Nassau County is home to more than 30,000 veterans, each with a story of service, sacrifice and commitment to our nation. As a state senator, I consider it my solemn duty to ensure that these heroes have access to the benefits, services and support they have earned.

With Veterans Day approaching, I’m proud to report that in my first legislative session in Albany, I introduced a bill to protect veterans from fraud, and voted for legislation and a budget that keeps the welfare of veterans top of mind.

Those who served deserve to be treated with respect, but all too often, predatory actors seek to take advantage of them. To help safeguard New York’s veterans, I worked with my colleague Assemblyman Steve Stern, chairman of the Assembly’s Veterans Affairs Committee, to introduce a bill designed to protect veterans from fraud. The legislation garnered bipartisan support and unanimously passed the Senate as well as the Assembly. We hope Gov. Kathy Hochul will soon sign it.

The bill offers a comprehensive set of protections, including the creation of a new misdemeanor for unlawfully soliciting or receiving compensation from veterans for assistance with benefits claims, with a penalty of up to $10,000 for violations. Additionally, the bill would establish a Veterans Services Fund financed by those penalties. Finally, it would require the Department of Veterans Services to establish a public outreach program to educate veterans about fraud.

The Senate’s work on veterans’ issues didn’t end there. Nassau County veterans were part of broader legislative wins passed in Albany this year, laws that make their everyday life more affordable and secure. We passed legislation allowing property tax exemptions for active-duty service members deployed to combat zones, which will help ease the financial strain on military families. We’re also fighting to ensure that vets are connected with job placement and educational benefits, including a bill to allow unused Veterans Tuition Awards to be transferred to their spouses, children or survivors.

We’re committed to honoring veterans with the dignity they deserve. Once again working in conjunction with Assemblyman Stern, I introduced legislation in the Senate to create designated Purple Heart parking spaces at state buildings. We look forward to working toward its passage next session. A simple gesture, this bill would send a powerful message that veterans are seen and honored by New York state.

This year’s budget also reflects the respect our state holds for those who have served. As a longtime advocate of robust mental health services, I was pleased to vote for a spending plan that supports mental health care and suicide prevention for Long Island’s veterans. It contains $1 million in additional funding to expand suicide-prevention initiatives, for a total of $3 million. Further, it adds $350,000 for the Veterans Mental Health Training Initiative, which ensures that the community and primary-care professionals working with our veterans are equipped to recognize trauma and other mental health issues unique to veterans and their families.

Nassau County received $192,400 in funding for the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program, a transformative initiative that connects veterans through shared experiences, social activities and community service. This program has proved to be a lifeline for veterans who struggle with isolation, PTSD or the often difficult return to civilian life.

We’ve also made critical investments in veterans’ legal services, because accessing benefits or resolving legal issues shouldn’t require jumping through hoops. Nassau veterans benefit directly from statewide funding that includes $220,000 for the New York State Defenders Association-Veterans Defense Program Long Island Expansion, ensuring that more veterans will have skilled advocates in courtrooms across our region. For many veterans, service-related trauma like PTSD and traumatic brain injury can lead to involvement with the criminal justice system. The Veterans Defense Program helps ensure that this is considered during legal proceedings.

The budget also contains $120,000 for the Legal Service of Long Island Veterans Rights Project, which aids with a wide range of legal issues affecting veterans. And $125,000 is allocated for the Touro University Law Center Veterans and Service Members’ Rights Clinic, which offers veterans and active-duty service members free legal assistance.

Nassau’s veterans have always shown up for their country, and I’m proud to help our state show up for them in return. Whether it’s increasing access to services, preventing veteran suicide, protecting against fraud or improving job and educational opportunities, New York will continue to support these heroes.

First published in the Long Island Herald, Oct. 28, 2025