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In a major advance in the fight against breast cancer, Senator John J. Flanagan (2nd District) and Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (95th District) today announced the introduction of joint legislation (A9586/S6769) to require insurance companies to cover the cost of supplemental screenings for women with dense breast tissue, a condition that can impede detection of breast tumors by mammography and correlates with a greater likelihood for developing breast cancer.

Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) announced that the New York State Senate has, in cooperation with Governor Andrew Cuomo and the State Assembly, approved the largest expansion of the State’s DNA Databank since it was first created in 1994.  The change would make New York State the first “all crimes DNA” state in the nation by requiring DNA samples to be collected from anyone convicted of a felony or a penal law misdemeanor.

Since its inception, DNA stored in the databank has been used to identify perpetrators in about 10,000 crimes, including 900 murders and 3,500 sexual assaults.  Since 2006, when the DNA databank was expanded to include 36 misdemeanors, law enforcement agencies have used the information to convict 1,460 criminals.

Rebates Are Available for High-Efficiency Refrigerators and Clothes Washers

Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) joined with his colleagues in the New York State Senate Republican Conference today to announce the 2012 NEW JOBS-NY Job Creation Plan.  The plan includes significant tax relief to encourage the creation of new private sector jobs, measures to ensure fiscal responsibility and control state spending, as well as other reforms and incentives to make New York more economically competitive.  The plan will be included in the Senate budget resolution to be acted on next week.

Recent tornadoes have caused extensive damage throughout the heartland of America.  Five states (Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Alabama & Georgia) have reported deaths, totaling at least 38 victims.  

Many local governments and voluntary agencies are providing shelter for disaster survivors displaced by the storms, but the road to recovery will be a long one and further assistance is always welcome. 

For those seeking a way to help out our fellow Americans in this time of need, I have provided a list below of some non-profit agencies and the different ways one can contribute.

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