Remarks by Speaker Sheldon Silver

Bill Signing: Rockefeller Drug Law Reform

Governor's Office, 3rd Ave. & 42nd St., 38th Floor, Manhattan
Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Thank you, Director Parker.

Governor Pataki. Senator Bruno. Esteemed Members of the Assembly and Senate. Secretary Daniels. Director Parker. Distinguished Guests. Ladies and Gentlemen.

On behalf of the New York State Assembly, particularly the Men and Women of the Majority Conference who have for years, LED the fight for meaningful reform of the Rockefeller Drug Laws in this State, let me say that we are pleased to have reached this bipartisan agreement which will provide appropriate sentencing reductions for thousands of non-violent offenders.

Certainly, we've added a measure of fairness to the scales of justice.

Speaking for my Assembly Majority colleagues, let me add that we consider today's bill signing an important step in the right direction.

I assure you that in the next legislative session, we will continue to work for a more complete and comprehensive reformation of these draconian drug laws.

Let me also take a moment to acknowledge four of my colleagues who represented the Assembly on the bipartisan Rockefeller Drug Law Conference Committee ....

Outstanding elected officials who have championed drug law reform for countless years:

The Chair of our Committee on Corrections, the sponsor of our bill, and a man who for years has been the most ardent, vocal, and passionate advocate for reform of the State's drug laws .... Assembly Member Jeff Aubry;

The Chair of our Committee on Codes, Assembly Member Joe Lentol;

The Chair of our Committee on the Judiciary, Assembly Member Helene Weinstein;

And, the Chair of the Black, Puerto Rican and Hispanic Legislative Caucus, Assembly Member Adriano Espaillat.

Let me also recognize Assembly Member Keith Wright, who is Chair of our Elections Committee and a longtime defender of civil and legal rights.

I am proud to represent these distinguished leaders, and I commend them all for their hard work and for their dedication to reforming the Rockefeller Drug Laws.

Let me close by saying that the lives that have been wasted and lost to substance abuse and illegal narcotics and the accompanying violence, is one of the saddest parts of our history.

Those for whom the culture of drugs and violence is a way of life; whose mission it is to add to the legions of addicted and self-destructive, should be punished severely and to the fullest extent of the law.

In those instances where we are dealing with non-violent offenders, particularly first-timers; where we know from study after study that drug treatment can halt their slide into the abyss, we should strive to reclaim these lives and to reconnect these families.

That is the right thing to do. Let us continue to move this State in that direction.

Thank you.