The holidays are a time for us to come together and celebrate what unites us. Especially this year, we are reminded of how fortunate we are to live in Western New York with such warm, welcoming neighbors and strong, supportive communities.

In that spirit, I am proud to share some highlights from this year’s legislative session and examples of times I’ve worked across the aisle to deliver meaningful, positive changes for our state in a bi-partisan manner. I’m proud to share with you the following accomplishments.

• For many years, one of my signature pieces of legislation has been a bill to honor and thank our veterans and their families for their service by offering them free use of cabins and cottages in public places of recreation (A.2270). I was thrilled that a similar, bipartisan bill I also sponsored with Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre to provide free admission to our parks, historic sites and places of recreation was passed in both houses and signed into law by Gov. Hochul in honor of Veterans Day this year (A.6084-A/Chapter 616).
• Last year, I was proud my legislation to help prevent childhood drowning (A.6141) was picked up by my colleague Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato. Working together, we were able to get that initiative signed into law (A.7734/Chapter 756 of 2022). Continuing our work together on this issue this year, we worked hard to enact a law to create a public awareness campaign on the dangers of childhood drowning and provide educational tools for parents and caregivers to help prevent this leading cause of accidental childhood death (A.4987-A/Chapter 588).
• Having authored legislation to protect victims of domestic violence and human trafficking by requiring the posting of resources in all restrooms along the Thruway and public buildings (A.5955), I was pleased to help Assemblywoman Amy Paulin pass similar bills that will require this information for human trafficking victims in lactation rooms in truck stops, Thruway rest stops and all commercial airports (A.4265/Chapter 493, A.4586/Chapter 494 and A.4264/Chapter 492).
• Constituent casework remains a major focus of my work, and I am pleased that the widow of a fallen hero, State Trooper Lawrence Lakeman who was deployed from Lockport to Ground Zero after the September 11, 2001, attacks and died from pancreatic cancer due to his service there, was finally justly granted proper retirement benefits (A.3052/Chapter 363; A.9973 of 2020).

Additionally, the overwhelming generosity shown by our community during our Annual Winter Clothing Drive was outstanding. Thank you all for helping keep our neighbors warmer this winter and for thinking of the children who needed items like boots.

We are all one community here in Western New York and across our state. I am so proud to represent you and to be working for you. Merry Christmas and wishing you all a happy New Year!