About Former Senator Lee Zeldin's

Lee Zeldin was elected to the State Senate in 2010. After graduating from William Floyd High School in Suffolk County, Lee earned not only his bachelor's degree, cum laude, in Political Science, from the State University of New York at Albany, but also his Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School. Lee passed the New York State bar exam; and was sworn in to the New York State Bar, at just 23 years old, in January 2004 -- the youngest attorney in New York State, at that time.Lee spent four years on Active Duty with the US Army and served in different capacities including as a Military Intelligence Officer, Federal Prosecutor and Military Magistrate. In the summer of 2006, while assigned to the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division, Lee deployed to Iraq with an infantry battalion of fellow paratroopers in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.In 2007, Lee returned to Suffolk County with his family. It was at this time, he transitioned from Active Duty to the Army Reserves, where he currently serves with the rank of Major. He established a successful law practice in 2008, and became involved in local community affairs and veterans organizations.Senator Zeldin, an outspoken voice for protecting taxpayers, has spent his time in Albany keeping his commitments. He successfully repealed the Saltwater Fishing License Fee, spearheaded the successful effort to start the repeal of the MTA Payroll Tax and wrote the law that protects our fallen veterans and their families from protests at military burials. In the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 State Budgets, Senator Zeldin successfully secured funding for the PFC Joseph Dwyer Program, a statewide program to help our returning veterans cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).Towards the end of his freshman term, Senator Zeldin secured an agreement with the Assembly and Governor Cuomo that will enable New York Brewers, large and small, from Blue Point Brewery in his district to Matt’s Brewery in Utica, to continue to expand and grow, create jobs and keep the price of New York's craft beer competitive.For the 2013-14 Session, Senator Zeldin serves as Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Consumer Protection. He also serves on the following committees: Veterans, Military Affairs and Homeland Security, Higher Education, Transportation, Judiciary, Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Investigations and Government Operations, and Aging.Lee resides in Shirley, with his wife, Diana, and their identical twin daughters, Mikayla and Arianna.