WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2023 2:10 P.M.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE HOUSE WILL COME

TO ORDER.

THE REVEREND DONNA ELIA WILL OFFER A PRAYER.

REVEREND DONNA ELIA: LET US PRAY. O, GOD,

WHOM WE CALL BY MANY NAMES, THANK YOU FOR GATHERING US TOGETHER,

FOR THE VERY BREATH WE TAKE, FOR THE BONDS OF COMMITMENT AMONG

LEGISLATIVE AND STAFF MEMBERS, FOR ALL WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF

OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR STATE. THANK YOU ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN'S

HISTORY MONTH AND FOR THIS DAY, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY. WE

REMEMBER WOMEN WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR EQUALITY FOR ALL PERSONS

REGARDLESS OF GENDER. WE REMEMBER MEN WHO STOOD SHOULDER-TO-

SHOULDER WITH WOMEN. WE GIVE THANKS FOR WOMEN WHO PAVED THE WAY

AND OPENED THE DOOR SO THAT WOMEN LEADERS COULD BE IN THIS VERY

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

CHAMBER. RECEIVE OUR GRATITUDE. BRING ABOUT A DAY WHEN ALL WOMEN

EVERYWHERE HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, EMPLOYMENT, THE

RIGHT TO VOTE, AND TO BE REPRESENTED IN ALL SECTORS OF GOVERNMENT.

EMPOWER US TO DO OUR -- OUR PART TO MAKE A WAY FOR OTHERS. AS THIS

BODY GATHERS FOR THE BUSINESS OF TODAY, INFUSE THEIR WORK WITH YOUR

SPIRIT AND BLESS THEM WITH A LARGE MEASURE OF WISDOM AND

PERSEVERANCE, ESPECIALLY IN THESE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS WHEN THEY

DELIBERATE ON THE BUDGET. MAY THEY SPEAK WITH CLARITY AND

COMPASSION, AND LIST WITH EARNEST ATTENTION. HELP THEM AGAIN TO TAKE

UP THE MANTLE OF PUBLIC SERVICE, TO LIFT PEOPLE UP AND TO STAND FOR WHAT

IS GOOD AND JUST. HEAL THOSE IN NEED OF HEALING, COMFORT ANY WHO

MOURN, AND STRENGTHEN THOSE WHO ARE WEARY. HOLY ONE, YOU ARE THE

MAKER OF PEACE. GIVE US PEACE, LOVE AND JUSTICE.

AMEN.

MEMBERS: AMEN.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: VISITORS ARE INVITED

TO JOIN MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

(WHEREUPON, ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY LED VISITORS AND

MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.)

A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE

JOURNAL OF TUESDAY, MARCH 7TH.

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

DISPENSE WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF MARCH -- TUESDAY,

MARCH THE 7TH AND ASK THAT THE SAME SHOULD STAND APPROVED.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

ORDERED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, SIR. MR.

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

BEGIN OUR SESSION TODAY WITH A QUOTE. I REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE THE

COMMENTS OF REVEREND ELIA AS WE CELEBRATE BOTH INTERNATIONAL

WOMEN'S DAY, AS WELL AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. THIS QUOTE IS FROM

LUCRETIA MOTT. SHE WAS AN AMERICAN QUAKER, AN ABOLITIONIST, A

WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND A SOCIAL REFORMER. SHE HAD FORMED THE

IDEA OF REFORMING THE POSITION OF WOMEN IN A SOCIETY WHEN SHE WAS

AMONG THE WOMEN EXCLUDED FROM THE WORLD ANTI-SLAVERY CONVICTION

-- CONVENTION IN LONDON IN 1840. LUCRETIA'S WORD'S FOR US TODAY: ANY

GREAT CHANGE MUST EXPECT OPPOSITION, BECAUSE IT SHAKES THE VERY

FOUNDATION OF PRIVILEGE. AGAIN, THESE WORDS FROM LUCRETIA MOTT.

MR. SPEAKER, COLLEAGUES HAVE ON THEIR DESK A MAIN

CALENDAR. IT HAS 27 NEW BILLS IN IT, AND AFTER ANY INTRODUCTIONS AND/OR

HOUSEKEEPING WE'RE GOING TO BE CALLING FOR A WAYS AND MEANS

COMMITTEE MEETING IN THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM. THEN WE WILL

BEGIN OUR FLOOR WORK TODAY BY TAKING UP RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 3. WE

WILL THEN BEGIN CONSENT OF NEW BILLS ON PAGE 4, BEGINNING WITH

CALENDAR NO. 18. THERE COULD BE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FLOOR WORK. IF

THERE IS, WE WILL MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME;

HOWEVER, MAJORITY MEMBERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY A

NEED FOR A CONFERENCE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF OUR

FLOOR WORK AND AS ALWAYS, MR. SPEAKER, WE WILL CHECK WITH OUR

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE TO DETERMINE WHAT THEIR CONFERENCE NEEDS

MAY BE.

THAT IS A GENERAL OUTLINE, SIR. IF YOU HAVE ANY

INTRODUCTIONS OR HOUSEKEEPING, NOW WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: AND THE FIRST

HOUSEKEEPING OF THE YEAR:

ON A MOTION BY MS. WALKER, PAGE 9, RULES REPORT

NO. 88, BILL NO. 329, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

FOR THE PURPOSES OF A INTRODUCTION, MR. MILLER.

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

ALLOWING ME THE PRIVILEGE OF AN INTRODUCTION. TODAY WE HAVE WITH US

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF CHITTENANGO SCHOOLS, MIKE EIFFE AND HIS SON,

SHAMUS. SHAMUS IS A SENIOR AT CHITTENANGO HIGH SCHOOL, AND A

GRANDSON OF FORMER OSWEGO COUNTY LEGISLATOR, THE LATE DANIEL EIFFE.

SHAMUS ASPIRES TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY AND NATION WITH A LIFE OF

PUBLIC SERVICE. HE HAS BEEN SELECTED AS A SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATE TO ONE

OF OUR NATION'S PREMIER ROTC PROGRAMS AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN

WASHINGTON, D.C. HE INTENDS ON STUDYING POLITICAL SCIENCE, WILL BE

COMMISSIONED AS AN OFFICER INTO THE NAVY UPON GRADUATION.

SO ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, THE SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF

THE HOUSE, PLEASE EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

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

TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF

THE FLOOR. OUR CONGRATULATIONS ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS THAT YOU'VE MADE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

SO FAR. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU KNOW YOU WILL

ALWAYS BE A WELCOMED VISITOR HERE. AND JUST ON A PERSONAL NOTE, MY

MOTHER GRADUATED FROM CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY, SO WE HAVE A BOND. AND,

OF COURSE, THAT WAS IN THE 1930S. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING

HERE, YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.

(APPLAUSE)

FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION, MR. BURDICK.

MR. BURDICK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE FOR

THE PURPOSE OF MAKING AN INTRODUCTION TO A REMARKABLE YOUNG LADY,

KACIE ROONEY, A RESIDENT OF MY DISTRICT WHO GRADUATED LAST YEAR FROM

JOHN JAY HIGH SCHOOL IN CROSS RIVER, NEW YORK. SHE IS THE FIRST

STUDENT WITH DOWN SYNDROME TO GRADUATE FROM JOHN JAY HIGH SCHOOL

IN FOUR DECADES. SHE IS TRULY ACCOMPLISHED IN BEING ABLE TO HANDLE THIS

DISABILITY SO EFFECTIVELY. SHE HAS, FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AS EXAMPLES OF

WHAT SHE'S DONE, BEEN A VOLUNTEER READER AT THE COUNTRY CHILDREN'S

CENTER; READS A BOOK, SELECTS A CRAFT FOR THE CHILDREN. SHE HAS FOR

SEVERAL YEARS WORKED IN THE JOHN JAY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR'S OFFICE, AND AS

A TEACHER'S ASSISTANT IN THE JOHN JAY INTRODUCTION TO THEATER PROGRAM.

SHE NOW ALSO WORKS IN THE JOHN JAY HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL'S

OFFICE. SHE IS AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEMBER OF A SPECIAL NEEDS CHEER TEAM

IN MAHOPAC. SHE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE JOHN JAY UNIFIED BOWLING

AND BASKETBALL TEAM, ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS. SHE

PARTICIPATES IN PROGRAMS AT GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE, WHICH IS A DOWN

SYNDROME ACHIEVEMENT CENTER IN WESTCHESTER.

KACIE AND OTHERS WITH DOWN SYNDROME MIGHT HAVE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

BEEN DISMISSED AND MARGINALIZED IN THE PAST. I AM AWESTRUCK BY HER

TENACITY AND PERSEVERANCE IN HANDLING THE CHALLENGES THAT SHE FACES ON

A DAILY BASIS. SHE TRULY IS INSPIRATIONAL NOT ONLY TO OTHERS WITH DOWN

SYNDROME, BUT TO ALL OF US, AND WE CAN SEE POSSIBILITIES RATHER THAN

SIMPLY ASSUMING OTHERWISE.

MR. SPEAKER, I ASK THAT YOU KINDLY EXTEND THE

COURTESIES OF THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE TO KACIE AND HER FAMILY. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. BURDICK, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, KACIE AND YOUR

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

EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. OUR CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR

ACHIEVEMENT. KNOW THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A FRIEND HERE AND WILL

ALWAYS BE WELCOME. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. SIMPSON FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. SIMPSON: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE TO

REQUEST THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MEGAN O'SULLIVAN, JACOB SCHOFF,

TABER HOLMES, ROXANNA FALCON, ABBY CAREY, AND THEIR PROFESSOR,

MEGAN CONTI. THEY ARE SENIORS AT SIENA COLLEGE WITH A FOCUS ON

SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY, WHICH WE ALL KNOW HOW SIGNIFICANT THE MENTAL

HEALTH CHALLENGES AND SOCIAL ISSUES THAT WE'RE ALL EXPERIENCING NOW.

SO I APPLAUD THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THEY CHOSE THIS DIRECTION, AND I'M

REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE TO SEE HOW THEY DEVELOP AND HOW THEY

WORK TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES A MUCH HEALTHIER, BETTER SOCIETY.

SO I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR -- OFFER THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

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

HERE TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, EXTEND

TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. HOPE THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY

TO OBSERVE OUR DELIBERATIONS AND GROW AND APPRECIATE THE WAY IN WHICH

GOVERNMENT WORKS HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND CONGRATULATIONS

ON YOUR CHOICES FOR A PROFESSION MUCH NEEDED, MUCH DESIRED IN THIS

STATE. PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU'RE WELCOME HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. GRAY FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. GRAY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE THIS

AFTERNOON FOR AN INTRODUCTION FOR SOME STUDENTS AND FACULTY FROM

SUNY CANTON UP IN MY DISTRICT. AND THEY'RE ALL MEMBERS OF A GREAT

PROGRAM, WHICH EVERYBODY IS PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH, EDUCATIONAL

OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM, OR OTHERWISE KNOW AS EOP. SO ATTACHED TO

THESE YOUNG INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT ONLY GREAT SUCCESS STORIES, BUT FANTASTIC

ACHIEVEMENTS ON THEIR PART. SO I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE FROM

MASSENA, NEW YORK -- THE STUDENTS FIRST -- KYLEE DONNELLY; AND WE

HAVE FROM THE BRONX, WE HAVE ANIKKO SERRANO; AND THEN ALSO FROM

BROOKLYN WE HAVE TEANNA SIMMONS. AND, AS WELL, WE HAVE THE

DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE EOP PROGRAM: WE HAVE ANNE DRAKE, KATIE

KENNEDY AND KEITH MITCHELL.

MR. SPEAKER, PLEASE WELCOME THEM AND OFFER THEM

THE CORDIALITY OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. GRAY, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME THESE FINE

STUDENTS HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO YOU THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. HOPE YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE, TOO, WILL BE

BENEFICIAL AND THAT YOU MAY LEARN A BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR GOVERNMENT

HERE IN ALBANY, NEW YORK. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, AND KNOW THAT

YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES FOR PURPOSES OF AN

ANNOUNCEMENT.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, IF YOU

COULD PLEASE CALL THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S

CONFERENCE ROOM.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WAYS AND MEANS,

SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM IMMEDIATE PLEASE -- IMMEDIATELY.

PAGE 3, RESOLUTIONS, ASSEMBLY NO. 148, THE CLERK

WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 148, MS.

JEAN-PIERRE.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2023 AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN

THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. JEAN-PIERRE ON

THE RESOLUTION.

ONE MINUTE, MS. JEAN-PIERRE, WE HAVE A -- LET THEM --

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

LET THE WAYS AND MEANS PEOPLE MOVE PAST YOU SO THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU

OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WE'RE ALMOST THERE. I

THINK WE CAN PROCEED NOW. CLEAR THAT CORNER, PLEASE.

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

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

WOMEN'S CAUCUS, IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS

RESOLUTION AS WE CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY. TODAY AND

EVERY DAY, WE ARE REMINDED THAT WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE

WOMEN WHO CAME BEFORE US AND FOUGHT FOR TRUE EQUALITY UNDER THE

LAW, AND IN DAY-TO-DAY LIFE HERE IN NEW YORK AND THROUGHOUT THE

UNITED STATES. NEW YORK STATE HAS LONG BEEN A CHAMPION FOR WOMEN,

AND WITH THE ELECTION OF OUR FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR AND THE REALITY THAT

OUR SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, OUR ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER, AND OUR

ATTORNEY GENERAL ARE ALL WOMEN. WE HAVE SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE. WE

NOW HAVE 73 WOMEN IN THE LEGISLATURE IN BOTH HOUSES, WITH RECORD

NUMBERS OF WOMEN LEGISLATORS IN LEADERSHIP AND SERVING AS COMMITTEE

CHAIRS.

NEW YORK WAS HOME TO THE 1848 SENECA FALLS

CONVENTION, WHICH KICK-STARTED THE ESSENTIAL IDEA OF A WOMAN'S RIGHT

TO VOTE. NEW YORK WAS ALSO HOME TO THE SUFFRAGE PIONEERS LIKE SUSAN

B. ANTHONY, ELIZABETH LADY [SIC] STANTON, AND ALICE PAUL. THE 20TH

CENTURY PROVED TO BE A HARD-FOUGHT BUT REWARDING BATTLE FOR WOMEN IN

OUR COLLECTIVE DESIRE TO HAVE THE SAME RIGHT AS OUR MALE COUNTERPARTS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

AND NOWHERE ELSE HAS THE PROGRESSION OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS BECOME A

REALITY MORE THAN HERE IN NEW YORK. IN CELEBRATION OF WOMEN'S

HISTORY MONTH AND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, WE HONOR ALL THOSE

WHO -- WHOSE PERSEVERANCE BROKE DOWN BARRIERS AND SHATTERED GLASS

CEILINGS TO CREATE A MORE EQUAL AND JUST SOCIETY. AND HERE IN NEW

YORK, WE SENT A LOUD AND CLEAR MESSAGE TO ALL THOSE WOMEN AND GIRLS

ACROSS OUR GREAT STATE THAT OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURE RESTS IN THE HANDS OF

FEMALE LEADERS, AND AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT WHO LEAD BY EXAMPLE

AND FIGHT TO ENSURE THAT WE ALL HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. WHILE THE

STRUGGLE FOR TRUE EQUALITY CONTINUES EVERY SINGLE DAY, I AM ENORMOUSLY

PROUD OF THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE HERE TOGETHER.

IN CLOSING, LET US PLEDGE TO CONTINUE FIGHTING IN

UPLIFTING ALL WOMEN AND ALL LITTLE GIRLS EVERY SINGLE DAY. I AM PROUD TO

SPONSOR THIS RESOLUTION, AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR JOINING.

ACTING SPEAKER LAVINE: THANK YOU, MS.

JEAN-PIERRE.

MS. WALSH.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'D LIKE TO ADD

TO WHAT MS. JEAN-PIERRE JUST STATED ABOUT THE RESOLUTION; I'M VERY

HAPPY TO SPEAK ON IT AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE WOMEN'S CAUCUS.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT THOSE WHO -- WHO SHATTERED THE

GLASS CEILING AND I WAS REMINDED OF A COUPLE OF WOMEN WHO ARE IN MY

DISTRICT THAT I WANTED TO JUST SHINE A LIGHT ON FOR A MOMENT. THE FIRST IS

CAPTAIN STACY WUTHIER, WHO IS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE NAVY

NUCLEAR POWER TRAINING UNIT IN BALLSTON SPA, NEW YORK. SHE'S A

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

NATIVE OF DENVER, COLORADO, BUT SHE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY IN 1995

AS A NUCLEAR MACHINIST MATE, AND COMPLETED PROTOTYPE TRAINING AT THE --

AT NPTU IN BALLSTON SPA. AND THEN WENT ON -- I COULD READ FOR

PROBABLY TEN MINUTES THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT SHE'S DID SINCE THEN IN

HER CAREER, BUT SHE WAS BROUGHT ALL THE WAY BACK TO HEAD THE NPTU

NOW IN BALLSTON SPA. SHE -- SHE'S A REMARKABLE WOMAN AND I'M VERY

PROUD OF HER. AND YOU TALK ABOUT SHATTERING A GLASS CEILING, WITHIN THE

MILITARY SHE'S DONE IT.

ANOTHER WOMAN WITH AN IMPRESSIVE MILITARY CAREER IS

MAJOR GENERAL DENISE M. DONNELL, AND SOME OF COLLEAGUES MAY

REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE HAD OPENING DAY OF THE -- OF SESSION, SHE LED

US ALL IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE THAT DAY. SHE WAS PROMOTED IN THE

SPRING OF 2022 TO THE STAR RANK OF MAJOR GENERAL AT THE NEW YORK

AIR NATIONAL GUARD. SHE WAS THE FIRST WOMAN TO COMMAND ONE OF THE

NEW YORK AIR NATIONAL GUARD'S FIVE FLYING WINGS, AND IS ONE OF ONLY

FIVE WOMEN TO ATTAIN THE RANK OF MAJOR GENERAL IN THE NEW YORK

NATIONAL GUARD. SHE SERVES AS THE ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL, AND IS

THE COMMANDER OF THE NEW YORK AIR NATIONAL GUARD IN LATHAM, NEW

YORK. SHE'S THE PRIMARY ADVISOR ON ALL AIR GUARD MATTERS TO THE

ADJUTANT GENERAL. AND -- AND I HAPPEN TO KNOW HER PERSONALLY, AND

HER FAMILY. AND I THINK THAT THESE ARE THE HEROES, THESE WOMEN, WHO

HAVE TAKEN SOME OF THE VERY NON-TRADITIONAL PATHS AND HAVE REALLY,

REALLY EXCELLED.

SO I THOUGHT IN CELEBRATION OF WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY

THAT I WOULD JUST TALK ABOUT THEM FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. SO THANK

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER LAVINE: THANK YOU, MS.

WALSH.

MS. LEVENBERG.

MS. LEVENBERG: THANK YOU SO MUCH, SPEAKER

AND MAJORITY LEADER. IT'S SO EXCITING TO BE CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL

WOMEN'S DAY, AND I AM SO PROUD TO STAND HERE IN THIS INCREASINGLY

DIVERSE CHAMBER AS THE FEMALE SUCCESSOR TO THE FIRST WOMAN TO

REPRESENT MY DISTRICT IN THE ASSEMBLY. THAT WOMAN, SANDY GALEF,

SPONSORED LEGISLATION TO AMEND THIS STATE'S CONSTITUTION TO MAKE IT

GENDER NEUTRAL, A PIVOTAL STEP TO WHERE WE ARE NOW WITH RESPECT TO

GENDER EQUALITY.

HERE IN NEW YORK BECAUSE OF SO MANY FEMALE

TRAILBLAZERS BEFORE US, TODAY, AS MENTIONED BY MY ASSEMBLY

COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE A RECORD NUMBER OF FEMALE ASSEMBLYMEMBERS

AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS. WE ARE CONDUCTING OUR BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS

WITH A FEMALE GOVERNOR AND SENATE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A

FEMALE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, A FEMALE

DISTRICT ATTORNEY PROBABLY FOR THE SECOND TIME. WE'VE PASSED THE

EQUALITY AMENDMENT TWICE, FURTHER EXPANDING EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER

OUR CONSTITUTION, AND WE ARE, INDEED, FINALLY SEEING THE GLASS CEILING

BEGIN TO CRACK. USUALLY WHEN WOMEN SEEK PUBLIC OFFICE, WE ARE

MOTIVATED TO DO SO OUT OF THE DESIRE TO MAKE A NECESSARY CHANGE.

THAT'S HOW I GOT STARTED. OUR ADVOCACY FOR OUR CHILDREN OR OUR SCHOOLS

OR OUR COMMUNITIES MAKES IT CLEAR THAT OUR LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED. AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

WHEN WE LEAD, WE LIFT UP SO MANY OTHERS AROUND US BECAUSE IT IS RARE

FOR A WOMAN TO DO SO ALONE. WHEN WOMEN LEAD, WE BRING CRUCIAL

PERSPECTIVES FOR IMPROVING SOCIETY BECAUSE WE BRING INSIGHT INTO

PROBLEMS THAT ONLY WOMEN TYPICALLY SEE. IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE

CONTINUE MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION, AND THAT WE CONTINUE ELECTING

LEADERS WHO WILL OPEN UP OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER LAVINE: THANK YOU, MS.

LEVENBERG.

MS. WOERNER.

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

ALLOWING ME TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN SPEAKING ON THE INTERNATIONAL

WOMEN'S DAY RESOLUTION. YOU KNOW, SO MUCH OF THE TIME WE TALK

ABOUT, AS MS. JEAN-PIERRE SAID, WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS.

AND WE CAN ALL RECITE THE NAMES OF WOMEN IN NEW YORK WHO WERE

INSTRUMENTAL, PIVOTAL IN WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE; SUSAN B. ANTHONY,

ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, AND TRULY, THEY WERE GREAT. BUT I BELIEVE THAT

THE HISTORY -- THAT WOMEN'S HISTORY IS ABOUT ORDINARY WOMEN DOING

EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.

SO, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO

OVER TO THE NEW YORK STATE ARCHIVES AND I FOUND AN INTERESTING BIT OF

WOMEN'S HISTORY. SO IN 1912 IN DECEMBER, THREE WOMEN TOOK OFF ON

FOOT FROM NEW YORK CITY: ROSALIE GARDINER JONES, AGE 29; IDA CRAFT,

AGE 52; AND LAVINIA LLOYD DOCK, AGE 54. AND THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM

A PETITION SIGNED BY 1,500 WOMEN CALLING ON THE MEN OF NEW YORK TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

GRANT WOMEN THE RIGHT FOR SUFFRAGE. THEY WALKED 140 MILES IN

DECEMBER FROM NEW YORK TO ALBANY TO PRESENT THEN GOVERNOR-ELECT

SULZER WITH THEIR PETITION. AND THEY WERE SO SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING

ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE THAT THE THEN MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE SAID,

I DON'T PERSONALLY SUPPORT WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE, BUT I'M GOING TO BRING

THIS TO THE FLOOR, AND THAT WAS THE FIRST PASSAGE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL

AMENDMENT THAT TWO YEARS LATER WENT TO THE VOTERS. IT WAS,

UNFORTUNATELY, VOTED DOWN, BUT IT IS WHAT STARTED THE PROCESS AND

ORDINARY WOMEN DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS. AND THAT IS THE HISTORY OF

THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT IN NEW YORK, IT'S THE HISTORY OF THE WOMEN'S

MOVEMENT AROUND THE WORLD.

SO THIS MONTH AS WE DO OUR WOMEN OF DISTINCTION

PROGRAMS IN OUR DISTRICT, IT IS DELIGHTFUL THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE

RECOGNIZING ORDINARY WOMEN DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS ON THIS DAY

AND EVERY DAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ACTING SPEAKER LAVINE: THANK YOU, MS.

WOERNER.

MS. LUCAS.

MS. LUCAS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND THANK

YOU TO THE SPONSOR OF THIS RESOLUTION, MEMBER KIMBERLY JEAN-PIERRE.

WE HAVE GATHERED IN THIS MOMENT TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS

AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN WHO HAVE PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING

BOTH HISTORY AND SOCIETY, BUT HAVE OFTEN BEEN OVERLOOKED,

UNDERESTIMATED, AND UNDERVALUED. IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE

EDUCATE EVERYONE ABOUT THE STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES WOMEN HAVE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

FACED; DISCRIMINATION, OPPRESSION, VIOLENCE.

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH PROVIDES US WITH THE

OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE A LIGHT ON WOMEN WHO HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR SO

MANY OF US HERE TODAY. WOMEN LIKE BESSIE BUCHANAN, THE FIRST

AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO SERVE IN THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, ELECTED

IN 1955 AND SERVING UNTIL 1962. AND SHIRLEY CHISHOLM, WHO BEGAN

HER HISTORIC AND STORIED CAREER IN ELECTED OFFICE RIGHT HERE IN THE NEW

YORK ASSEMBLY, SERVING FROM 1965 TO 1968. WE MUST TELL AND RETELL

THEIR STORIES TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN

LEADERS. WE MUST HIGHLIGHT THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WOMEN HAVE MADE

THROUGHOUT OUR STATE SO THAT YOUNG WOMEN LIKE MY DAUGHTER, TONI,

CAN ACHIEVE THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. WE MUST CELEBRATE, WE MUST TELL

OUR STORIES, AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR EQUITY AND EQUAL PAY FOR

WORK -- FOR EQUAL WORK AND GENDER EQUALITY.

I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A MEMBER OF THE NEW

YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, AS A TESTAMENT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUALLY

RECOGNIZING THE WOMEN WHO CAME BEFORE ME, ON WHOSE SHOULDERS I

STAND, SO THAT MY DAUGHTER AND YOUR DAUGHTERS UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE

CAN DO IT, THEY CAN DO IT.

THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO SIT IN THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE

AND ALL WHO ARE WATCHING, FOR ALLOWING ME A MOMENT TO REPRESENT THE

VOICES OF MANY YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN INTERNATIONALLY. HAPPY

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER LAVINE: THANK YOU, MS.

LUCAS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

MS. RAJKUMAR.

MS. RAJKUMAR: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WHEN

I WAS 13, I RAISED MY HAND IN 8TH GRADE AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS, AND I

ASKED MY TEACHER AN INNOCENT QUESTION: WHY ARE THERE NO WOMEN IN

THE AMERICAN HISTORY TEXTBOOK? WHERE ARE THE WOMEN? IN THE YEARS

SINCE, I HAVE FOUND WOMEN'S VOICES IN OUR HISTORY. IT'S THE VOICE OF

ALICE PAUL, WHO LAUNCHED A HUNGER STRIKE AND WENT TO PRISON SO THAT

AMERICAN WOMEN COULD VOTE, A STORY DOCUMENTED BY HER FELLOW

SUFFRAGIST DORIS STEVENS IN THE BOOK, JAILED FOR FREEDOM. I FOUND THE

VOICE OF SHIRLEY CHISHOLM, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN ELECTED TO U.S.

CONGRESS, WHO ONCE SERVED IN THIS VERY BODY, THE NEW YORK STATE

ASSEMBLY, WHERE SHE WAS NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN SHIRLEY

CHISHOLM. BRAVE WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SHAPING OUR HISTORY, AND

THE WOMEN ARE HERE TODAY SERVING IN THIS VERY CHAMBER.

AS THE FIRST SOUTH ASIAN WOMAN EVER ELECTED TO NEW

YORK STATE OFFICE, I AM PROUD TO HAVE A SMALL PART IN WRITING OUR

HERSTORY. AND I JOIN MANY OTHER WOMAN MEMBERS OF THE STATE

ASSEMBLY HERE TODAY WHO ARE ALSO A FIRST. TOGETHER, WE ARE WRITING

HISTORY. TODAY, ON INTERNATIONAL WOMAN'S DAY, I COULDN'T BE MORE

PROUD TO CALL YOU MY COLLEAGUES. FOR MANY OF US WHO WERE A FIRST,

THERE WAS NO GUIDEBOOK FOR HOW TO GET HERE, BUT NOW WE WILL WRITE THE

GUIDEBOOK FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. EVERY DAY I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH THE

POTENTIAL OF YOUNG WOMEN, HOW GOOD THEY ARE, HOW DYNAMIC AND

VERSATILE. THEY ARE TRULY THE WORLD'S HIDDEN POWER. LET US SHOW GIRLS

THROUGH OUR EXAMPLE THAT THEY CAN LEAD, THAT THEY CAN RUN THE WORLD,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

AND THAT THEY BELONG AT THE TABLE OF POWER AND IN EVERY PAGE OF THAT

HISTORY TEXTBOOK. THE UNITED NATIONS CEDAW TREATY ON WOMEN'S

HUMAN RIGHTS SAYS THAT THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF A COUNTRY, THE WELFARE

OF THE WORLD AND THE CAUSE OF PEACE REQUIRE THE MAXIMUM

PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN ON EQUAL TERMS WITH MEN IN ALL FIELDS. LET'S

MAKE IT HAPPEN. CURRENTLY, OVER 30 PERCENT OF THIS STATE LEGISLATURE IS

WOMEN. WE HAVE NEVER HAD A WOMAN PRESIDENT. WOMEN STILL EARN 82

CENTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR A MAN EARNS. AND WE STILL HAVEN'T PASSED AN

EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, ENSURING EQUALITY FOR

WOMEN.

THE LATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG,

CHAMPION FOR WOMEN, SAID IT BEST. WHEN SHE WAS ASKED WHEN WILL

THERE BE ENOUGH WOMEN ON THE SUPREME COURT, SHE REPLIED, WHEN

THERE ARE NINE. LET'S CREATE A WORLD WHERE WOMEN ARE IN THE AMERICAN

HISTORY TEXTBOOK SO THAT OUR DAUGHTERS SEE WOMEN LEADING THE WAY.

HAPPY WOMEN'S.

HISTORY MONTH TO EVERYONE ACROSS THE WORLD, HAPPY

INTERNATIONAL WOMAN'S DAY, AND I PROUDLY VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER LAVINE: THANK YOU, MS.

RAJKUMAR.

MR. DE LOS SANTOS.

MR. DE LOS SANTOS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER,

FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. I WANT TO

THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF TODAY'S RESOLUTION ON

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

WOMEN'S HISTORY. I STAND HERE TODAY BECAUSE MANY YEARS AGO, A BRAVE

WOMAN DECIDED TO GIVE BIRTH TO ME. TODAY, CONTINUE TO BE AN

OPPORTUNITY TO ELEVATE, EMPOWER WOMEN. WE HAVE A LOT OF SHEROES IN

THIS ROOM, SUCH AS MAJORITY LEADER PEOPLES-STOKES, SHIRLEY CHISHOLM,

ROSA PARKS, AND I'M AWARE OF THAT REALITY. BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK

TO DO, AND IT IS IN OUR HANDS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE GET,

WE ELEVATE ALL OF THEM.

I AM PROUD TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION, AND LET'S NOT

FORGET THAT MARCH WILL CONTINUE TO BE A VERY SPECIAL MONTH. THANK

YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER LAVINE: THANK YOU, MR. DE

LOS SANTOS.

MR. SAYEGH.

MR. SAYEGH: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I ALSO RISE

TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION, THANK THE SPONSOR, AND ALSO JUST

WANT TO START BY SAYING THERE IS NO HUMANITY WITHOUT WOMEN. SO WE

RECOGNIZE NOT ONLY THE IMPORTANCE THAT WOMEN PLAY IN CIVILIZATION, BUT

IN HUMAN BEINGS. AND TODAY, IT'S A RECOGNITION OF THE ROLE WOMEN PLAY

ACROSS HISTORY, NOT ONLY U.S. BUT WORLD HISTORY. AND FOR ME, HAVING

BEEN ELECTED IN 2018 WHEN THERE WAS MANY SMALL PARTIES, POLITICAL

PARTIES, ONE OF THE BEST ENDORSEMENTS I'VE HAD WAS THE WOMEN'S

EQUALITY. WHEN I WENT BEFORE THEM AND TOLD THEM I WAS A FATHER OF

FIVE YOUNG LADIES AND HAD A -- WAS RAISED BY A WIDOW MOTHER WHO

REALLY EDUCATED ALL OF HER EIGHT CHILDREN WITH ADVANCED DEGREES, AND

SHE HERSELF DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, IT REALLY INDICATED

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

THE IMPORTANT ROLE WOMEN PLAY IN OUR LIVES.

SO TODAY I RISE TO CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

AND WORLD RECOGNITION OF WOMEN'S ROLE IN SOCIETY, AND CONGRATULATE

THIS VERY SPECIAL MOMENT AND HOPE WE CONTINUE TO FURTHER ADVANCE.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER LAVINE: THANK YOU, MR.

SAYEGH.

MS. CHANDLER-WATERMAN.

MS. CHANDLER-WATERMAN: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. AND I MUST SAY THANK YOU, MAJORITY LEADER, FOR YOUR

LEADERSHIP AND MAKING US PROUD EVERY DAY WE SEE YOU. HAPPY

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY. BECAUSE OF MY ANCESTORS, I STAND BEFORE

YOU AS THE FIRST WOMAN, FIRST BLACK WOMAN AND FIRST BLACK CARIBBEAN

WOMAN TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 58. I'M HAPPY MY THREE DAUGHTERS WERE

ABLE TO SEE THIS REALITY TODAY. NOT LONG AGO, WOMEN LIKE ME AND THOSE

IN THESE CHAMBERS WERE NOT GRANTED THE RIGHT TO VOTE OR EVEN ALLOWED

IN THESE CHAMBERS. BUT AS A WOMAN, DO WHAT WE DO, WHAT WE NEED TO

DO TO GET WHAT WE NEED. OUR PREDECESSORS PLANNED, ORGANIZED AND

STRATEGIZED, AND BY FIGHTING FOR OUR RIGHTS, THE 19TH AMENDMENT WAS

PASSED IN 1920, ALLOWING WHITE WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE. IN 1924, THE

RIGHT WAS EXTENDED TO NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN, AND IN 1943, CHINESE

WOMEN WERE GRANTED THE RIGHT TO VOTE. BLACK AND LATINO WOMEN WERE

GRANTED THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN 1965. PLEASE LET THAT SETTLE IN. BLACK AND

LATINO WOMEN WERE GRANTED A RIGHT TO VOTE JUST 58 YEARS AGO. WE'VE

COME A LONG WAY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

TODAY, I STAND BEFORE YOU AS ONE OF THE 52 WOMEN IN

THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE SHAPE POLICY, PASS MEANINGFUL

LEGISLATION, AND FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS

YEAR, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY THEME IS "EMBRACE EQUITY." WE

HAVE TO -- WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF, AND WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

EQUITY MEAN FAIRNESS, POINT BLANK, PERIOD. WE -- WE HAVE -- WE HAVE

NOT ACHIEVED FAIRNESS. WE HAVE STILL A LOT OF FIGHTING AGAINST

PATRIARCHAL SYSTEMS THAT ROB US OF OUR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, PAY US LESS

THAN WE ARE WORTH, MINIMIZE OUR PAIN AND, AT BEST, DISMISS US AND

WORSE, VIOLATE OUR BODIES AND MINDS.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR, IT'S NOT ALL BAD. THERE ARE MEN IN

THIS ROOM AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO MARCH SIDE-BY-SIDE IN THE FIGHT

FOR WOMEN'S EQUITY AND EQUALITY. BUT WE ALL WORK WITHIN A SYSTEM THAT

IS NOT BUILT FOR WOMEN, AND CERTAINLY NOT FOR BLACK WOMEN. TO THE

MEN WHO STAND WITH US, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING EVERYTHING WE DO,

FROM FINDING THE CURE FOR COVID AND CREATING MILLION-DOLLAR

COMPANIES, TO ROCK -- ROCKETING IT INTO SPACE AND KICKING OFF CIVIL

RIGHTS MOVEMENT, TO JUST GETTING THE JOB DONE NO MATTER THE OBSTACLES.

TO THOSE STUCK IN THE OLD DAYS, I SAY LET IT GO AND IT'S TIME TO -- TO

EMBRACE EQUITY, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR PERMISSION, WE'RE

KICKING DOWN THE DOORS.

TO OUR SISTERS WORLDWIDE WHO ARE DEPRIVED OF

EDUCATION AND EVEN FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW

WE STAND WITH YOU. LET US EMBRACE EQUITY THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S

DAY AND EVERY DAY. HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, AND THANK

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER LAVINE: THANK YOU, MS.

CHANDLER-WATERMAN.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON WHAT I THINK IS PROBABLY ONE

OF THE MORE IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS YEAR AND

LATER. AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE DESCENDANTS OF WOMEN, SO I DO HONOR THE

GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE, AS WELL. AND AS A PERSON WHO IS FOUR

GENERATIONS AWAY FROM A WOMAN WHO LOOKED LIKE ME UNDER THE BOTTOM

OF A SHIP, I ACTUALLY WANTED TO SPEAK WORDS TODAY TO THE LIFE AND THE

VALUE OF THE WOMEN WHO ARE ALREADY HERE. AND I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO

SPEAK ABOUT A YOUNG LADY WHO LIVED IN UPSTATE NEW YORK. HER NAME

IS MARY JEMISON. MARY WAS ACTUALLY A SENECA WOMAN, AND EVEN

THOUGH SHE WAS A SENECA WOMAN, SHE LOOKED EUROPEAN. SO SHE COULD

HAVE TRANSITIONED AND WENT TO THAT COMMUNITY AND BEEN PERFECTLY FINE,

BECAUSE SHE DID LOOK AS IF SHE WAS EUROPEAN. BUT SHE WAS A SENECA,

SHE WAS A VERY PROUD SENECA. SHE STAYED WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY, SHE

MARRIED MORE THAN ONCE, SHE HAD MULTIPLE CHILDREN. AND IN 1883, SHE

WAS LIKE 80 YEARS OLD, SHE WALKED TO A TAVERN AND SHE TOLD HER STORY TO

A MAN BY THE NAME OF JAMES SEAVER. AND SHE SAID, I'VE COME TO TELL

YOU MY STORY OF 80 YEARS. MY LIFE HAS BEEN CHECKED, ALMOST EVERY

HOUR, WITH TROUBLES OF DEEPER DYE THAN ARE COMMONLY EXPERIENCED.

SHE SPOKE TO HIM FOR HOURS AND HE WROTE IT DOWN. I WOULD ENCOURAGE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

THOSE OF US UNDER THE SOUND OF MY VOICE TO LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF MARY

JEMISON, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN 1823.

THERE WAS NO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY CELEBRATION DAY IN 1823.

BUT SHE HONORED HER LIFE, SHE HONORED HER CULTURE, AND SHE LIVED THE

KIND OF LIFE THAT BRINGS VALUE TO ALL OF US.

WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I SAY THANK YOU FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY AND I HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S

HISTORY DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER LAVINE: MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES,

FROM THE GRANDSON OF TWO WOMEN WHO MARCHED FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE,

THANK YOU.

MR. GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I HAVE

THOROUGHLY ENJOYED AND APPRECIATED THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES. I

WANT TO SHARE AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE. I RECENTLY BEGAN REPRESENTING

PART OF THE SENECA NATION, AND AS MY COLLEAGUE MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES

MENTIONED, THERE ARE SOME REMARKABLE, REMARKABLE WOMEN FROM THE

SENECA NATION. BUT WHAT MOST OF US MAY NOT REALIZE THAT IN THE

SENECA NATION CONSTITUTION - AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN CONSTITUTION -

IN 1848 THEY RECOGNIZED A GROUP OF PEOPLE CALLED "MOTHERS OF THE

NATION." AND THE MOTHERS OF THE NATION HAVE THE POWER TO APPROVE OR

REJECT ANY TREATY BETWEEN THE NATION AND ANYONE ELSE. AND THEY

EXERCISE THAT POWER WHEN THEY WISH TO OVERRIDE THE DECISION OF THE

PRESIDENT AND THE SENECA NATION COUNCIL IF THEY DISAGREE WITH THEM.

AND THEY DID SO A FEW YEARS AGO. AND SO THERE'S A WHOLE NEW MODEL

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

WHERE THE SENECA NATION RECOGNIZES THAT THE MOTHERS OF A NATION HAVE

THE FINAL SAY IF THEY WANT IT.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER LAVINE: THANK YOU, MR.

GOODELL.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 149, MS.

JACKSON.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2023 AS SOCIAL WORK MONTH IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK.

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

ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION. HAPPY SOCIAL WORK MONTH.

WE PROUDLY SHARE THIS MONTH WITH WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, AND THAT'S

ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOT COMPLAINING. AS A SOCIAL WORKER, MY MAIN

OBJECTIVE IS TO SERVE, IS TO SERVE, IS TO SERVE, AND TO DO NO HARM. THE

MISSION OF SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION IS ROOTED IN A SET OF CORE VALUES,

OKAY, AND WE ALL SHOULD HAVE THEM, REGARDLESS IF YOU'RE A SOCIAL WORKER

OR NOT: SERVICE, SOCIAL JUSTICE, DIGNITY IN THE WORTH OF A PERSON,

IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIP, INTEGRITY AND COMPETENCE. MAYA

ANGELOU SAID, I COME AS ONE, BUT I STAND AS 10,000. I COME WITH MY

ANCESTORS ON MY BACK. TO ALL THE SOCIAL WORKERS WHO HAVE PAVED THE

WAY FOR ME TO STAND HERE AS A BLACK WOMAN, AS A TEENAGE MOM, AS A

MOM OF TWO, BORN INTO POVERTY, CHILD OF AN IMMIGRANT, BUT STILL AN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

LMSW, I SAY THANK YOU, GRACIAS.

I WANT TO REMIND MY SOCIAL WORK FRIENDS, BRITTNEY,

REBECCA, AVA, DANIELLA, ATIA, STELLA, DONNA SUE, LA KENYA, QUINELLE,

LAUREN, JAMES, DESIREE, THIS IS OUR MONTH SO DO NOT FORGET YOUR

SELF-CARE, BECAUSE WE ARE CONSTANTLY EXPOSED TO TRAUMA. WE DO OUR

BEST TO BE EMPATHETIC, TO REMEMBER THE PERSON AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT,

AND TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT. SO TO THE SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE

CHAMBERS WHO ARE UP HERE IN THE GALLERY, FROM TOURO COLLEGE, FROM

ADELPHI, MY ALMA MATER, BUFFALO UNIVERSITY, BINGHAMTON, DAEMEN,

ALBANY UNIVERSITY, CAYUGA, YESHIVA, WE ARE THE HEALERS OF THE WORLD.

YOU ALL, THIS IS OUR MONTH. WE COME HERE AND DO THIS WORK TIRELESSLY,

THANKLESSLY, AND I SAY THANK YOU TODAY FOR BEING HERE. AND WE'VE

TALKED ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SO MUCH DURING THE PANDEMIC AND WE SAID

EVERYONE NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. BUT THE TRUTH IS, IF

YOU WANT TO TAKE CARE OF SOCIAL WORKERS, PAY THEM. I SAY THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. DE LOS SANTOS.

MR. DE LOS SANTOS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER,

FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON TODAY'S RESOLUTION HONORING SOCIAL

WORKER. I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE, CHANTEL JACKSON, FOR

HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIAL SERVICES. AS WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, LET'S ALSO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE A

TREMENDOUS OBLIGATION WITHIN THE SOCIAL WORK COMMUNITY. SOCIAL

WORKERS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN KEEPING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AND THE

ENTIRE COMMUNITY HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE. THEY ARE IN THE FRONT LINES,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

IN THE FRONT LINES OF PUSHING FOR EQUAL RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS, ADVOCATING

AND ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR RESOURCES. LET'S CONTINUE YOU TO REAFFIRM OUR

COMMITMENT TO OURSELF TO SUPPORTING AND ELEVATING AND EMPOWERING

OUR COMMUNITY OF SOCIAL WORKERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 150, MR. K.

BROWN.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 4, 2023 AT MARCHING MUSIC 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. 151, MR.

MCDONALD.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM APRIL 6, 2023 AS MISSING PERSONS 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.

MR. BEEPHAN FOR AN INTRODUCTION, SIR.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

MR. BEEPHAN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MY

HONORABLE COLLEAGUES, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LATE INTRODUCTION THIS

MORNING, BUT AS WE CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, I AM PROUD TO

SAY I HAVE TWO WONDERFUL WOMEN FROM MY DISTRICT HERE WITH ME TODAY.

BOTH OF THEM ARE TOWN CLERKS. ONE IS LAUREEN ABBATAN -- I'M SORRY,

ABBATANTUONO, AND ANOTHER ONE IS ANDREA CASEY FROM THE TOWN OF

UNION VALE. BOTH OF THESE WOMEN ARE STEADFAST LEADERS WITHIN OUR

COMMUNITY. ALL OF US HERE HAVE A PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, BUT I CAN

TELL YOU COMING FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT TOWN CLERKS ARE AT THE

FOREFRONT OF PUBLIC SERVICE. THEY ARE CONSTANTLY INTERACTING WITH OUR

RESIDENTS, AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT MAKE OUR TOWNS, MUNICIPALITIES AND

COUNTIES LOOK GREAT.

SO ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, THE SPEAKER AND -- I ASK THAT

YOU -- YOU EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

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

HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO YOU THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE

YOUR COMMUNITIES. PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO THAT. KNOW YOU ARE ALWAYS

WELCOME HERE. CONGRATULATIONS.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. PIROZZOLO FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. PIROZZOLO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I

WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TODAY TWO OUTSTANDING PEOPLE FROM STATEN

ISLAND. NOT ONLY ARE THEY OUTSTANDING THEMSELVES, BUT THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

ORGANIZATIONS OF WHICH THEY REPRESENT. I HAVE JACQUELINE FILIS FROM

THE GREATER YMCA COUNSELING SERVICE, AND LUKE NASTA FROM

CAMELOT. BOTH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS PROVIDE SUBSTANCE ABUSE,

SUBSTANCE PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND ONGOING SERVICES, UNFORTUNATELY,

TO PEOPLE WHO SUFFER DRUG ADDICTIONS AND OPIOID ADDICTIONS. THEY ARE

HERE TODAY TO HELP ME WORK ON THE FUNDING THAT IS BEING GIVEN OUT

THROUGH THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT BOARD, SO I ASKED THEM TO STOP IN.

SO, MR. SPEAKER IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE RECOGNIZE THESE

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS AND THE WORK THEY DO, AND GIVE THEM THE

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

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

HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO YOU THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. AND, LUKE, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. KNOW

OUR HISTORY GOES BACK A LONG WAY. KNOW THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE A FRIEND

HERE IN ALBANY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

(APPLAUSE)

PAGE 4, CALENDAR NO. 18, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00106-A, CALENDAR

NO. 18, L. ROSENTHAL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE EMERGENCY TENANT

PROTECTION ACT OF 1974 AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF THE CITY OF

NEW YORK, IN RELATION TO PENALTIES FOR OWNERS OF PROPERTY WHO FAIL TO

FILE A PROPER TO TIMELY RENT REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00116, CALENDAR NO.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

19, CRUZ, KELLES, EPSTEIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CORRECTION LAW, IN

RELATION TO FAILURE TO COMPLETE A PROGRAM FOR TIME ALLOWANCES DUE TO

CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND AN INDIVIDUAL'S CONTROL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00604, CALENDAR NO.

20, PAULIN. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 566 OF THE LAWS OF 2019,

AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSIONER OF GENERAL SERVICES TO TRANSFER AND

CONVEY CERTAIN STATE LAND TO THE CITY OF NEW ROCHELLE, IN RELATION TO

THE USE OF THE PROPERTY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MUNICIPAL FIRE SERVICES

AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING; AND EXTENDING THE AUTHORITY OF THE

COMMISSIONER OF GENERAL SERVICES TO TRANSFER AND CONVEY CERTAIN

LANDS TO THE CITY OF NEW ROCHELLE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MS.

PAULIN, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED. HOME RULE MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD

THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01057-B, CALENDAR

NO. 21, VANEL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, IN RELATION

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

TO ONLINE DATING SERVICES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 60TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD

THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01142, CALENDAR NO.

22, KELLES, RAGA. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL CONSTRUCTION LAW, IN

RELATION TO REQUIRING THE USE OF GENDER-NEUTRAL TERMS IN LAW.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01153-A, CALENDAR

NO. 23, VANEL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE BANKING LAW, IN RELATION TO

UNREGISTERED AND UNLICENSED MORTGAGE BROKERS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, WOULD YOU

PLEASE CALL ON MR. JACOBSON FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. JACOBSON FOR THE

PURPOSES OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

MR. JACOBSON: SIR, THERE'S GREAT NEWS FOR THE

MAJORITY CONFERENCE. WE -- WE HAVE CONFERENCE IMMEDIATELY

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

FOLLOWING SESSION IN HEARING ROOM B.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MAJORITY CONFERENCE

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SESSION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, DO YOU

HAVE FURTHER RESOLUTIONS OR HOUSEKEEPING?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WE DO HAVE

NUMEROUS FINE RESOLUTIONS WHICH WE WILL TAKE WITH ONE VOTE.

ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.

(WHEREUPON, ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NOS. 152-161

WERE UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: I NOW MOVE THAT THE

ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED UNTIL 12:00 NOON, THURSDAY, MARCH THE 9TH,

TOMORROW BEING A SESSION DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE ASSEMBLY STANDS

ADJOURNED.

(WHEREUPON, AT 3:13 P.M., THE ASSEMBLY STOOD

ADJOURNED UNTIL THURSDAY, MARCH 9TH AT 12:00 P.M., THURSDAY BEING A

SESSION DAY.)