State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I - Schenectady) had the pleasure of inducting World War II veteran Allan Atwell of Clifton Park into the New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame on May 21st in Albany.

“Mr. Atwell is an amazing individual,” Senator Farley said. “He was a typical small town, upstate boy who went into the Army at age 18 in 1943, and the private first class ended up aiding in the liberation of France in 1944. Not only did he protect our Country, he was a protector for France as well.”

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) announced the New York State Senate recently passed three bills to help farmers succeed by improving agricultural marketing efforts and better connecting farms to consumers across the state.

The “Buy From the Backyard Act” (S978) requires state agencies with food contracts to buy at least 20 percent of their food from New York sources. The bill expands upon an existing law that encourages state agencies to purchase local food products. Mental health facilities, prisons, universities, and state institutions that have food contracts would be required to purchase at least 20 percent that is grown, produced, harvested or processed in New York State.

(New York, NY) - Senator José M. Serrano joined Senator Liz Krueger, the Women’s Equality Coalition,  and local women’s rights advocates at a press conference on the steps of City Hall in full support for passage of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 10-point Women’s Equality Plan. The plan, which supporters hope to have passed before the end of this year’s legislative session, is designed to break down barriers that perpetuate discrimination and inequality based on gender.

(New York, NY) - Today Senator José M. Serrano (D- Manhattan/ Bronx) and Assemblymember Sandy Galef (D-Westchester/ Putnam) sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo asking him to consider legislation that would reform the current problematic legislative member item system.  In 2010 Serrano and Galef worked together to craft legislation A641/S920 item reform. The bill received wide, bi-partisan support, and while member items have not been included in recent budgets, Serrano and Galef believe it is important to reform the laws that govern member items to ensure a better, more transparent system in the event member items return in future budgets.   Click below to read the full text of the letter to Governor Cuomo.

(Upper West Side, NY) – Senator José M. Serrano joined Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal to co-sponsor Maple Day for students from multiple Upper West Side schools. Students in attendance were provided with a tour of the “Maple Van,” a 28-foot trailer, built for activities and demonstrations including “tapping” trees to extract the sap that is later refined into syrup. With New York State being the third largest producer of maple syrup in the world, the event was an interactive opportunity for students to learn first-hand how maple syrup is extracted and processed in New York.