Happy Memorial Day. On Monday, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the United States of America, and our life, liberty, and security. The loved ones and families of those who have sacrificed everything are to be revered and remembered this weekend. Take a moment to reflect and pay your respects to those you know who have served, are serving, or are going into service. I hope to see many of you at the parades to commemorate the occasion, including in Voorheesville, Albany and Bethlehem.

The state legislature passed two major pieces of legislation this week, aimed at complying with a certified Congressional request for tax returns from oversight committees and enable possible prosecution under state law of those who may have committed a crime.

Moreover, school budget and board elections this week were resounding in their support of our school districts throughout the district.

Please make sure to mark your calendars for Congressman Paul Tonko's Climate Town Hall this upcoming Tuesday as well. As always, read on for more community events and updates!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES & PRESS EVENTS

Legislature Passes Two Bills to Assist Congress. The legislature approved two bills this week; one to close the 'double jeopardy' loophole in court, and the second to allow New York State to cooperate with Congressional investigations by providing certain documents. Passing both pieces of legislation into law is in the public interest to enforce the integrity of our governmental institutions and holds our public officials, including this federal administration, accountable to the law at every turn. We are a nation of laws, and no one - especially the President of the United States - is above the law. New York State Attorney General Letitia James joined myself and fellow lawmakers on the floor of the Assembly this week as debate took place on the bills, and reaffirmed the necessity to pass these pieces of legislation in the public's interest.

Assembly Passes Bill to Ban 3-D Printed Guns. This week, the Assembly took action and passed a bill to ban the possession, use, and manufacturing of 3-D printed guns, which have become increasingly dangerous as 3-D printers and related technologies become more widely used. Disturbingly, technology has made guns even easier to come by, including undetectable guns, which cannot be detected by metal detectors or other scanning devices used at airports and other populated places. Nearly anyone can go online, download a blueprint and 3-D print a gun right off the internet. We must remain vigilant and continue to combat gun violence in New York - I'm proud we have some of the most common-sense laws in the country.

All 109th A.D. School Budgets Passed, Board Members, Trustees, Elected. Read the article linked here to see the full results from yesterday's votes on school budgets, boards, and proposals throughout the Capital Region. Of note is the approval of all school budgets within the 109th Assembly District, from Albany City Schools to Guilderland Central School District, and from Bethlehem Central School District to Ravena-Coeymans Selkirk Central School District.

The Albany Public Library elected three new members to its Board of Trustees; while the Guilderland Public Library approved upgrades and improvements to its current property. Strong and resounding results for students, teachers, school districts - and the future of education in our area. Huge congratulations to all the volunteers who have stepped up to serve on their school boards and library trustees!

First Capital Region Film Industry Day. The Capital Region's first Regional Film Industry Day was held in the Times Union Center earlier this week as a result of the hard work put in by Discover Albany, Film Albany, and the Capital-Saratoga Film Commission. I was happy to join these industry professionals and experts to discuss how New York State is working hard to continue to develop the creative economy here in Albany. The NYS Film Tax Credit alone has led to over $25.2 billion in economic activity and created nearly 1.5 million jobs since its inception - making this one of the most successful economic development initiatives in New York State.

COMMUNITY UPDATES

Bradford Street Families In Need of Donations. My thoughts are with all those affected by this previous weekend's fire on Bradford Street, which displaced 63 residents. City Hall is collecting donations like clothing and toiletries all week. You can also go to redcross.org, click donate, and select Home Fire Campaign to assist these families in their times of need.

4-H Students Welcomed in Assembly Chamber. Earlier this week, I spoke with a large group of 4-H students from around the state as part of their Capital Days Conference in the Assembly Chamber. There was an engaging question and answer segment in which these students asked in-depth questions relating to current issues before the state legislature - I was hugely impressed!

Albany Offering Civil Service Exam Free of Cost. If you're a recent high school graduate and/or a resident of the City of Albany, you can now take the civil service exam for a job with the city free of cost!

Henry Knox Cannon Trail Monument Unveiled. The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and the Hudson River Valley Greenway unveiled a new monument and interpretive panel earlier this week commemorating Colonel Henry Knox's wintry 56-day trek during the American Revolution, where he and his men towed cannons captured at Fort Ticonderoga to Boston, where the cannons were pivotal in liberating the city from the British. At Albany, the cannons were transported across the Hudson River to Rensselaerwyck where the people of Albany assisted the Patriots in recovering a cannon that had fallen into the river. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan was on hand to help inaugurate the monument and commemorate Albany's proud history in the Revolutionary War. Make sure you stop by and check it out! For more information on the Henry Knox Cannon Trail, its route, and other historical markers along the trail, visit Hudson River Valley website.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Memorial Day Parades:

Voorheesville Memorial Day Parade (Saturday). The Voorheesville Memorial Day Parade will begin at the corner of Route 85A and Circle Drive on Saturday, May 25, at 10 AM. The parade will continue to Nichols Park and the Kiwanis Children's Race & Fun Walk will begin later in the day. Click the link for more information.

Albany Memorial Day Parade. The Albany Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 27, 2019. The parade will step off at 9:30 a.m. from the corner of Central Ave. and Quail St. and proceed east on Central Avenue, and continue east on Washington Avenue to Hawk Street. The reviewing stand will be on the steps of the old State Education Building.

Bethlehem Memorial Day Parade. The Bethlehem Memorial Day Parade will be held Monday, May 28, stepping off at 11 a.m. from the Nathaniel Adams Blanchard Post No.1040 on West Popular Drive, who is once again organizing. The parade will proceed down Elsmere Avenue to a right on to Kenwood Avenue to a left on to Adams Place to a right on to Adams Street to a right on to Delaware Avenue and will end at the Bethlehem Veterans Memorial Park where there will be a flag raising ceremony, prayer service, Taps, and the playing of the National Anthem.

2nd Karner Blue Butterfly Walk. Don't miss another change to join Albany Pine Bush Preserve staff on a 0.9-mile hike to see the Karner blue butterfly on Saturday, June 1, at 11:00 AM. Once common in the Glacial Lake Albany sand belt, the Karner blue has plummeted in numbers over the past 40 years.

Bethlehem Economic Development Networking Event. The Town of Bethlehem will hold an economic development marketing and networking event at the Kenwood Avenue parking lot of the Albany County Helderberg Hudson Rail Trail. The event will run from 3:00 - 5:00 PM and please RSVP by May 31st to Elizabeth Staubach, Economic Development Coordinator at 518-439-4955 ext. 1189 or estaubach@townofbethlehem.org.

Social Justice Film Series - LGBT Pride Month. The Howe Branch of the Albany Public Library will be screening "The Life and Death of Marsha P. Johnson" from 6 - 8:30 PM on Monday, June 3. Academy Award nominated director David France’s new documentary centers on self-described “street queen” Marsha P. Johnson, legendary fixture in New York City’s gay ghetto, who along with fellow trans icon Sylvia Rivera, founded Street Transvestites Action Revolutionaries (S.T.A.R.), a trans activist group based in the heart of NYC’s Greenwich Village. Mysteriously, Marsha was found floating in the Hudson River in 1992. At the time, the NYPD pegged her death as a suicide, a claim that Marsha’s comrades have always firmly rejected.

Congressman Tonko Climate Change Town Hall. This upcoming Tuesday, May 28, Congressman Paul Tonko will host a town hall from 6:00 - 7:30 at Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) at the McDonough Field Sports Complex in the Field House. You are encouraged to attend and ask any climate related questions you may have or share any experiences you may have as it relates to the climate and climate change. For more information and to RSVP please follow this link.

POSITIVITY IN THE NEWS

Capital Region Firefighter Graduation. The Capital Region's newest class of professional firefighters graduated earlier this week - congratulations to all those who graduated and I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors. Thank you to all those in uniform!