Assemblyman Brian Manktelow (R,C-Lyons), ranking Minority member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, was joined by his Senate and Assembly colleagues for a press conference to urge Governor Hochul to promptly end the unlawful practice of withholding donated tax check-off funds from veteran service agencies.

This urgent call for action follows a comprehensive comptroller which revealed the alarming practice of withholding funds earmarked for veteran service agencies. Despite repeated correspondence from the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, the administration has yet to provide a satisfactory response.

The donations received for veterans programs total $1,503,203 for veterans remembrance and cemetery maintenance and operation, $1,336,939 for homeless veterans assistance, $363,714 for the veterans home assistance fund and $230,676 for military family relief. All of these have seen a total disbursement of zero dollars.