Press Releases

Assemblymember Barrett: MERIT Scholarship Expanded to More Military Families

“Expanding New York State's MERIT Scholarship program to include the children, spouses and financial dependents of all active duty military members who die or are severely or permanently disabled puts the emphasis where it belongs -- on honoring...

Assemblymember Barrett Passes State Budget With Vital Funding for Veterans Programs

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Dutchess/Columbia), chair of the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee, announced that the 2019-20 state budget that she worked to pass includes key funding for important programs which support New York State veterans...

Assemblymember Barrett: State Budget Funds Study to Reduce Truck Traffic in Hudson

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) announced that she secured $100,000 in the 2019-20 state budget to conduct an origin and destination study of truck traffic in Hudson. “For decades, truck traffic has been a major safety and quality...

Assemblymember Barrett: State Budget Ensures Critical Funding for Local Governments

“For our town and village governments, tight budgets are a continuing reality. These budgetary pressures force local leaders to try to balance essential services with keeping property taxes down. That’s why a provision included in the executive...

Assemblywoman proposes carbon farming pilot program

Assemblymember Barrett: Veterans Deserve Services and Support That Honor Their Sacrifices

“Veterans have made innumerable sacrifices to defend this country and the freedoms we hold so dear. As chair of the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I will always fight to ensure they get the services they deserve. My Assembly colleagues...

Assemblymember Barrett: Assembly Budget Proposal Would Create Carbon Farming Pilot Program

“Farming is an essential part of the upstate economy, especially here in the Hudson Valley. But in the face of the growing threat posed by climate change, we must transition to more sustainable, eco-friendly practices to ensure our family farms can...

Assemblymember Barrett Releases Booklet Celebrating Remarkable Hudson Valley Women

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D - Columbia, Dutchess) has released the sixth volume of “Women’s History in the Hudson Valley: Ten Stories from Columbia and Dutchess Counties” in celebration of Women’s History Month. The booklet shares...

Assemblymember Barrett: New Laws Strengthen Lyme Disease Prevention Efforts

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Dutchess/Columbia) announced that two laws she championed to increase awareness and improve prevention against Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses go into effect Feb. 3.  “Education and research are our biggest...

Assemblymember Barrett Continues Fight for Women’s Reproductive Rights

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Dutchess and Columbia) announced that she helped pass a series of bills to strengthen women’s reproductive rights. The package includes measures to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade into state law, expand access...

Assemblymember Didi Barrett’s Bill to Expand Access to Land Banks in New York Becomes Law

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) announced that legislation she authored to increase the maximum number of land banks in New York from 25 to 35 was signed into law (Ch. 508 of 2018). The measure will allow more communities to create...

Assemblymember Barrett’s Working Farm Protection Act Signed by Governor

In an effort to support New York’s existing farmers and farmland for future generations, Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) announced that Governor Cuomo has signed her legislation, A.10301-B, into law. The new law will strengthen the...

Assemblymember Barrett Calls on Army Corps of Engineers to Extend Public Comment Period for Proposed Surge Barriers

One year after ten thousand residents across the Hudson Valley and New York State successfully fought against a federal proposal to add over 40 anchorage sites to the Hudson River – thereby preventing it from becoming a fossil fuel highway – a new...

Assemblymember Barrett Makes Strides to Combat Lyme Disease

As New York enters the height of tick season, and as a new and rare tick-borne disease is emerging in the region, Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D - Columbia, Dutchess)announced the passage of two critical pieces of legislation that aim to prevent the spread...

Groundbreaking Carbon Farming Project for Hudson Valley Passes Legislature

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D - Columbia, Dutchess) announced the passage of landmark legislation to create a two year soil health project promoting environmentally friendly practices known as carbon farming. The bill creates a pilot project in Columbia...

Assemblymember Barrett Passes Legislation to Help Struggling Public Libraries Gain Access to Construction Aid Funds

Public libraries got a boost this week as Assemblymember Didi Barrett’s (D - Columbia, Dutchess) legislation to make libraries in economically disadvantaged communities eligible for up to ninety percent of the approved construction costs passed the...

Assemblymember Barrett on Charter’s Broken Promises to Deliver Broadband

“For the second time in just three months, Charter Communications has failed to reach the promised benchmarks and connect waiting customers to high speed internet. Residents of my district in Charter's footprint are tired of the delays and excuses,...

Statement: Assemblymember Barrett on Governor Cuomo’s New Lyme Disease Initiatives

“I’m pleased that New York State is finally realizing it is time to #GetTickedOff,” said Assemblymember Barrett. “Columbia and Dutchess counties are at the epicenter of the national public health crisis around Lyme and tick-borne diseases and...

Assemblymember Barrett Secures Grant for New Yogurt Filler at Hawthorne Valley Farm

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Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D - Columbia, Dutchess) announced that her office has helped secure a $125,000 state grant for Hawthorne Valley Farm for the purpose of procuring a new yogurt filler machine, which will help increase productivity for packaging...

Assemblymember Barrett Introduces the Working Farm Protection Act to Make Farmland More Accessible to Working Farmers

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Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) was joined in Albany today by The National Young Farmers Coalition, New York Farm Bureau, American Farmland Trust, Scenic Hudson, local farmers and land trusts from around the state to take a stand for...