR THE DELAY. THIS BILL LOOKS TO AMEND THE

MUNICIPAL HOME RULE LAW TO REDEFINE THE WORDS "POPULATION" FOR

PURPOSES OF INCLUDING ANY AND ALL PERSONAGE, WHETHER LEGAL, A CITIZEN

OR REGISTERED IN ANY WAY TO, AND I QUOTE, "GIVE WEIGHT FOR THE

POPULATION OF THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE ALLOCATION OF REPRESENTATION

IN THE LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BODY." IN OTHER WORDS, TO ARTIFICIALLY ALTER THE

DEMOGRAPHICS OF A POPULATION IN ORDER TO WEIGHT THE VOTING TOWARDS

ONE END, POSSIBLY TOWARDS ONE PARTY. BY ALLOWING THESE ILLEGAL

IMMIGRANTS IN THIS CASE, AND THIS SEEMS WHY THIS IS BEING ALTERED, THE

REPHRASING OF THE WORD "POPULATION" SIMPLY UNDERMINES AND STRONGLY

UNDERMINES THE NATION'S COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW AND REWARDS

THOSE WHO SEEK TO CIRCUMVENT OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.

AND FOR THAT REASON, I'LL BE VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE, MR.

SPEAKER. THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, SIR. WOULD THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. JACOBSON: YES, I WILL YIELD.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. JACOBSON YIELDS.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MR. JACOBSON. I WAS

PLEASED TO SEE THAT YOU HAD A COPY OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION. IT ALWAYS

WARMS MY HEART WHEN SOMEBODY HAS A COPY AND REFERENCES IT.

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN

WE'RE DEBATING BILLS.

MR. GOODELL: I WOULD AGREE. AND IF YOU WOULD

LOOK AT YOUR COPY OF THE CONSTITUTION IN ARTICLE III, SECTION 5.

(PAUSE)

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, I DON'T HAVE THE FULL

CONSTITUTION WITH ME, I'LL HAVE TO ADMIT. BUT GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR

POINT.

MR. GOODELL: WELL, IT SAYS THE MEMBERS OF THE

ASSEMBLY SHALL BE CHOSEN BY SINGLE DISTRICTS AND APPORTIONED PURSUANT

TO THIS SECTION, ALONG WITH THE SENATE, AMONG THE SEVERAL COUNTIES OF

THE STATE AS NEARLY AS MAY BE, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF THEIR

RESPECTIVE INHABITANTS, EXCLUDING ALIENS. AND THEN -- AND THEN IN CASE

WE MISSED, IT ARTICLE III, SECTION 5(A) DEFINES INHABITANTS, AND IT SAYS

FOR THE PURPOSES OF APPORTIONING SENATE AND ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS

PURSUANT TO THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS DETERMINE INHABITANTS EXCLUDING

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

ALIENS SHALL MEAN THE WHOLE NUMBER OF PERSONS.

MR. JACOBSON: I WOULD SAY THAT THAT PORTION OF

THE STATE CONSTITUTION WAS REALLY OVERRIDDEN BY A SERIES OF CASES IN THE

U.S. SUPREME COURT, SUCH AS WESBURY V. SANDERS, REYNOLDS V. SIMS,

WHICH HELD THAT THE EQUAL PROTECTION LAW REQUIRES ITS SEATS IN BOTH

HOUSES ARE BICAMERAL, STATE LEGISLATURE MIGHT BE -- MAY -- MUST BE

APPORTIONED BY TOTAL POPULATION BASIS. SO I THINK THAT THESE -- THOSE

CASES MADE CLEAR THAT WE REPRESENT EVERYBODY WHO'S IN THE DISTRICT.

MR. GOODELL: BUT NONE OF THOSE CASES DEALT WITH

THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT APPORTIONMENT SHOULD INCLUDE ILLEGAL

IMMIGRANTS OR TEMPORARY RESIDENTS WHO ARE HERE LEGALLY WITH A

TEMPORARY VISA, CORRECT?

MR. JACOBSON: I DON'T THINK IT WAS BROUGHT UP AT

THE TIME, BUT I THINK THAT THE CONCEPT IS THAT WE REPRESENT EVERYBODY.

WE REPRESENT -- AND, YOU KNOW, WE REPRESENT PEOPLE THAT CAN'T VOTE.

YOU KNOW THAT.

MR. GOODELL: OF COURSE.

MR. JACOBSON: WE REPRESENT CHILDREN.

MR. GOODELL: ABSOLUTELY.

MR. JACOBSON: WE DEBATE THAT -- WHEN WE'RE

DEBATING THE STATE BUDGET EVERY YEAR, I HEAR IT FROM EVERYBODY, "AND I

REPRESENT ALL THE CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY

GET THE FUNDING FROM THE SCHOOLS THEY DESERVE." BUT THEY DON'T VOTE.

MR. GOODELL: WELL, I HAVE -- I HAVE SEVERAL

THOUSAND PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT THAT LIVE THERE EVERY DAY, 24/7, MONTHS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

AT A TIME, SOMETIMES YEARS AT A TIME. DON'T YOU THINK I OUGHT TO

REPRESENT THOSE FOLKS EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT BE THERE AT STATE EXPENSE

WITH ROOM AND BOARD PAID FOR BY THE STATE TAXPAYERS AND THEY'RE LIVING

IN A PRISON? DON'T I REPRESENT THOSE PEOPLE, TOO?

MR. JACOBSON: I THINK THAT IN YOUR OUTLOOK OF LIFE

YOU MIGHT CONSIDER THEIR INTERESTS, BUT I THINK UNDER THE STATE

CONSTITUTION AS IT STANDS NOW, YOU DON'T.

MR. GOODELL: SO THE STATE CONSTITUTION EXCLUDES

ALIENS, AND THAT'S AN OLD WORD BUT IT MEANT NONCITIZENS, THAT'S BASICALLY

WHAT ALIENS MEANT BACK THEN AND STILL MEANS. SO YOU'RE SAYING EVEN

THOUGH THE STATE CONSTITUTION SAYS WE'RE NOT GONNA CONSIDER THE

NUMBER OF ALIENS IN YOUR DISTRICT IN DOING APPORTIONMENT, WE WILL

UNDER THIS BILL, NOTWITHSTANDING THE CONSTITUTION, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND

WE WILL FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION AND ONLY CONSIDER INMATES FROM WHERE

THEY USED TO LIVE OR MIGHT WANT TO LIVE IN THE FUTURE? HOW'S THAT WORK?

I MEAN, I HAVE SOMEBODY IN MY -- IN A PRISON IN MY DISTRICT THAT SAYS

FOR SEVERAL YEARS, FOR EXAMPLE. WHERE DO THEY -- I MEAN, THEY'RE AN

INHABITANT OF MY DISTRICT, AND GOD KNOWS WHERE THEY WANT TO GO AFTER

THEY'RE RELEASED. WHY WOULD WE COUNT THEM FROM SOME OTHER

JURISDICTION?

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, IT'S -- IT'S AN INTERESTING

ARGUMENT. AND WHEN YOU PROPOSE A -- AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE

CONSTITUTION I'LL CONSIDER IT.

MR. GOODELL: NOW, WHAT SECTION WERE YOU

REFERRING TO THAT SAYS THAT INMATES SHOULD BE COUNTED IN SOME OTHER

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

DISTRICT?

MR. JACOBSON: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE

CONSTITUTION OR THE ELECTION LAW?

MR. GOODELL: UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.

MR. JACOBSON: THAT'S ARTICLE II, SECTION 4.

MR. GOODELL: SO IT SAYS FOR THE PURPOSES OF

VOTING --

MR. JACOBSON: MM-HMM.

MR. GOODELL: IT SAYS FOR THE PURPOSES OF VOTING,

NO PERSON SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE GAINED OR LOST A RESIDENCE BY REASON

OF BEING EMPLOYED IN THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ENGAGED IN

THE NAVIGATION OF THE WATERS OF THE STATE OR THE NATION OR ON THE HIGH

SEAS, OR WHILE A STUDENT, NOR WHILE KEPT IN ANY ALMSHOUSE -- THAT'S A --

THAT'S AN OLD WORD, I GUESS, ISN'T IT -- OR IN AN ASYLUM OR INSTITUTION

WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY SUPPORTED AT PUBLIC EXPENSE, NOR WHILE CONFINED IN

ANY PUBLIC PRISON. SO THAT TALKS ABOUT FOR THE PURPOSES OF VOTING, IF

THEY WERE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN A DIFFERENT DISTRICT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO

VOTE IN THAT DISTRICT, CORRECT? I MEAN, IT SAYS FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING.

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THAT YOU HAVE

TO BE A RESIDENT FROM THE ADD -- YOUR -- WHEN YOU -- WHEN YOU VOTE,

WHEN YOU ARE -- WHEN YOU REGISTER TO VOTE YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU'RE A

RESIDENT AT THAT ADDRESS AND, THEREFORE, YOU'RE A RESIDENT OF WHEREVER

THAT ADDRESS IS.

MR. GOODELL: ACCEPTING THAT ARGUMENT FOR A

MOMENT, IF I HAVE 1,000 INMATES AND THERE ARE 100 WHO REGISTERED TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

VOTE, THIS CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION WOULD SAY THEY DON'T LOSE THE RIGHT

TO VOTE FROM WHEREVER THEY WERE LAST REGISTERED TO VOTE JUST BECAUSE

THEY'RE IN PRISON, RIGHT?

MR. JACOBSON: MM-HMM.

MR. GOODELL: WE BOTH AGREE ON THAT. WHAT

ABOUT THE OTHER 900 WHO WEREN'T REGISTERED TO VOTE IN ANY OTHER

LOCATION? SHOULDN'T THOSE PEOPLE, CONSISTENT WITH THE STATE

CONSTITUTION, BE COUNTED AS RESIDENTS WITHIN MY DISTRICT?

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, IT'S -- IT'S AN -- IT'S AN

INTERESTING ARGUMENT AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION.

MR. GOODELL: I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO AMEND IT,

BECAUSE IT JUST SAYS FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING, WHEREVER YOU COULD LAST

VOTE IS WHERE YOU CAN STILL VOTE. IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WERE

NEVER REGISTERED, RIGHT, NOR DOES IT DEAL WITH THEM?

MR. JACOBSON: SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF THEY

REGISTERED FROM A PRISON?

MR. GOODELL: NO, IF THEY DIDN'T REGISTER AT ALL. I

REPRESENT EVERYBODY IN MY DISTRICT, INCLUDING, AS YOU POINTED OUT, KIDS

WHO HAVE NEVER REGISTERED TO VOTE, CAN'T, THEY'RE TOO YOUNG. BUT I ALSO

REPRESENT ALL THE INMATES WHO NEVER REGISTERED TO VOTE ANYWHERE ELSE,

DON'T I?

MR. JACOBSON: TRUE. BUT WE REPRESENT PEOPLE IN

OUR DISTRICT THAT VOTE AGAINST US, WE REPRESENT PEOPLE THAT NEVER

REGISTERED TO VOTE OR REGISTERED AND NEVER -- AND THEY DON'T CHOOSE TO

VOTE. SO WE REPRESENT EVERYBODY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MR. JACOBSON. IT IS

ALWAYS A PLEASURE DISCUSSING THE CONSTITUTION WITH SOMEONE OF YOUR

STATURE. THANK YOU.

MR. JACOBSON: THANK YOU.

MR. GOODELL: SIR, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, MR.

GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: SO, THE -- THE CHALLENGE THAT MANY

OF US HAVE ON THIS BILL IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO COUNTING PEOPLE WHO

SHOULDN'T BE COUNTED UNDER OUR STATE CONSTITUTION, NAMELY ALIENS

WHICH ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, THIS BILL SAYS,

OH, WE'LL COUNT THOSE IN MAKING APPORTIONMENT, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR DISTRICT AND HAVE LIVED THERE FOR YEARS AND HAVE

NEVER VOTED ANYWHERE ELSE, OH, WE'RE NOT GONNA TO COUNT THOSE

BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A PRISON.

MY FRIENDS, LET'S FOLLOW THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND ALL

OF ITS NUANCES. IF YOU'RE IN A PRISON AND YOU REGISTER TO VOTE

SOMEWHERE ELSE YOU CAN STILL VOTE SOMEWHERE ELSE, THAT'S COOL. I'M

OKAY WITH THAT. BUT IF YOU NEVER REGISTERED TO VOTE AND YOU'RE LIVING IN

MY DISTRICT FOR YEARS ON END, I REPRESENT YOU AND I -- YOU SHOULD BE

INCLUDED IN CALCULATING THE REDISTRICTING. AND LIKEWISE, THE

CONSTITUTION IS CLEAR: IF YOU'RE NOT A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, YOU

SHOULDN'T BE COUNTED IN CALCULATING THE REDISTRICTING. THAT'S IN OUR

STATE CONSTITUTION. THAT HAS NOT BEEN HELD TO BE INVIOLATIVE [SIC] OF

ANYTHING ELSE, AND NOR SHOULD IT.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

SO THIS BILL UNFORTUNATELY CONFLICTS WITH BOTH

CONSTITUTIONAL STANDARDS AND INTENT, AND THEREFORE, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT. I

DO, HOWEVER, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE'S

COMMENTS. THANK YOU, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: A PARTY VOTE HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MR. GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, SIR. THE REPUBLICAN

CONFERENCE IS GENERALLY OPPOSED TO THIS METHODOLOGY AS REFLECTED IN

THIS BILL, BUT THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT ARE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGED TO VOTE YES

ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MS. SOLAGES.

MS. SOLAGES: THE MAJORITY CONFERENCE WILL BE

VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THOSE WHO WISH TO VOTE IN THE NEGATIVE CAN

DO SO NOW.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MR. JACOBSON TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. JACOBSON: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE TO

EXPLAIN MY VOTE. WHAT THIS BILL WILL DO IS WILL CODIFY THE EXISTING CASE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

LAW SO THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WHEN IT COMES TO REDISTRICTING, WE'RE

BASING IT ON POPULATION. IT'S THE SAME STANDARD WE USE IN THE

ASSEMBLY, THE STATE SENATE AND FOR CONGRESS. IT'S -- THIS BILL REVISES

THE MUNICIPAL HOME RULE LAW, AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR LOCAL

MUNICIPALITIES DESERVE NO LESS OF A STANDARD THAN WE HAVE IN THE STATE

LEGISLATURE OR WHAT WE USE FOR CONGRESS.

AS I MENTIONED, WE REPRESENT EVERYBODY IN THE

DISTRICT. WE REPRESENT PEOPLE WHO VOTE, WHO DON'T VOTE. PEOPLE VOTED

FOR YOU, PEOPLE VOTED AGAINST YOU, PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE. WE

REPRESENT CHILDREN. AND I GUARANTEE YOU THAT WHEN WE'RE DEBATING THE

BUDGET SOON, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE SAY, I REPRESENT THE CHILDREN IN MY

DISTRICT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THE PROPER SCHOOL AID.

AND THAT'S RIGHT, BECAUSE WE DO REPRESENT THE CHILDREN. WE REPRESENT

EVERYBODY IN THE DISTRICT.

AND SO THIS BILL IS LONG OVERDUE. IT SHOULD HAD

CORRECTED THE LAW YEARS AGO AND I'M HAPPY AND PROUD TO VOTE IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. JACOBSON IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MS. WILLIAMS TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. WILLIAMS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THANK

YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. APPARENTLY, THIS BILL WAS BEFORE THIS HOUSE

BEFORE AND I MAY HAVE VOTED YES; HOWEVER, TODAY I FIND THIS BILL VERY

CONFUSING GIVEN THE CLIMATE THAT WE'RE IN IN NEW YORK STATE AND

SPECIFICALLY IN NEW YORK CITY. I CANNOT VOTE FOR THIS BILL GIVING OTHERS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

THE SAME STATUS OF OUR TAXPAYING PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT AND I AM FIRMLY

A NO ON THIS BILL.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WILLIAMS IN THE

NEGATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, DO YOU

HAVE ANY FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WE DO HAVE

HOUSEKEEPING.

ON A MOTION BY MR. GIBBS, PAGE 32, CALENDAR NO.

363, BILL NO. A.860, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

ON BEHALF OF MR. EPSTEIN, BILL NO. A.5815-A,

ASSEMBLY BILL RECALLED FROM THE SENATE. THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE

OF THE BILL.

THE CLERK: AN ACT TO AMEND THE STATE FINANCE

LAW.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MOTION TO RECONSIDER

THE VOTE BY WHICH THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE, THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE

VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2024

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE

RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

WE HAVE NUMEROUS FINE RESOLUTIONS, MRS. PEOPLES-

STOKES. WE CAN 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. 1028-1033

WERE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: I NOW MOVE THAT THE

ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED AND THAT WE RECONVENE AT 11:00 A.M.,

WEDNESDAY, MARCH THE 27TH, TOMORROW BEING A SESSION DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE ASSEMBLY STANDS

ADJOURNED.

(WHEREUPON, AT 5:21 P.M., THE HOUSE STOOD ADJOURNED

UNTIL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27TH AT 11:00 A.M., THAT BEING A SESSION DAY.)