I am committed to providing our children with everything they need for a brighter future. The first step is ensuring that they receive the best education possible. This year I sponsored the New York City school governance law (Chap. 345 of 2009) to provide parents with a more meaningful structure to be heard and be involved in their children's education.

To keep our children safe, I have championed laws requiring them to remain in booster seats until the age of 8, banning text messaging while driving and toughening teen driving requirements. In this year's state budget I secured a $25,000 grant for both the NYPD's 68th Precinct in Brooklyn and 122nd Precinct on Staten Island, in addition to the $100,000 grant I obtained last year for these precincts. The funds will help provide our police officers with additional resources to protect our neighborhoods.

I urge parents to get a SAFE CHILD card for their kids. The card contains a child's photograph, biographical data and fingerprint images, which can dramatically increase the possibility of finding a missing child. The NYPD processes SAFE CHILD cards by appointment at the following location:

NYC Police Museum
100 Old Slip
New York, NY, 10005
(212) 480-3100 extension 109
Contact: Sgt. Willis