Ritchie Renamed Senate Agriculture Committee Chair, Lands Leadership Role to Help Enhance Libraries Statewide

State Senator Patty Ritchie is announcing she has been renamed to two leadership posts—Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Deputy Majority Leader for Senate and Assembly Relations—as well as has been named Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Libraries. 

“From securing record budget funding to launching programs that expand markets for farmers, in recent years we have made great strides when it comes to strengthening the state’s agriculture industry,” said Senator Ritchie, who was first named Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee in 2011.

“I’m excited to once again lead the Senate Agriculture Committee and work alongside my colleagues and hardworking farmers to grow an even brighter future for farming in every corner of New York State.”

Since 2011, Senator Ritchie has delivered more than $55 million in restored budget cuts and new funding for farm programs, above the amounts proposed in the Executive Budget, and has worked on a number of efforts to encourage more young people to pursue careers in farming, as well as to make it easier for consumers to access the fresh foods grown and produced by farmers.

In addition to being renamed Senate Agriculture Committee Chair and Deputy Majority Leader for Senate and Assembly Relations—a position that allows her to more strongly advocate on behalf of her constituents in Central and Northern New York—Senator Ritchie was also named to lead the Senate Select Committee on Libraries.

“I have been a library user all of my life and am thrilled to once again be able to serve on the Senate Select Committee on Libraries, this time as chair, and look forward to working to strengthen our local libraries and find ways to expand the many resources they provide,” said Senator Ritchie, who has served on the Committee tasked with looking for ways to support public libraries in New York State since 2012.

There are more than 7,000 libraries throughout New York State, including more than 50 public libraries in Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties—one of the largest concentrations of public libraries in any Senate district in the state. Last year, Senator Ritchie advocated for passage of a new state budget that included a $9 million boost in funding for libraries.  In addition, she recently announced $137,000 in special funding benefiting 32 libraries in the counties she represents and two library networks serving local communities.

Senator Ritchie also was named to serve on the following committees: Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Civil Service and Pensions, Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Energy, Finance, Higher Education, Labor, Local Government, Transportation and Rural Resources.