Press Releases

Friend Votes Yes on Bill Providing Employment Protections To Those in Quarantine, But Pushes for Additional Reliefs For Small Businesses

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) today voted in favor of legislation that will provide employment protections and sick leave for those who are being quarantined for COVID-19. He additionally pressed his colleagues to take the next step...

Friend: New York Must Increase Investment in Local Roads

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) rallies with highway superintendents in the state Capitol calling for a $150 million increase to local aid for local roadways and the restoration of $65 million for the Extreme Winter Recovery Program.
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is calling for a $150 million increase to the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) for a total investment of $588 million. He is additionally calling for the restoration...

Friend: NY Continues To Shamefully Stack Powerful Union Interest Against Small Family Farms

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is calling out the state’s blatant effort to impose powerful union interests over what would work best for family farmers and their workers as a whole. The so-called Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices...

Friend: Panasonic’s Pull Out Of NY Highlights Problems With Buffalo Billion

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is calling for transparency from the governor and Empire State Development (ESD) over the floundering Buffalo Billions project, which faces yet another blow as Panasonic Corp. has announced that it will...

Friend: Veterans Deserve Continued Support From State

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) (second to left) joined veterans and Assembly Minority colleagues in calling for the restoration of $6 million in funding for veterans programs. Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay is speaking (center)
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) joined veterans and his Assembly Minority colleagues in calling for the restoration of $6 million in funds for veteran programs. The funding supports a number of programs including the Joseph P. Dwyer...

Friend Calling On NYS to Give DMV Access to Homeland Security Over Public Safety Concerns

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) joined Congressman Tom Reed his Assembly and Senate Republican colleagues to call on the governor to reinstate Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) access for federal agents. Since the enactment of the...

Friend Meets With Binghamton University Liberty Partnership Program Students In The State Capital

(Left to right)  Counselor Nick Matyas, Assemblyman Christopher Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Xymier Thomas, Madison Oliveri, Kaelin Thomas, Ruby Moncrieft and Counselor Autumn Loke meet to discuss the Binghamton University Liberty Partnership Program, an org
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) met with students and counselors from the Binghamton University Liberty Partnership Program. Staff work with 360 high school and middle school students from Binghamton, Susquehanna Valley, Owego Apalachin...

Friend Meets With Advocates From Achieve

(Left to right) Preston Evans, Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Mellisa Ellis, Trisha Peters, Theresa Melnyk, Cameo Clough and Assemblyman Clifford W. Crouch (R-Bainbridge)
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) welcomes constituents and staff from ACHIEVE, a chapter of the Arc of New York. The organization works to support and enhance the lives of those with developmental and other disabilities living in Broome,...

Friend at Economic Development Budget Hearing Points To NY’s Burdensome Regulations Hindering Job Growth

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) at a Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Economic Development this week pointed to overregulation as the key hindrance in job growth throughout the state. The governor, however, continues to spend hundreds...

Public Safety Is At Risk In New York

Since the so-called bail reforms have been enacted in New York state, nearly 100 cases have been reported where serial criminals and violent individuals have been released after committing heinous crimes, or have committed a serious crime after being...

Friend: NY Must Fund Its Corrections, Law Enforcement To Manage Bail Reform Pressures

Following a Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Public Safety, Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is again calling on his legislative colleagues to provide additional funding to the corrections system and law enforcement following challenges...

Friend: Legal New Yorkers Face Federal Travel Restrictions Due To the Majority Giving Illegal Immigrants Driver’s Licenses

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is again calling out the Majority for providing illegal immigrants with driver’s licenses. The state has additionally prohibited information about these illegal immigrant drivers to be shared with...

Friend, Byrnes Welcome Student Advocates From Reality Check

From left to right: Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Reality Check Coordinator Samantha White, Amber Updike, Arianna Haskins, Wally Longwell, Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Coalition Community Engagement Coordinator Michelle Larimore, Shane Le
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia) welcomed Southern Tier students from Reality Check, an anti-smoking action and education program, while they were visiting the state Capitol. “Empowering...

Friend, Law Enforcement: Repeal Bail Reform Now

(Left to right) Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio (R,C,I-Gowanda), Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning), Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia), Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker, Se
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), law enforcement and his legislative colleagues held a rally in the State Capitol to continue calls for the repeal of bail reform. Last month, Friend and his Assembly colleagues unveiled A.8855, a bill...

Friend Says New Yorkers Are Tired Of Mismanaged Public Funds

“It’s clear that one-party rule hasn’t improved the state’s financial position one bit. New York is facing a $6.1 billion budget deficit and it must work carefully to reduce its spending rather than further burden residents with tax...

Friend Unveils Legislation to Repeal Bail Reform Failure

Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) and his colleagues today at a press conference unveiled legislation, A.8855, to repeal the bail and pre-trial reform laws which were passed in a partisan manner by Assembly and Senate Majority last year. Joining...

Friend: New York State Must Take Action to Correct Public Safety Crisis

“Here’s the real State of New York: under complete Senate and Assembly Majority control radical leftists enacted reckless bail reforms which have left our communities vulnerable to violent criminals who face no immediate consequences for breaking...

Friend: Assembly Majority is planning to Use Taxpayers to Fix Their $6.1 Billion Budget Gap

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is troubled by the recent report from the Division of Budget which indicates that the state is facing a $6.1 billion deficit in next year’s budget, with about half is due to Medicaid spending. There...

Friend Sponsoring Legislation to Repeal Dangerous So-Called Criminal Justice Reforms

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is joining several of his colleagues in introducing legislation to repeal the Senate and Assembly majorities’ disastrous criminal justice reform laws which have essentially stripped judges of their...

Friend Applauds Transparency Effort from Empire State Development, Permanent Transparency Law Needs to be on Books

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is pleased to hear testimony from Kevin Younis, chief operating officer (COO) of Empire State Development (ESD), outlining the public corporations’ action in creating its Database of Deals during...