School is out and summer is here! Congratulations to all our graduates on a remarkable job well done! Whether you are heading into the workforce, military or college bound there are great things ahead for you. Work hard, serve others, and be committed to achieving your dreams -- and continued success will indeed follow.

Our younger students can also heed this advice by keeping their minds active and working toward goals this summer through participating in challenges like my annual Summer Reading Challenge. Young readers will need only read for 15 minutes a day for 40 days during July and August to complete the challenge, but the boost in confidence as well as mental stimulus is remarkable. I encourage you to sign your child up by following the link: https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Michael-J-Norris.

While our children are out and enjoying the summer and weather, it is important to keep them and our community safe.Unfortunately, crime and violence are up across New York State and parents are on high alert.I understood the danger that “reforming” bail and judicial discretion would have on public safety and that is why I voted against bail reform legislation in 2019, 2020 and 2022.I am sponsoring legislation to completely repeal these sweeping criminal justice reforms related to cash bail, criminal discovery, reducing misdemeanor sentences, and hindering law enforcement (A.6963-A). I have also always been a particularly appalled by crimes against women and children, and am currently leading a coalition in Albany to enact the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (Brittany’s Law), and am sponsoring legislation to enact Paula’s Law, which would prevent the parole of those who commit heinous sex crimes and homicides against children.These are common sense solutions that would make a safer community.

To help our greater community, I am again partnering with the outstanding Peter Robinson and his volunteers for a Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive. We are collecting new, store-bought only (nothing homemade) jars of peanut butter, jelly or jam, and fluff that will help ensure no child goes hungry in our community. This is a project I’ve admired for a long time, participated in as a citizen, and am looking forward to helping Peter and his volunteers expand the outreach to help families in our community.

Those that wish to donate can drop off Peanut Butter and Jelly starting August 1^st at the Clarence Public Library & my district office, located at 8180 Main Street, Clarence, NY 14221. Thank you so much to our many partners and everyone who donates to this great cause!

In addition, this October, I will once again be hosting a Hometown Heroes event honoring our first responders, firefighters, police officers, EMTs, paramedics and 911 operators in observance of National First Responders Day.If you would like to nominate a first responder in your community please email me at norrism@nyassembly.gov or call my district office at 716-839-4690.

I am working hard for you and our community and there is much more to report so please follow along on social media for more timely updates, or do not hesitate to contact my office in Clarence if you need help with a specific state issue.