Regular Session - February 7, 2012
472
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 February 7, 2012
11 11:08 a.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR JOSEPH A. GRIFFO, Acting President
19 FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary
20
21
22
23
24
25
473
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask all present to please rise
5 and join with me as we recite the Pledge of
6 Allegiance to our Flag.
7 (Whereupon, the assemblage
8 recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: In the
10 absence of clergy, I ask all to bow for a
11 moment of silent reflection.
12 (Whereupon, the assemblage
13 respected a moment of silence.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
15 reading of the Journal.
16 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
17 Monday, February 6, the Senate met pursuant to
18 adjournment. The Journal of Friday,
19 February 3rd, was read and approved. On
20 motion, Senate adjourned.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:
22 Without objection, the Journal stands approved
23 as read.
24 Presentation of petitions.
25 Messages from the Assembly.
474
1 Messages from the Governor.
2 Reports of standing committees.
3 Reports of select committees.
4 Communications and reports from
5 state officers.
6 Motions and resolutions.
7 Senator Libous.
8 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you,
9 Mr. President.
10 May we adopt the Resolution
11 Calendar at this time, with the exception of
12 Resolution Numbers 3172, 3181, 3196, 3200, and
13 3204.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
15 you, Senator Libous.
16 All in favor of adopting the
17 Resolution Calendar, with the exception of
18 Resolutions 3172, 3181, 3196, 3200 and 3204,
19 signify by saying aye.
20 (Response of "Aye.")
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:
22 Opposed?
23 (No response.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
25 Resolution Calendar is adopted.
475
1 Senator Libous.
2 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, I
3 believe there's a resolution at the desk by
4 Senator Skelos. I ask that it be read in its
5 entirety at this time before its immediate
6 adoption.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
8 Secretary will read.
9 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
10 Resolution Number 3204, by Senator Skelos,
11 congratulating the New York Giants upon the
12 occasion of winning Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday,
13 February 5, 2012.
14 "WHEREAS, It is the custom of this
15 Legislative Body to pay tribute to those
16 exemplary athletes and organizations which excel
17 in professional athletics, distinguishing
18 themselves through notable achievements and
19 representing this great Empire State with pride
20 and determination; and
21 "WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is
22 justly proud to recognize the hard work,
23 dedication, discipline and accomplishments of
24 professional athletes who, as a team, are
25 recognized as the best in their field and are
476
1 proven to be 'World Champions'; and
2 "WHEREAS, The New York Giants
3 prevailed over the New England Patriots 21-17 to
4 win Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in
5 Indianapolis, Indiana, on Sunday, February 5,
6 2012; and
7 "WHEREAS, Trailing in the fourth
8 quarter, Giants quarterback Eli Manning connected
9 with receiver Mario Manningham on a 38-yard pass,
10 which jump-started the game-winning drive. This
11 was the turning point toward victory; and
12 "WHEREAS, The clutch-winning drive
13 ended with Ahmad Bradshaw scoring on a 6-yard
14 touchdown run with 57 seconds left to play in the
15 fourth quarter. This, in turn, gave the
16 New England Patriots one last chance, but the
17 intimidating defense of the Giants guaranteed the
18 championship; and
19 "WHEREAS, Eli Manning was again
20 named the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player after
21 completing 30 of 40 passes for 296 yards, with
22 one touchdown pass and zero interceptions" --
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: I'm
24 going to ask the members to please remain seated
25 and the doors to be closed so we can have some
477
1 order in the chamber, please, so we may continue
2 to hear the resolution.
3 The Secretary will continue to
4 read.
5 THE SECRETARY: "WHEREAS, Eli
6 Manning was again named the Super Bowl's Most
7 Valuable Player after completing 30 of 40 passes
8 for 296 yards, with one touchdown pass and zero
9 interceptions, triumphing over the Patriots in
10 the Super Bowl for the second time in four years;
11 and
12 "WHEREAS, The exemplary
13 performance of the members of the New York Giants
14 professional football team are reflective of
15 their dedication, determination and personal
16 commitment; and
17 "WHEREAS, This marvelous display
18 of athletic prowess, which was truly a team
19 effort, contains lessons for us all: When a
20 dream is worth pursuing, work hard, be
21 innovative, work as a team and never give up
22 despite the odds; now, therefore, be it
23 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
24 Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate
25 the New York Football Giants, the team's owners,
478
1 the Mara and Tisch families, the team's Head
2 Coach Tom Coughlin and his assistant coaches for
3 bringing the Vince Lombardi Trophy back to
4 New York and for lifting the spirits of the
5 countless Giants fans in New York with their
6 Super Bowl victory; and be it further
7 "RESOLVED, That copies of this
8 Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to
9 the entire New York Football Giants
10 organization."
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
12 Skelos.
13 SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you,
14 Mr. President.
15 What a great day Sunday was as we
16 all watched the Giants win the Super Bowl,
17 whether you were a Jets fan or a Buffalo Bills
18 fan. We were all -- different degrees, but
19 certainly Giant fans, because we wanted to see
20 the Super Bowl trophy, the Lombardi Trophy once
21 again returned to a New York team.
22 It was an exciting game. And as
23 the resolution points out, the Giants throughout
24 this entire season, when everybody was writing
25 them off -- they wouldn't even make the
479
1 playoffs -- they were persistent, they were
2 focused, they were well-coached, they worked
3 together as a team, and we saw the end result
4 this past Sunday.
5 So from all of us to the
6 New England Patriots and Tom Brady, who would
7 dare, dare say anything negative about a New York
8 team such as the Buffalo Bills, we say nice try.
9 Not quite good enough, because you're never going
10 to beat a New York team when it comes to a
11 Super Bowl.
12 Thank you very much,
13 Mr. President. I'd like to open up the
14 resolution for sponsorship. If anybody wishes
15 not to sponsor it, I will then know that you're
16 probably a Jets fan.
17 (Laughter.)
18 SENATOR SKELOS: But get over it,
19 move on, New York Giants won the Super Bowl.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: I think
21 everyone's "blue" here today, Leader.
22 And the resolution will be opened
23 up for cosponsorship. If you choose not to,
24 please notify the desk.
25 Senator Libous.
480
1 SENATOR LIBOUS: I just wanted to
2 stand and join the leader.
3 When we adjourned last week,
4 remember I said that we would convene on Monday
5 the 6th, the day after the Giants won the
6 Super Bowl. And you heard it here first.
7 So I just wanted to make sure
8 everybody understood that correctly, that it was
9 legislated that it would happen.
10 But as the leader said, you know, I
11 think what the Giants did for us as a state,
12 their accomplishments were about the people of
13 New York. You know, they were 9 and 17. They
14 were the underdog. They weren't expected -- I
15 think after the Washington game and a few other
16 games, nobody expected them to even make the
17 playoffs. But like New Yorkers, they came from
18 behind, they were resilient, they were tough,
19 they were always the underdog, and they were
20 victorious.
21 So it is great to have them lift
22 our spirits through sports. And I think those
23 are exciting things, and we're very blessed to
24 have them and the many sporting teams that we
25 have throughout New York State.
481
1 But for a team to come back that
2 was not expected to win, I think it says a lot
3 not only for the New York Football Giants, their
4 coaching staff and certainly the many stars on
5 the team, but it says a lot about the fans who
6 support them and the people of New York.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
8 you, Senator Libous, for your comments and your
9 prognostication.
10 Is there any other member wishing
11 to speak?
12 All in favor of the resolution
13 signify by saying aye.
14 (Response of "Aye.")
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:
16 Opposed?
17 (No response.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
19 resolution is adopted.
20 Senator Libous.
21 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you,
22 Mr. President.
23 I believe there's a resolution at
24 the desk by Senator Perkins, and it's Resolution
25 Number 3181. Could the title be read, and I
482
1 believe Senator Perkins would like to be called
2 upon before its adoption.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: We will
4 read Resolution Number 3200 in title only. Is
5 that correct, Senator Libous?
6 Resolution 3200, title only. Then
7 we will move on to the next.
8 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
9 Resolution Number 3200, by Senator Perkins,
10 recognizing the exemplary service of Dr. Ruth
11 Simmons, President of Brown University.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: All in
13 favor of the resolution signify by saying aye.
14 (Response of "Aye.")
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:
16 Opposed?
17 (No response.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
19 resolution is adopted.
20 Senator Libous.
21 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, I
22 think I got it right this time.
23 I believe there's another
24 resolution by Senator Perkins at the desk, and I
25 believe at this time it is 3181. We would like
483
1 to have it read in its entirety and then Senator
2 Perkins would like to speak on the resolution.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
4 Secretary will read.
5 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
6 Resolution Number 3181, by Senator Perkins,
7 memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
8 proclaim February 7, 2012, as Black HIV/AIDS
9 Awareness Day in the State of New York, in
10 conjunction with the observance of National Black
11 HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
12 "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this
13 Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Andrew
14 M. Cuomo to proclaim February 7, 2012, as Black
15 HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the State of New York,
16 in conjunction with the observance of National
17 Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD); and
18 "WHEREAS, February 7, 2012, marks
19 the 12th Anniversary of National Black HIV/AIDS
20 Awareness Day. This year's theme is 'I Am My
21 Brother's/Sister's Keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS'; and
22 "WHEREAS, The founders of National
23 Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day include Concerned
24 Black Men, Inc., of Philadelphia; Health Watch
25 Information and Promotion Services, Inc.; Jackson
484
1 State University - Mississippi Urban Research
2 Center; National Black Alcoholism and Addictions
3 Council; and the National Black Leadership
4 Commission on AIDS; and
5 "WHEREAS, The National Black
6 HIV/AIDS Awareness Day community stands to
7 provide capacity-building assistance to black
8 communities and organizations throughout the
9 United States; and
10 "WHEREAS, In its mission to
11 mitigate and eventually eliminate the spread of
12 HIV, the four focal points of Black HIV/AIDS
13 Awareness Day are education, testing, involvement
14 and treatment; and
15 "WHEREAS, A national HIV/AIDS
16 testing and treatment community mobilization
17 initiative is designed to encourage blacks across
18 the United States and territorial areas to get
19 educated, get tested, get involved, and get
20 treated around HIV/AIDS as it continues to
21 devastate black communities; and
22 "WHEREAS, According to the United
23 States Census Bureau, in the State of New York,
24 blacks/African-Americans comprise about
25 15 percent of the State's population yet account
485
1 for nearly half of all new HIV patients; and
2 "WHEREAS, Data from the New York
3 State Department of Health shows that
4 blacks/African-Americans are 10 times more likely
5 than whites to be diagnosed with HIV, with 67.6
6 new diagnoses per 100,000 individuals as compared
7 to 6.6 per 100,000 for whites; and
8 "WHEREAS, According to the
9 New York State Health Department AIDS Institute,
10 over 55,000 blacks/African-Americans live with
11 HIV/AIDS in the State of New York; and
12 "WHEREAS, Harlem ranks first in
13 AIDS-related deaths in the State of New York; and
14 "WHEREAS, In the City of New York,
15 black and Latino females have constituted
16 92 percent of all new HIV diagnoses among
17 females, stated by the New York City Department
18 of Health and Mental Hygiene; and
19 "WHEREAS, It is crucial that days
20 such as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day are
21 observed in order to continue raising awareness
22 and, eventually, terminating the spread of
23 HIV/AIDS, not only in black/African-American
24 communities but all communities throughout the
25 State of New York, the United States of America,
486
1 and around the world; now, therefore, be it
2 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
3 Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize
4 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 7,
5 2012, as Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the
6 State of New York, in conjunction with the
7 observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness
8 Day; and be it further
9 "RESOLVED, That a copy of this
10 Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to
11 The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the
12 State of New York."
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
14 Perkins.
15 SENATOR PERKINS: Thank you very
16 much.
17 By way of beginning, I want to
18 recognize some organizations in the gallery that
19 have been so involved for so many years with this
20 great crisis and have been making great
21 contributions.
22 I would like to acknowledge
23 Kimberleigh Smith, who represents the Harlem
24 United Community AIDS Center; the AIDS Council of
25 Northeastern New York, represented by Michele
487
1 McClave and Jen Goldman; the Capital District
2 African-American Coalition on AIDS,
3 Arthur Butler; and the Gay Men of Color Alliance,
4 Harry Davis.
5 Also supporting us has been the
6 Memorial Temple Church, Mt. Olive Southern
7 Missionary Baptist Church, and the Whitney Young,
8 Jr., Health Services.
9 Today marks the 12th anniversary of
10 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. And
11 although February 7th is only one day, we must
12 let today be a reminder of the need to have
13 tireless vigilance for 365 days of the year.
14 Today serves as a call to action, a
15 call to action that affirms the fact that
16 HIV/AIDS is not over for anyone until it is over
17 for everyone.
18 Recent statistics have shown a
19 decline in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in some
20 communities, and we are all encouraged by this
21 success. However, in communities I represent as
22 well as other communities of color throughout
23 this state and this nation, we have not been so
24 fortunate.
25 This sobering fact, as stated in my
488
1 resolution, reminds us that proper HIV/AIDS
2 education in our schools and funding public and
3 nonprofit community agencies that address
4 HIV/AIDS is crucial in the effort to eradicate
5 this crisis.
6 We cannot relent in our fight
7 against HIV/AIDS. We must stand united. We must
8 remain steadfast in our efforts. United we
9 stand, divided we fall.
10 And I'd like to open the resolution
11 for my colleagues to join me. Thank you so much.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
13 you, Senator Perkins.
14 Both of Senator Perkins'
15 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. If you
16 choose not to, please notify the desk.
17 The question is on the resolution.
18 All in favor signify by saying aye.
19 (Response of "Aye.")
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:
21 Opposed?
22 (No response.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
24 resolution is adopted.
25 Senator Libous.
489
1 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you,
2 Mr. President.
3 There's another resolution at the
4 desk, by Senator Ritchie. I ask that the title
5 be read, and then I believe you would call on
6 Senator Ritchie before its adoption.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
8 Secretary will read.
9 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
10 Resolution Number 3172, by Senator Ritchie,
11 memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
12 proclaim February 18-25, 2012, as Future Farmers
13 of America Week in the State of New York.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
15 Ritchie.
16 SENATOR RITCHIE: Mr. President,
17 it gives me great pleasure to offer a resolution
18 that sets aside February 18th to the 25th as
19 National FFA Week, as a fitting tribute to our
20 agricultural education program.
21 As many of you are aware, over a
22 half a million young people across the nation
23 learn about science, leadership and farming
24 through their local FFA programs. I would like
25 to welcome the over 80 members who are here with
490
1 us today, and open the resolution up to the other
2 members to sign on.
3 Thank you, Mr. President.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
5 you, Senator Ritchie.
6 Senator Maziarz.
7 SENATOR MAZIARZ: Thank you,
8 Mr. President.
9 I appreciate the opportunity to
10 speak. You know, earlier there was a resolution
11 about the second-best football team in the NFL,
12 and they talked about champions. And these are
13 some true champions that we have here in our
14 gallery today, the Future Farmers of America.
15 We all know that agriculture is the
16 largest industry in the State of New York, and
17 this is the future of the largest industry in the
18 State of New York sitting here in the gallery.
19 So I join with my colleague Senator
20 Ritchie from the North Country. I have a very
21 active FFA chapter in Orleans County and in
22 Monroe County in my district, and I meet with
23 them often throughout the course of the year. I
24 appreciate the efforts that they make, I
25 appreciate the efforts that they offer to the
491
1 history of the State of New York. They're a
2 bunch of great kids.
3 And we welcome you here today, and
4 we thank you here today. And we apologize to you
5 for having to listen to all of that nonsense
6 about the New York Giants.
7 Thank you very much.
8 (Laughter.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
10 Montgomery.
11 SENATOR MONTGOMERY: Yes, thank
12 you, Mr. President.
13 I join Senator Ritchie and my
14 colleagues in also honoring this wonderful group
15 of young people from around the state.
16 They came to my district last year
17 and brought down a van that they have transformed
18 into a museum to show young people in the city
19 how our wonderful product, maple syrup, is
20 extracted, and it was an absolutely magnificent
21 opportunity for youngsters from upstate to meet
22 youngsters from downstate and to have an
23 understanding of what they do and how important
24 the farming industry is to all of us in our city.
25 So I thank them for that. And I'm
492
1 so happy that they continue to be the next
2 generation of people who will be producing a most
3 important part of our economy as well as for us
4 to be healthy people in the State of New York.
5 So thank you, and I'm happy to join
6 in this resolution.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
8 you, Senator Montgomery.
9 Senator Little.
10 SENATOR LITTLE: Thank you,
11 Mr. President.
12 I'd like to join my colleagues in
13 welcoming the FFA members here today in Albany,
14 representing Washington County, Clinton County,
15 and Franklin County, where we have very, very
16 active chapters. And I know we have some folks
17 from Washington County here today.
18 Thank you for all you do. As
19 future farmers of America, you certainly help us
20 ensure that agriculture remains a big part of our
21 economy and that we are able to count on our
22 local producers to produce our food. So thank
23 you for your efforts, and please continue.
24 Thank you.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Is there
493
1 any other Senator that wishes to speak on the
2 resolution?
3 All in favor of the resolution
4 signify by saying aye.
5 (Response of "Aye.")
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:
7 Opposed?
8 (No response.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
10 resolution is adopted.
11 I want to also welcome all of the
12 FAA students who are here today and
13 participating, particularly those from my
14 district. Welcome. Hopefully you're having an
15 enjoyable day here, and we appreciate all of your
16 good work.
17 (Applause.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
19 Maziarz.
20 SENATOR MAZIARZ: Thank you very
21 much, Mr. President.
22 I believe there's a resolution by
23 Senator Adams at the desk. I ask that the title
24 be read and ask for its immediate adoption. And
25 would you please call on a Buffalo Bills fan,
494
1 Senator Adams.
2 Thank you, Mr. President.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: I think
4 we're all the color of blue today in tribute to
5 the Giants and the FFA members who are here.
6 So we will have the Secretary read
7 the resolution and, Senator Adams, you will be
8 called upon.
9 SENATOR MAZIARZ: Mr. President,
10 all of us are covered in blue today. For the
11 record.
12 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
13 Resolution Number 3196, by Senator Adams,
14 mourning the untimely death of Private Danny Chen
15 of New York, New York, and paying tribute to his
16 courageous actions as a member of the United
17 States Army.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
19 Adams.
20 SENATOR ADAMS: Thank you,
21 Mr. President.
22 You know, I stand today to speak on
23 a resolution for Private Danny Chen. Danny Chen
24 was a soldier in the United States Army serving
25 in Afghanistan. He was found dead on October 3rd
495
1 from a single gunshot wound to the head. The
2 preliminary investigation revealed that he
3 possibly committed suicide, and some believe the
4 suicide took place because of possible hazing.
5 This resolution is my recommitment
6 and I hope all of our recommitment to the
7 protections of soldiers at home and abroad. It
8 is not an attack on the members of the armed
9 service, for we know that men and women of the
10 armed service protect all Americans. And that's
11 why it's important to point out this terrible
12 incident that took place.
13 When our parents send our
14 soldiers -- our men, our women, our children, our
15 husbands, our wives -- over to foreign lands to
16 protect our country, they do that with the
17 understanding that they may not return. What
18 they don't expect is for them to commit suicide
19 because they felt that they were not part of the
20 armed forces.
21 I'm hoping that we will send a
22 strong message here in a state that celebrates
23 our diversity that we believe our armed forces
24 should have a welcome mat for all Americans no
25 matter who they are or where they're from.
496
1 And it sends a very clear and loud
2 message that when men and women adorn green
3 fatigues, there's only one color that matters,
4 and that's the red, the white, and the blue.
5 And I hope that what happened to
6 Private Chen does not happen to any other
7 soldier. And the resolution is a reminder why we
8 must remain vigilant to ensure the importance of
9 diversity not only in our armed services but in
10 the great State of New York and the great country
11 of the USA. Thank you.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
13 you, Senator Adams.
14 Senator Squadron.
15 SENATOR SQUADRON: Thank you,
16 Mr. President. I appreciate that.
17 And first of all, I want to thank
18 my colleague Senator Adams for bringing forth
19 this resolution today.
20 Danny Chen grew up in my district,
21 in New York's Chinatown, went to P.S. 130. In
22 fact, the principal there today, a woman named
23 Lily Woo, was his principal, and she remembers
24 how enthusiastic he was about the community,
25 about the school, growing up.
497
1 And the tragedy that befell him,
2 the experience that he had serving our country is
3 one that no person in this country should ever
4 have, period.
5 The vast, vast, vast majority of
6 the men and women who serve our country in
7 uniform do so with honor, and the sacrifice they
8 make is something for which we should be grateful
9 and proud every day. But the situation that
10 Danny Chen experienced is one that we need to
11 have zero tolerance for.
12 And we need to have zero tolerance
13 for it because of the experience that Danny had
14 and the way that he suffered, the way that he was
15 hazed, the way that his background made his time
16 serving our country harder.
17 But we also need to have zero
18 tolerance because if even one member of the armed
19 forces is treating someone else in this way, is
20 hazing based on any factor, really, but certainly
21 on cultural heritage, on ethnic background, it
22 sullies the entire armed forces, and we need to
23 fight back against it. What those folks who
24 hazed Danny Chen did is they disrespected every
25 one of their brothers and sisters in the armed
498
1 forces.
2 And that's why I appreciate taking
3 a moment here on the floor of the Senate both to
4 honor Danny and his service and also to send the
5 message loud and clear that we are so grateful
6 and so proud of our men and women in the armed
7 forces, and together, as one, we must say this is
8 absolutely unacceptable.
9 And we need to make the changes
10 necessary that there are no cover-ups, that you
11 don't need a community to stand up to make this
12 public, that the armed forces themselves are
13 going to, from the highest levels, take this as
14 seriously as they should.
15 So I thank Senator Adams, in the
16 name of Danny Chen, his mother and father, who
17 are still constituents today, the entire
18 Chinatown community, I thank Senator Adams for
19 taking a moment today to honor his life and his
20 service.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
22 Perkins.
23 SENATOR PERKINS: Thank you very
24 much.
25 I'll be brief in first thanking
499
1 Senator Adams for reminding us of the importance
2 of tolerance in our armed services and for our
3 soldiers, but even here in our chamber and in our
4 communities. And it's unfortunate that this
5 tragedy would have to happen for us to be
6 reminded of this very, very message that this
7 resolution represents.
8 So again, I just want to thank
9 Senator Adams for bringing this to our attention
10 and for allowing us to be a part of remembering
11 the need for tolerance and the sacrifice that had
12 to be made for that remembrance.
13 Thank you.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
15 Parker.
16 SENATOR PARKER: Thank you,
17 Mr. President.
18 I want to add my voice to those who
19 are remembering not just this tragedy but this
20 hero who was involved in it, and wanted to thank
21 Senator Adams for his leadership in making sure
22 that we don't forgot these kind of stories.
23 As much as it is important and as
24 much as we in this chamber are proud of the men
25 and women who serve in our United States
500
1 military, we understand that things are not
2 perfect there and that we have to continue to
3 push ourselves as a body, to push ourselves as a
4 community, as a state, and as a nation to make
5 sure tolerance and inclusion is part of every
6 aspect of American life.
7 And it's very ironic that somebody
8 who was fighting for those very ideas loses his
9 life not in service but because of an act of
10 intolerance.
11 And so we don't celebrate the
12 tragedy, but we hope that we can lift a lesson
13 from it and we remember the life of this great
14 hero.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
16 you, Senator Parker.
17 All in favor of the resolution
18 signify by saying aye.
19 (Response of "Aye.")
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:
21 Opposed?
22 (No response.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
24 resolution is adopted.
25 Senator Libous.
501
1 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, at
2 this time could we have the reading of the
3 noncontroversial calendar, please.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
5 Secretary will read.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 119, by Senator Bonacic, Senate Print 6157A, an
8 act to amend the Education Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
12 act shall take effect on the 180th day.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 124, by Senator DeFrancisco, Senate Print 3297A,
21 an act to amend the Education Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
25 act shall take effect in six months.
502
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 131, by Senator Klein, Senate Print 1031B, an act
9 to amend the Insurance Law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
13 act shall take effect on the first of January.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 133, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 2875, an act
22 to amend the Insurance Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
503
1 act shall take effect immediately.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays,
6 1. Senator Parker recorded in the negative.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 136, by Senator Little, Senate Print 547, an act
11 to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect on the 180th day.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 138, by Senator DeFrancisco, Senate Print 2903B,
24 an act to amend the Navigation Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
504
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 139, by Senator Ritchie, Senate Print 5262, an
12 act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays,
21 1. Senator Duane recorded in the negative.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 140, by Senator Ranzenhofer, Senate Print 5198B,
505
1 an act to repeal certain provisions of the Public
2 Authorities Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 33. This
6 act shall take effect on the 60th day.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
12 is passed.
13 Senator Libous, that completes the
14 reading of the noncontroversial calendar.
15 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, is
16 there any further business at the desk?
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: There is
18 no further business before the desk.
19 Senator Libous.
20 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President,
21 there being no further business at the desk, I
22 move that the Senate adjourn until Monday,
23 February 13th, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days
24 being legislative days.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: On
506
1 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Monday,
2 February 13th, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days
3 being legislative days.
4 Senate adjourned.
5 (Whereupon, at 11:38 a.m., the
6 Senate adjourned.)
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25