Tedisco Veterans Internship Program Bill Passed by New York State Legislature

Albany - -Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-44^th Senate District) and Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon (D-Utica/Rome) today announced that both houses of the New York State Legislature have passed their bipartisan Veterans Internship Program (V.I.P.) legislation to enable honorably discharged veterans to participate in the legislature’s annual paid legislative internship program that could help lead them to future employment.

Tedisco and Buttenschon’s V.I.P. legislation (S.291/A.1347) sets aside 10 percent of the current legislative internship program positions in the Senate and Assembly for veterans to see the inner workings of the representative democracy they put their lives on the line to defend.

Veteran participants in the Veterans Internship Program would receive a stipend that’s equivalent to what graduate students currently receive in the Senate ($50,000) and Assembly ($17,000). The Senate and Assembly internship offices would work with county veterans services agencies to identify and recruit eligible candidates. There will be no additional cost to taxpayers to implement the V.I.P. law.

“I’m thrilled my bipartisan Veterans Internship Program legislation to give our unemployed and underemployed veterans significant experience to put on their resumes for future long-term employment has passed both the Senate and the Assembly. The Veterans Internship Program sends the message that our state and the New York State Legislature truly values the service of our veterans in deeds as well as words,” said Senator Jim Tedisco.

“Let’s not just talk the talk, let’s walk the walk and give back to our veterans and wounded warriors by truly thanking them for everything we hold dear as Americans and as New Yorkers by offering them a birds eye view of the government they sacrificed their blood, sweat and tears and in some cases, nearly their own lives to protect,” said Senator Jim Tedisco. “As our veterans learn about state government, my colleagues and I and our college and graduate interns will learn from them about honor, duty, courage, and perseverance -- lessons that our leaders in state government probably need now, more than ever.”

“This bill provides our honorable discharged veterans with a great opportunity to explore the NYS Legislature through a paid internship program.  The veterans will also be a great asset to the legislature with the ideals, wisdom, and experiences they can share with all in the legislative arena,” said Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon.

The V.I.P. legislation now heads to Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk for her review and potential signage.

See Senator Tedisco’s remarks on the Senate Floor when the V.I.P. bill passed.