Indian American NY State Senators Jeremy Cooney, Kevin Thomas Named to Committee Posts in State Legislature

Indian American officials Jeremy Cooney and Kevin Thomas, who recently won seats in the New York state Senate in November, were named Jan. 5 to state committee posts along with several Senate Democrats for the 2021-2022 legislative term.

Thomas was named to the Committee on Consumer Protection, the release notes.

In 2018, Thomas became the first Indian American in New York’s history to serve in the state Senate. He became an appointee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to the New York State Advisory Committee.

Immigrating to the United States with his parents when he was 10 years old, Thomas understands the promise that the United States holds and he believes that he is a living testament to the fact that the American dream still exists, as he believes every New Yorker should have the same opportunities that he had, he said on his website.

Throughout his life, he has focused on helping others, especially those who could not help themselves.

Additionally, the Senate will also have a newly created Committee on Libraries to be chaired by Sen. Sean Ryan of Buffalo. Another freshman, Sen. John Mannion, will chair the new Senate Committee on Developmental Disabilities. 

And Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick will chair the new Senate Committee on Procurement. 

“During our first session as the new Senate majority, we held a record number of hearings and used Senate committees to advance our agenda and conduct the people’s work,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in a release.