Regular Session - January 8, 2025
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1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
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3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 January 8, 2025
11 12:14 p.m.
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13
14 REGULAR SESSION
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18 LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANTONIO DELGADO, President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
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1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 THE PRESIDENT: The Senate will
3 come to order.
4 I ask everyone present to please
5 rise and recite with me the Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
8 THE PRESIDENT: Today's invocation
9 will be delivered by Rabbi Mara Young, of the
10 Woodlands Community Temple in White Plains.
11 RABBI YOUNG: The story is told of
12 a person who wished to climb to the top of a very
13 high mountain. The mountain was steep and
14 difficult to ascend, and the climber encountered
15 many obstacles along the way. She was weary,
16 discouraged, and often considered giving up. At
17 times she even felt that the summit was too far
18 out of reach and that the climb was not worth the
19 effort.
20 However, she pushed forward one step
21 at a time. Every time she felt like giving up,
22 she reminded herself that the goal was to reach
23 higher, even if it seemed impossible. Slowly but
24 surely, after much effort and struggle, she
25 reached the top of the mountain.
3
1 And when she finally arrived at the
2 summit, she looked around and realized something
3 incredible. As far as the eye could see, there
4 were still higher peaks, taller mountains, new
5 heights to reach. But instead of feeling
6 discouraged, she felt a deep sense of joy and
7 purpose, understanding that the journey itself,
8 striving to go higher step by step, was the true
9 reward.
10 Distinguished officials, today you
11 stand at the base of the mountain. The 2025
12 legislative session rises before you. The path
13 of democracy is difficult -- rocky terrain,
14 uncertain paths, dead ends and deadlocks. And
15 yet we know the reward is great: A state built
16 by the people, for the people, governed by laws
17 of justice, fueled by compassion at its core.
18 As you begin your climb, you will
19 observe the crags and summits of sessions before.
20 Some you will surpass; some will loom higher.
21 How lucky you are to have this opportunity before
22 you. Set your feet upon the current mountain of
23 possibility. Excelsior! Onward, upward. May
24 you be blessed in your ascent. Emblazoned on the
25 seal of this Senate body, may this word be your
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1 guide. It urges you forward: Excelsior, ever
2 higher.
3 As you embark upon this holy work of
4 building and securing our democracy, stay true to
5 the path of righteousness. As is written in the
6 Book of Proverbs, guard your heart, as it is the
7 source of life. Turn aside from crooked speech.
8 Distance yourself from wicked words.
9 Let your eyes look forward. May you
10 behold the future with upright intentions.
11 Survey your course, the way in which we may all
12 prosper. Be not deterred by the left or the
13 right, but walk the path of goodness.
14 Source of Goodness, bestow Your
15 blessings upon this assembled body and those who
16 serve within it. Strengthen their capacity to
17 listen, to discern, and to learn. While starting
18 on disparate paths, guide them together, helping
19 them to walk in ways of compromise and
20 understanding, to walk humbly together in paths
21 of peace.
22 Divine Presence, may the fruits of
23 their labors be acceptable to You. You, known by
24 many names and many tongues, may we find unity in
25 discovering the divine spark that lies within
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1 every representative, every citizen, every
2 sojourner who seeks safety in our midst. May we
3 see it in our homes and workplaces and in the
4 beauty of nature itself.
5 As we lift our eyes to the session
6 before us, give us the strength to rise to the
7 challenge and embrace the possibility. We
8 express gratitude for being kept alive,
9 sustained, and brought to this auspicious day.
10 And we give thanks for the holiness we may
11 manifest with our own hands, words, and hearts.
12 Amen.
13 (Response of "Amen.")
14 THE PRESIDENT: The chair now hands
15 down a message from the State Board of Elections,
16 being the duly official certification of the
17 members of the Senate, and directs the same be
18 filed. So handed down and so ordered.
19 And now I ask all Senators present
20 to please rise at this time to take the
21 ceremonial oath of office.
22 Please raise your right hand and
23 repeat after me: I do solemnly swear --
24 ALL SENATORS: I do solemnly
25 swear --
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1 THE PRESIDENT: -- that I will
2 support the Constitution of the United States --
3 ALL SENATORS: -- that I will
4 support the Constitution of the United States --
5 THE PRESIDENT: -- and the
6 Constitution of the State of New York --
7 ALL SENATORS: -- and the
8 Constitution of the State of New York --
9 THE PRESIDENT: -- and that I will
10 faithfully discharge the duties --
11 ALL SENATORS: -- and that I will
12 faithfully discharge the duties --
13 THE PRESIDENT: -- of the office of
14 Senator --
15 ALL SENATORS: -- of the office of
16 Senator --
17 THE PRESIDENT: -- according to the
18 best of my ability --
19 ALL SENATORS: -- according to the
20 best of my ability --
21 THE PRESIDENT: -- so help me God.
22 ALL SENATORS: -- so help me God.
23 THE PRESIDENT: Congratulations on
24 your election to the Senate.
25 (Applause.)
7
1 (Inaudible; laughter.)
2 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary shall
3 read the names of the members present to
4 ascertain that a quorum exists.
5 THE SECRETARY: Senator Addabbo.
6 SENATOR ADDABBO: Here.
7 THE SECRETARY: Senator Ashby.
8 SENATOR ASHBY: Here.
9 THE SECRETARY: Senator Bailey.
10 SENATOR BAILEY: Here.
11 THE SECRETARY: Senator Baskin.
12 SENATOR BASKIN: Here.
13 THE SECRETARY: Senator Borrello.
14 SENATOR BORRELLO: Here.
15 THE SECRETARY: Senator Brisport.
16 SENATOR BRISPORT: Here.
17 THE SECRETARY: Senator Brouk.
18 SENATOR BROUK: Here.
19 THE SECRETARY: Senator Bynoe.
20 SENATOR BYNOE: Here.
21 THE SECRETARY: Senator
22 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick.
23 SENATOR CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK:
24 Here.
25 THE SECRETARY: Senator Chan.
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1 SENATOR CHAN: Here.
2 THE SECRETARY: Senator Cleare.
3 SENATOR CLEARE: Here.
4 THE SECRETARY: Senator Comrie.
5 SENATOR COMRIE: Present.
6 THE SECRETARY: Senator Cooney.
7 SENATOR COONEY: Present.
8 THE SECRETARY: Senator Fahy.
9 SENATOR FAHY: Here.
10 THE SECRETARY: Senator Felder.
11 SENATOR FELDER: Here.
12 THE SECRETARY: Senator Fernandez.
13 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Present.
14 THE SECRETARY: Senator Gallivan.
15 SENATOR GALLIVAN: Here.
16 THE SECRETARY: Senator Gianaris.
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: Here.
18 THE SECRETARY: Senator Gonzalez.
19 SENATOR GONZALEZ: Here.
20 THE SECRETARY: Senator Gounardes.
21 SENATOR GOUNARDES: Here.
22 THE SECRETARY: Senator Griffo.
23 SENATOR GRIFFO: Here.
24 THE SECRETARY: Senator Harckham.
25 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Here.
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1 THE SECRETARY: Senator Helming.
2 SENATOR HELMING: Present.
3 THE SECRETARY: Senator Hinchey.
4 SENATOR HINCHEY: Here.
5 THE SECRETARY: Senator
6 Hoylman-Sigal.
7 SENATOR HOYLMAN-SIGAL: Here.
8 THE SECRETARY: Senator Jackson.
9 SENATOR JACKSON: Here.
10 THE SECRETARY: Senator Kavanagh.
11 SENATOR KAVANAGH: Here.
12 THE SECRETARY: Senator Krueger.
13 SENATOR KRUEGER: Here.
14 THE SECRETARY: Senator Lanza.
15 SENATOR LANZA: Here.
16 THE SECRETARY: Senator Liu.
17 SENATOR LIU: Here.
18 THE SECRETARY: Senator Martinez.
19 SENATOR MARTINEZ: Here.
20 THE SECRETARY: Senator Martins.
21 SENATOR MARTINS: Here.
22 THE SECRETARY: Senator Mattera.
23 SENATOR MATTERA: Here.
24 THE PRESIDENT: A quorum is
25 present, and the Senate may proceed.
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1 Good afternoon.
2 (Response of "good afternoon.")
3 THE PRESIDENT: As the President of
4 the Senate, it is my distinct honor to welcome
5 all of you to the 2025 legislative session.
6 And let me first just say
7 Happy New Year to everyone. I hope you all had a
8 very blessed holiday season.
9 To the esteemed Majority Leader
10 Stewart-Cousins, it is always good to see you.
11 And thank you for the invitation to preside over
12 the Senate. And thank you for your leadership to
13 Deputy Majority Leader Gianaris, Minority Leader
14 Ortt, Deputy Minority Leader Lanza, and to all of
15 the members of this incredible body.
16 As we gather here today and mark the
17 start of a new legislative session, may it also
18 mark the start of new opportunities to
19 collaborate and work together to deliver to
20 communities all across our great state.
21 Let us remember that governing is
22 not the same as campaigning. Governing is about
23 representation. Everyone in this body, everyone
24 in this body, represents real people, real
25 families with real hopes and dreams. And we do
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1 right by them when we govern responsibly,
2 effectively, collaboratively, with transparency
3 and accountability.
4 Our diverse points of view should
5 not be a weakness to exploit in order to score
6 political points, but rather a strength to be
7 leveraged in order to deliver meaningful results
8 for all New Yorkers from every walk of life.
9 We are, before anything else, public
10 servants, here to serve, ideally from a place of
11 genuine concern for our fellow New Yorkers and
12 with real love for the place we all call home.
13 We all love New York. We all love our great
14 country. And my hope in these politically
15 divisive times is that each of us, by way of
16 example, can inspire those we serve to heed their
17 better angels.
18 As President Lincoln once said in
19 his first inaugural address: "We are not
20 enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.
21 Though passion may have strained it must not
22 break our bonds of affection. The mystic cords
23 of memory, stretching from every battlefield and
24 patriot grave to every living heart and
25 hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet
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1 swell the chorus of the Union when again touched,
2 as surely they will be, by the better angels of
3 our nature."
4 As leaders, let us set the example.
5 I certainly look forward to working with every
6 single one of you as I continue to build out the
7 New York State Office of Service and
8 Civic Engagement, which I'm incredibly proud to
9 lead. I had the opportunity to connect with a
10 number of you about how we can work together to
11 uplift communities through service and civic
12 engagement, and I look forward to connecting with
13 more of you in the coming year.
14 Each of you has a deep connection
15 with the communities you represent and what their
16 needs and priorities are. And I would be honored
17 to work with you to ensure that this new office
18 empowers folks all across New York to find
19 greatness within.
20 As Dr. King once said: "Everybody
21 can be great, because everybody can serve. You
22 don't have to have a college degree to serve.
23 You don't have to make your subject and your verb
24 agree to serve ... You only need a heart full of
25 grace, a soul generated by love."
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1 So let's get busy being great and
2 love each other. Thank you.
3 Senator Gianaris.
4 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
5 Governor Delgado. And thank you for joining us
6 for today's opening session.
7 Can you please recognize
8 Senator Ortt for remarks.
9 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Ortt.
10 SENATOR ORTT: Good afternoon,
11 Lieutenant Governor.
12 And good afternoon to my colleagues
13 from around the state on both sides of the aisle.
14 It's always good to be back on this day. I told
15 my members this morning, you know, today's
16 probably the best day of session -- except for
17 the last day of session, right? That's kind of
18 how it goes.
19 (Laughter.)
20 SENATOR ORTT: But today is a good
21 day. It always reminded me kind of like, you
22 know, back to school, right? Everyone's got
23 their new back-to-school clothes on, their new
24 threads, and we're all excited, the post-holiday
25 glow.
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1 But it's also when there's a lot of
2 optimism. Right? It's a new year. Yes, there
3 are many challenges in front of us, but none of
4 those challenges, in my estimation, are new.
5 They are challenges that have existed now either
6 for several years or they're challenges that have
7 existed in front of the state in the past. And
8 previous legislatures, previous governors,
9 previous administrations have had to grapple with
10 similar issues. And I believe I would say many
11 times they have grappled with it and they have
12 effectively addressed those issues.
13 So now the question is the
14 challenges, like any legislature convening around
15 the country today -- every state legislature, our
16 Congress -- will we be able to step up and face
17 and deal with the challenges facing us here in
18 this body, in this state, in this moment? And
19 being, today, a day of optimism, today is a day
20 where we can say yes, we hope so.
21 Now, not everything is able to get
22 done in every session. Right? Otherwise you
23 wouldn't have to come back. It would be one
24 session, we would do it, and that would be the
25 end of it.
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1 But today is a day when we are
2 hopeful, we are optimistic. And it's a day when
3 we get to come back, there's some new members
4 here -- I'm going to talk about one of them
5 now -- we get to see old friends but, I think
6 just as importantly, hopefully we get to make new
7 friends.
8 And I look forward -- I know my
9 colleagues do, my members in the Republican
10 Conference look forward to working with our
11 colleagues across the aisle where we can, and
12 hopefully do address the issues facing the people
13 of New York State, which are as true for people
14 in Manhattan as they are in Niagara County and
15 are as true for people in the North Country as
16 they are in Nassau and everywhere in between.
17 One of those new members -- I'm
18 proud to welcome back certainly all my members.
19 Everyone that was here last year came back, which
20 is in my view a very good thing. And we have a
21 new member, Senator Chan, who represents
22 Senate District 17 in Brooklyn.
23 Senator Chan is a Marine. So
24 Senator Sanders, you've got someone else here for
25 you, right, another Marine.
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1 We have -- he is a former NYPD
2 sergeant, so he is someone who has served this
3 country in military uniform. He's also someone
4 who's served the great City of New York in the
5 uniform of the NYPD Blue. And he is also the
6 first Asian-American Republican State Senator in
7 our state's history.
8 So, Senator Chan, welcome to the
9 New York State Senate.
10 (Applause.)
11 SENATOR ORTT: I know Senator Chan
12 is ready to get to work, along with all of my
13 other colleagues.
14 Briefly -- because I don't think
15 today is really a policy speech day -- but we all
16 know the issues facing our state. We just
17 concluded an election cycle where we heard all
18 about the issues from candidates running for a
19 myriad of offices obviously right here in
20 New York, whether it was congressional, Senate,
21 Assembly. And we saw how the voters felt on
22 these issues.
23 So we talk about affordability.
24 That's a term that is going to be brought up
25 today, brought up next week. When the Governor
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1 no doubt gives her State of the State, I'm sure
2 we will hear about affordability. We've heard
3 about affordability a lot in the last several
4 years.
5 Unfortunately, from my vantage
6 point, we haven't done as much on affordability.
7 In fact, our conference I think would argue we
8 have contributed to making New York less
9 affordable going forward. And voters have said
10 that has to change. Voters are concerned about
11 affordability.
12 What does that mean? They're
13 concerned about the money in their wallet and
14 having less of it -- having less of it to pay
15 their bills, to heat their homes, to put their
16 kids through college, having less of it to
17 provide for their families, for their hopes and
18 dreams. As, Lieutenant Governor, you outlined I
19 think very well, hopes and dreams usually cost
20 money. Unfortunately. And if people are going
21 to meet their hopes and dreams in New York, we
22 have to make this state more affordable for them
23 to reach their hopes and dreams here and not in
24 other states, as we know we've seen people do.
25 Crime remains a major issue. I'm
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1 not going to go into all these horrible
2 incidences that have happened recently, but we
3 all see them. We all see the videos. We all
4 know them. And I think we all, I believe we all
5 are horrified when we see these things occur.
6 But we have to do something about
7 it. We have to be honest about how we got there,
8 and we have to take action. And that takes
9 political will, political courage. And our
10 conference stands ready to take that action.
11 Certainly when we talk about issues
12 the issue of immigration, both nationally and
13 here in New York State, is a big issue. And we
14 know it's an issue. We know it's an issue for
15 New Yorkers, for voters, for people in New York
16 City as well as in other parts of the state.
17 I am very excited -- and I know some
18 of my colleagues will not share my enthusiasm,
19 but I am very excited about the transfer of
20 federal administrations and the incoming Trump
21 administration. And I hope -- I'm not so caught
22 up in the moment of optimism that I think it will
23 be easy or that it will be all the time, but I
24 hope that this body, that this Governor will work
25 with the Trump administration on issues like
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1 affordability, on issues like immigration, for
2 the betterment of New Yorkers, and not work
3 against the administration for the betterment of
4 our political careers.
5 New Yorkers have spoken. The
6 American people have spoken. The issues of
7 affordability and crime and immigration and
8 energy are not just New York issues, they're
9 issues across the country. And we have an
10 obligation to address those issues regardless of
11 political party.
12 And I am hopeful that we will -- I'm
13 looking forward to working with two prominent
14 New Yorkers: Elise Stefanik, who will soon be
15 the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and
16 Lee Zeldin, who served in this body as a State
17 Senator and obviously is soon to head up the EPA,
18 which no doubt I think will have real
19 implications, hopefully positive ones, for the
20 State of New York.
21 So Mr. President, I look forward to
22 the new year. I look forward to the new
23 administration in Washington. I look forward to
24 my colleagues here in this body working with
25 Senator Chan, as well as my colleagues across the
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1 aisle, for the betterment of the people of this
2 state on the issues that we know are facing them
3 and driving them out.
4 And I say the driving them out part
5 because I think at the end of the day that is the
6 single biggest challenge and threat to the future
7 viability of our state. If we are losing our
8 most valuable asset -- which is people -- to
9 other states, then that affects the economy, it
10 affects employers, it affects who pays the taxes
11 to fund the programs that people do need.
12 And so we have to do something about
13 that. And I am optimistic and I am hopeful that
14 everyone in this chamber shares the political
15 will and courage to do just that today.
16 So, Mr. Lieutenant Governor, nice to
17 see you here in this chamber. You're always
18 welcome back. Don't just make it a one day on
19 the first day. I know you've got to be here
20 today, but we're always happy to have you back
21 here whenever you want to. Thank you for your
22 indulgence.
23 And to my colleague Senator Andrea
24 Stewart-Cousins, Majority Leader Andrea
25 Stewart-Cousins, thank you for your partnership.
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1 I thank her for our many conversations on the
2 phone where she listens to me sometimes go on and
3 on and rant and, you know, just do what I have to
4 do and express my views. But we have a great
5 relationship and one that I'm very proud of,
6 because it's not always easy when you're in these
7 roles, leading conferences, to try to find that
8 common ground and have that dialogue. And
9 certainly to my colleague Senator Gianaris.
10 And then my partner, to my right --
11 maybe figuratively, but maybe politically -- is
12 our great deputy, Senator Andy Lanza. And
13 Senator Lanza does a great job here. He's on the
14 floor a lot. But he's most excited because now
15 with Senator Chan, he is no longer the lone
16 Republican in New York City. And so --
17 (Laughter.)
18 SENATOR ORTT: So I know he's happy
19 about that.
20 (Applause; laughter.)
21 SENATOR ORTT: And to the families
22 that are here, maybe you're here for the first
23 time. It's a remarkable chamber. It's a
24 remarkable building. And I know I've said this
25 before, and it's really true for me: Sometimes I
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1 think when we come here all the time, every week,
2 you sort of take advantage -- or you take for
3 granted that we work here. And we shouldn't do
4 that. And today, with you here, it's always a
5 stark reminder how privileged we are and how
6 honored and awesome the responsibility is to work
7 in this chamber on behalf of the people of the
8 State of New York. So thank you for being here.
9 Mr. Lieutenant Governor, thank you
10 for being here.
11 God bless.
12 (Applause.)
13 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
14 Senator Ortt, for expressing the spirit of
15 optimism. And you are right that it is always
16 important to listen. Listening is very
17 fundamental to how we collaborate and build
18 together.
19 To Senator Chan, welcome, and thank
20 you for your service to our country and to
21 New York.
22 And to the families as well who are
23 having this experience today for the first time.
24 It is good to be with you as well. As
25 Senator Ortt said, it is a magnificent, awesome
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1 space to be in that we should always cherish.
2 Senator Gianaris.
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
4 Mr. President.
5 I have a resolution at the desk. I
6 ask that the resolution be read and move for its
7 immediate adoption and for the opportunity to be
8 heard.
9 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
10 read.
11 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
12 1, by Senator Gianaris, providing for the
13 election of Andrea Stewart-Cousins as Temporary
14 President of the Senate for the years 2025-2026.
15 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Gianaris.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: John J.
17 Dunnigan. Now, there's a name we've not heard in
18 a long time. A long time.
19 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Who is
20 he?
21 (Laughter.)
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: He was --
23 Senator Dunnigan, for those of you that may not
24 be familiar with him, was the Majority Leader of
25 this chamber almost a hundred years ago.
24
1 Now, why is he special? Well, for
2 one thing, he was a Democrat, which gives him
3 extra points in my book. He was the author of
4 the state's parimutuel betting law. So,
5 Senator Addabbo, extra appreciation for
6 Majority Leader Dunnigan.
7 But for our purposes here today,
8 most notably, he was the Majority Leader of the
9 State Senate for 2,188 days. He was the
10 longest-serving Democrat Majority Leader in
11 New York State history.
12 He also was the author of one of the
13 first efforts to establish an equal rights
14 amendment in New York State, unsuccessfully. In
15 1919 he introduced that proposal.
16 So it's only fitting that that job,
17 with the help of the voters a couple of months
18 ago, was finally finished under the leadership of
19 Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Because this past Sunday
20 the woman sitting next to me served her
21 2,189th day as Majority Leader in the
22 State Senate.
23 (Standing ovation.)
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: So I take it
25 you've all figured out that 2,189 is one more
25
1 than 2,188 --
2 (Laughter.)
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: -- and she is
4 now the longest-serving Democrat Majority Leader
5 in our state's history.
6 Of course the first woman to serve
7 in that role, the first Black woman to serve in
8 that role. But her achievements are so much more
9 than being first on so many lists. Because it
10 has been quite a six years that we have had with
11 Andrea Stewart-Cousins as the leader of this
12 body.
13 For those of you that were around
14 back then -- and there's fewer and fewer of us as
15 time goes on -- the reputation of this body let's
16 just say was less than stellar before her
17 ascension to Majority Leader in 2019. And now,
18 six years later, we can have our policy
19 disagreements -- and we often do -- but nobody,
20 but nobody questions the integrity of this body
21 and the character with which it is governed.
22 On housing, which is an issue that
23 we care greatly about, the strongest housing
24 protections the state has ever seen are now in
25 place.
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1 We have finally, finally resolved
2 the issue of funding our schools in compliance
3 with the state constitutional requirements, which
4 was something that puzzled previous
5 administrations of the Senate.
6 And of course we have created
7 historic protections in our time in the Majority
8 for so many individuals throughout this state who
9 have been discriminated against and abused over
10 the decades.
11 But it's not just what has happened,
12 but what remains to be done. You heard
13 Senator Ortt talk about affordability. Yes,
14 we're going to hear a lot about affordability, as
15 we have in the past and certainly will now. It
16 is top of mind for so many of the people we
17 represent.
18 And I think affordability for so
19 many of us means more than just making it easier
20 for wealthy people to live here and making it
21 harder for working people. I think you will see
22 a dedicated effort to continue making New York,
23 which is a very expensive place, easier for
24 people to provide for their families, to care for
25 their children, to go and get healthcare -- more
27
1 so, certainly, than has been done in the past.
2 We also expect, with respect to
3 Senator Ortt's statement in this regard, but I
4 think we're expecting some curve balls out of
5 Washington, D.C., that we perhaps can't even
6 anticipate that we're going to have to deal with.
7 And there is no one whose steady hand I would
8 want on the wheel as we react to that than
9 Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who has shown the type of
10 steady leadership and sober leadership that is
11 prepared to deal with this moment.
12 And so once again -- I've had the
13 privilege of giving this nominating speech now
14 four times, and it is one of the greatest honors
15 of my service here in the State Senate to get to
16 present to the people of this state, to the
17 people of this State Senate, the opportunity to
18 support the greatest Majority Leader New York
19 State has ever had in its history, Andrea
20 Stewart-Cousins.
21 Mr. President, I encourage all my
22 colleagues to vote yes on this resolution.
23 THE PRESIDENT: The question is on
24 the resolution offered by Senator Gianaris. All
25 those in favor signify by saying aye.
28
1 (Response of "Aye.")
2 THE PRESIDENT: Opposed?
3 (No response.)
4 THE PRESIDENT: The ayes have it.
5 The resolution is adopted.
6 I now call on Senator Andrea
7 Stewart-Cousins to come forward to be sworn as
8 Temporary President of the Senate by Judge Rowan
9 Wilson, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.
10 (Chief Judge Wilson and
11 Senator Stewart-Cousins move to the center of the
12 chamber.)
13 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: I'd like
14 my family to join -- my daughter Candice, my son
15 Kevin and my daughter-in-law Kecia, and the child
16 that you've seen grow up, now a senior in Howard:
17 Kendall.
18 CHIEF JUDGE WILSON: Raise your
19 right hand, Senator, and repeat after me: I,
20 Andrea Stewart-Cousins --
21 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: I, Andrea
22 Stewart-Cousins --
23 CHIEF JUDGE WILSON: -- do solemnly
24 swear --
25 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- do
29
1 solemnly swear --
2 CHIEF JUDGE WILSON: -- to uphold
3 and defend --
4 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- to
5 uphold and defend --
6 CHIEF JUDGE WILSON: -- the
7 Constitution of the United States --
8 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- the
9 Constitution of the United States --
10 CHIEF JUDGE WILSON: -- and the
11 Constitution --
12 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- and
13 the constitution --
14 CHIEF JUDGE WILSON: -- of the
15 great State of New York --
16 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- of the
17 great State of New York --
18 CHIEF JUDGE WILSON: -- and to
19 fulfill the duties of the office --
20 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- and to
21 fulfill the duties of the office --
22 CHIEF JUDGE WILSON: -- of
23 Temporary President --
24 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- of
25 Temporary President --
30
1 CHIEF JUDGE WILSON: -- and
2 Majority Leader --
3 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- and
4 Majority Leader --
5 CHIEF JUDGE WILSON: -- of the
6 Senate of the State of New York --
7 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- of the
8 Senate of the State of New York --
9 CHIEF JUDGE WILSON: -- to the best
10 of my ability --
11 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- to the
12 best of my ability --
13 CHIEF JUDGE WILSON: -- so me help
14 me God.
15 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- so
16 help me God.
17 CHIEF JUDGE WILSON:
18 Congratulations.
19 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Thank you
20 so much.
21 (Extended standing ovation, and
22 Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins approaches the
23 dais.)
24 THE PRESIDENT: Congratulations,
25 Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins.
31
1 Senator Gianaris.
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President, I
3 think we are now going to hear remarks from the
4 newly reelected Majority Leader of the
5 State Senate.
6 THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Majority
7 Leader Stewart-Cousins, please come forward for
8 opening remarks.
9 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Thank you
10 so much.
11 So good afternoon.
12 (Response of "good afternoon.")
13 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: I am --
14 it really has that first day of school
15 atmosphere. So for all of you young people here
16 who think that we don't get just as excited on
17 the first day, now you know: We do.
18 And I really want to thank our
19 Lieutenant Governor for always being present when
20 called upon and always bringing, you know, your
21 wisdom and your perspective to this opening day
22 ceremony. We so appreciate you and look forward
23 to working with you during this year.
24 And of course to Rabbi Mara Young,
25 thank you so much, Rabbi. I loved the metaphor,
32
1 climbing those mountains. I know that many of us
2 believe that once we've climbed that mountain
3 we've arrived. And clearly those of us who know
4 that those mountains never recede, we need the
5 energy and the inspiration to continue to go.
6 And as long as we are here, we know that working
7 together, we can achieve high heights. Thank you
8 so much for being present and reminding us of
9 that.
10 And to all of our families who are
11 here, again, I think what you said, Leader Ortt,
12 was true. You know, people -- we kind of take
13 for granted, we come in, we do our work. But it
14 is an extraordinary place to be and to actually
15 represent so many folks in our district.
16 But the fact that we are all here is
17 because we do have the support of so many of our
18 family members. And certainly my family has
19 sacrificed for years and years -- and most of you
20 do -- in order to allow us to sit in these very
21 magnificent chambers and do that work. So we do
22 appreciate you, and we are very, very happy that
23 you are here.
24 I also really want to give a special
25 welcome back to Senator Mark Walczyk.
33
1 (Applause.)
2 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: You know
3 what I'm thinking. As you know, Senator, there
4 were a lot of people who were happy --
5 (Laughter.)
6 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: It's an
7 inside joke. But we are certainly happy to have
8 you back safe and sound and really, really
9 appreciate your work on behalf of our nation,
10 your service on behalf of our nation.
11 (Standing ovation.)
12 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: You
13 notice what I said, there are some people that
14 were happy, well, you know, the laughter was kind
15 of, you know --
16 (Laughter.)
17 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: So it's
18 an honor to mark the start of another session as
19 Senate Majority Leader. And, you know, this work
20 could not -- not be done without really the
21 support not only of my incredible, incredible
22 conference and all of you here. But certainly I
23 want to give a special shout out to my deputy,
24 Deputy Mike Gianaris. Thank you so much for what
25 you do.
34
1 (Applause.)
2 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Thank you
3 for the fourth nomin -- and it was me sitting
4 next to you who said "Who?" when you were talking
5 about the Senator, because it was so long ago
6 that I'd certainly lost track. But you see
7 people like you actually pay attention to those
8 things. So it really is an honor.
9 And again, thanks for keeping the
10 trains running and for being by my side every
11 step of this journey.
12 For us today it is really not just
13 the opening of session, it's a day for all of us
14 to take time to reconnect, to refocus, to
15 recommit to important work that we do together.
16 I kind of, you know, am excited too.
17 And Senator Ortt, I look forward to
18 working with our colleagues across the aisle and
19 certainly to continue our partnership with
20 Governor Hochul, with Speaker Heastie in the
21 Assembly, and to accomplish the people's work.
22 Now I want to talk a little bit
23 about the new majority class in the Senate,
24 because I've found that in every incoming group
25 of people there's a certain thing, a
35
1 characteristic. And last time we were here
2 during opening day two years ago when we had a
3 new class, we had the historic all-female class
4 of Senators. Never -- never seen before in this
5 chamber, and I don't believe in the Assembly as
6 well.
7 But now they're old hands. They've
8 been around. But now we have another new class.
9 And this is a new class that I can't really call
10 freshmen because each of them is coming to us
11 with an extensive legislative background and
12 experience.
13 So why don't I begin with one member
14 who comes directly from the Assembly, and
15 somebody who's no stranger to this building,
16 former Assemblywoman, now Senator Pat Fahy.
17 Pat, welcome.
18 (Applause.)
19 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: And she's
20 the first woman to represent the Albany-based
21 seat. So congratulations, Senator Fahy.
22 Next, Senator Siela Bynoe, coming to
23 us from Nassau County.
24 (Applause.)
25 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Before
36
1 that, she was a member of the local board of
2 education before she was a county legislator.
3 And she too is shattering a glass ceiling. She's
4 the first Black State Senator from Long Island.
5 Congratulations.
6 (Applause.)
7 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Senator
8 Chris Ryan -- come on, stand up.
9 (Applause.)
10 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: He was
11 also a former local town board member, and he was
12 the minority leader of the Onondaga County
13 Legislature as well as being the president of
14 CWA Local 1123.
15 Welcome, Chris Ryan.
16 (Applause.)
17 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: And from
18 the great State of Buffalo --
19 (Laughter.)
20 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- I will
21 say what she said: Rough Buff.
22 (Laughter.)
23 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Senator
24 April Baskin --
25 (Applause.)
37
1 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- who
2 served as the chair of the Erie County
3 Legislature. And she also -- another ceiling
4 breaker -- is the first Black woman elected to
5 the State Senate from Buffalo.
6 (Applause.)
7 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: So by the
8 way, with the addition of these three new female
9 Senators, this chamber -- I know, listen to
10 this -- a historic number of women sitting in the
11 Senate.
12 (Cheers; applause.)
13 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Yay!
14 Twenty-two. Stand up, ladies. Let the ladies
15 stand up. Stand up, ladies.
16 (Continuing applause; cheers.)
17 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Thank
18 you. Thank you. Yay! And all who support --
19 you guys can stand up too. Come on, guys, stand
20 up. I don't want you all to feel -- I didn't
21 want you to feel left out. I want you to stand
22 up too. You can -- after the ladies, though.
23 (Laughter.)
24 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Well, you
25 know, this is a big deal for me. When I first
38
1 came, in 2007, there were nine women in the
2 chamber. Only nine. And I really want to remind
3 us that here in New York as well as in the
4 nation, you know, women are holding up at least
5 50 percent of New York in terms of population.
6 So, you know, we're not there, but we're
7 certainly getting there.
8 And, you know, I like to say to
9 stand up because representation matters. And of
10 course welcome, Senator Chan, as well. It is
11 you -- you too, as Senator Ortt said --
12 (Applause.)
13 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: --
14 besides being a veteran, a ceiling breaker as
15 well.
16 So there is no question that we are
17 entering a year defined by enormous challenges.
18 Yes, with the incoming administration in
19 Washington, uncertainty does hang heavy in the
20 air. But let me be clear. New York has never
21 been a state to back down. And when others seek
22 to divide, we stand united and tall. We do not
23 just endure challenges; we meet them head on and
24 we lead the way for the nation.
25 This year we have a vital
39
1 legislative window to address our residents' real
2 struggles and continue being a beacon of hope, of
3 progress, and of resilience for the entire
4 country.
5 Amid mixed national election results
6 this past November, we in this chamber were sent
7 back to the people with a mandate to continue our
8 transformative work, the work that we've set out
9 to do since 2019. Since 2019 we've delivered
10 transformative change, always focused on helping
11 everyday New Yorkers, from fully funding public
12 education to passing much-needed voting reforms
13 like early voting. We've taken bold steps to
14 protect our environment, expand opportunities for
15 affordable higher education, safeguard Medicaid,
16 fortify reproductive freedoms through shield
17 laws -- and, yes, a strong Equal Rights
18 Amendment.
19 We've also stood firmly in support
20 of municipalities, our safety net hospitals, and
21 essential services across our state. We've
22 always kept our focus on affordability. While
23 we've made great strides by expanding the
24 Earned Income Tax Credit, capping property taxes,
25 raising the minimum wage, and securing and
40
1 expanding paid family leave, we know families are
2 still feeling the pinch. And we know the
3 challenges ahead require maintaining and
4 strengthening our resolve to make New York more
5 affordable.
6 As the New York Senate Majority,
7 we're in our communities taking action on things
8 that matter most. Our constituents know us
9 because they see us fighting for them. And after
10 half a decade of showing up, doing the work,
11 delivering results, they know that we'll meet
12 that moment.
13 We're not a one-and-done conference.
14 Although Senate Democrats have been the
15 architects of New York's boldest policies, there
16 is much more to be done. One of the challenges
17 to working families and our local economies is
18 the uncertainty in Washington. When federal
19 funding is threatened, everyone is harmed, and
20 certainly the most vulnerable are hit the
21 hardest.
22 But here in New York we've
23 repeatedly proven that we can and will step up to
24 protect our residents. That means building on
25 the progress that we've made: Expanding
41
1 universal prekindergarten, taking it one step
2 further by moving closer to universal childcare,
3 because working parents deserve affordable
4 high-quality care for their children. Continuing
5 to fully fund our public schools. Ensuring that
6 every child, no matter their zip code, has the
7 tools they need to succeed. And cutting the cost
8 of everyday essentials by continuing to fight for
9 meaningful prescription drug reforms and reduced
10 prices for our consumers. No New Yorker should
11 put off medical care due to worry about the cost.
12 Furthermore, as New Yorkers grapple
13 with their utility bills, we'll double down on
14 efforts to lower the cost of energy and protect
15 ratepayers from price gouging, all this while
16 continuing to tackle exorbitant costs at the
17 register for food and clothing.
18 We'll continue to stand up for our
19 farmers, because they are a critical piece of our
20 fight for affordable food. Because we all know
21 if there's no farms, there is no food.
22 We're building our efforts to
23 address New York's housing crisis by protecting
24 tenants and making bold investments in affordable
25 working-class and middle-income housing to ensure
42
1 that every New Yorker has a place to call home.
2 And we will continue to fight for policies that
3 make it easier for first-time homebuyers to get
4 their foot in the door.
5 We'll support our existing programs
6 that will keep people in their homes amid
7 financial setbacks and advance policies that keep
8 the cost of living down for seniors and our
9 veterans and others on fixed incomes.
10 We will also redouble our efforts to
11 make higher education more affordable, because
12 the path to the middle class begins with
13 opportunities that are accessible to all.
14 As the birthplace of the American
15 labor movement, we know that unions are one of
16 the surest paths to the middle class. We'll
17 continue to advance robust labor protections and
18 benefits to expand our workforce from the ground
19 up. We'll remain a safe haven where the right to
20 organize and collectively bargain is not just
21 recognized but encouraged. And we will once
22 again champion improvements to worker benefits
23 like temporary disability insurance while
24 continuing to advance measures that make it
25 easier to join our public workforce.
43
1 By the same token, our conference
2 has proudly fought for Main Street by injecting
3 billions of dollars into small businesses and
4 cultural institutions. This year we'll recommit
5 our efforts to these economic drivers to ensure
6 that the cost of doing business in New York
7 doesn't shutter our moms-and-pops.
8 Tackling the affordability crisis
9 and getting New Yorkers back on track must be our
10 top priority, but we can't ease up on the fight
11 for our most basic freedoms. We will continue to
12 protect the rights of all New Yorkers and will
13 once again look to bolster reproductive health
14 freedoms. For decades we were told that Roe v.
15 Wade was settled law and would never change.
16 Well, we know that was a false promise.
17 This year is the eve of the
18 250th anniversary of our great nation, and
19 New York played a critical role in the birth of
20 our great democracy. All of us in this chamber
21 are tasked with protecting that democracy.
22 That's why we'll be charging ahead at the top of
23 this session with a renewed voting rights
24 package.
25 We cannot ignore the weight of this
44
1 moment. Forces of extremism are working harder
2 than ever to sow division and discord. Here in
3 New York we will rise above the chaos. We'll
4 chart a course grounded in equity, in fairness,
5 and in opportunity for all. This is our chance.
6 It's our responsibility to lead not just for
7 today but for future generations. Together we
8 will meet the challenges of this moment and show
9 the nation what true leadership looks like --
10 true representational leadership looks like.
11 Thank you for standing with us,
12 believing in what we can accomplish together, and
13 your unwavering dedication to building, yes, an
14 affordable, safer, fairer and stronger New York.
15 Thank you very much.
16 (Standing ovation.)
17 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Majority
18 Leader Stewart-Cousins.
19 Senator Gianaris.
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
21 there's a resolution at the desk adopting the
22 rules of the Senate. Can we take that up at this
23 time.
24 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
25 read.
45
1 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
2 2, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, providing for the
3 adoption of the Rules of the Senate for the years
4 2025-2026.
5 THE PRESIDENT: The question is on
6 the resolution. All those in favor signify by
7 saying aye.
8 (Response of "Aye.")
9 THE PRESIDENT: Opposed?
10 (Response of "Nay.")
11 THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
12 adopted.
13 Senator Gianaris.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now there's
15 another resolution at the desk, calling for the
16 election of the Secretary of the Senate. Can we
17 take that up, please.
18 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
19 read.
20 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
21 3, by Senator Stewart-Cousins: RESOLVED, That
22 Alejandra Paulino of Albany, New York, be, and
23 she hereby is, elected Secretary of the Senate
24 for the years 2025-2026.
25 THE PRESIDENT: The question is on
46
1 the resolution. All those in favor signify by
2 saying aye.
3 (Response of "Aye.")
4 THE PRESIDENT: Opposed?
5 (No response.)
6 THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
7 adopted.
8 Ms. Paulino, I ask that you please
9 come forward to receive your oath of office while
10 Senator Stewart-Cousins performs the swearing in.
11 (Ms. Paulino and Senator
12 Stewart-Cousins move to the center of the
13 chamber.)
14 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Raise
15 your right hand. And again, thank you so much
16 for all you do for all of us to make sure that
17 these chambers and everything that goes on works
18 smoothly. So Alejandra, thank you.
19 So you'll repeat after me and state
20 your name: I, state your name --
21 MS. PAULINO: I, Alejandra Noel
22 Paulino --
23 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- do
24 solemnly swear --
25 MS. PAULINO: -- do solemnly
47
1 swear --
2 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- to
3 uphold and support the Constitution of the
4 United States --
5 MS. PAULINO: -- to uphold and
6 support the Constitution of the United States --
7 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- the
8 Constitution of the State of New York --
9 MS. PAULINO: -- the Constitution of
10 the State of New York --
11 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- and to
12 dutifully perform my duties as Secretary of the
13 New York State Senate --
14 MS. PAULINO: -- and to
15 dutifully --
16 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: --
17 perform --
18 MS. PAULINO: -- perform all of the
19 duties as Secretary of the New York State
20 Senate --
21 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- to the
22 best of my ability --
23 MS. PAULINO: -- to the best of my
24 ability --
25 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- so
48
1 help me God.
2 MS. PAULINO: -- so help me God.
3 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS:
4 Congratulations.
5 MS. PAULINO: Thank you.
6 (Standing ovation.)
7 THE PRESIDENT: Congratulations,
8 Ms. Paulino.
9 Senator Gianaris.
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: Next up is a
11 resolution pertaining to the appointment of the
12 Sergeant-at-Arms. Let's take up that resolution,
13 please.
14 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
15 read.
16 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
17 4, by Senator Stewart-Cousins: RESOLVED, That
18 Benjamin M. Sturges III be, and he hereby is,
19 elected Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate for the
20 years 2025-2026.
21 THE PRESIDENT: The question is on
22 the resolution. All those in favor signify by
23 saying aye.
24 (Response of "Aye.")
25 THE PRESIDENT: Opposed?
49
1 (No response.)
2 THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
3 adopted.
4 For the record, Benjamin Sturges has
5 been elected Sergeant-at-Arms for the years
6 2025-2026.
7 (Applause.)
8 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Gianaris.
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: Next up is a
10 resolution appointing Catherine Kirkland as
11 Senate Stenographer. Let's take that up, please.
12 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
13 read.
14 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
15 5, by Senator Stewart-Cousins: RESOLVED, That
16 Catherine Kirkland be, and she hereby is, elected
17 the Official Stenographer of the Senate for the
18 years 2025-2026.
19 THE PRESIDENT: The question is on
20 the resolution. All those in favor signify by
21 saying aye.
22 (Response of "Aye.")
23 THE PRESIDENT: Opposed?
24 (No response.)
25 THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
50
1 adopted.
2 For the record, Catherine Kirkland
3 has been elected Official Stenographer of the
4 Senate for the years 2025-2026. It is my honor
5 to present to you the Official Stenographer of
6 the Senate.
7 (Standing ovation.)
8 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Gianaris.
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: I find this next
10 one more procedural and technical, because we
11 know we work all hours of the day and night. But
12 there is a resolution setting forth the hours of
13 the Senate --
14 (Laughter.)
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: -- for 2025 to
16 2026. Let's take that up, please.
17 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
18 read.
19 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
20 6, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, providing for the
21 hours of meeting by the Senate for the years
22 2025-2026.
23 THE PRESIDENT: The question is on
24 the resolution. All those in favor signify by
25 saying aye.
51
1 (Response of "Aye.")
2 THE PRESIDENT: Opposed?
3 (No response.)
4 THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
5 adopted.
6 Senator Gianaris.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's now take
8 up the resolution appointing a committee of two
9 to inform the Governor.
10 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
11 read.
12 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
13 7, by Senator Stewart-Cousins: RESOLVED, That
14 Temporary President appoint a committee of two,
15 comprised of Senator Baskin and Senator Rolison,
16 for the purpose of informing the Governor that
17 the Senate is organized and ready to proceed with
18 business.
19 THE PRESIDENT: The question is on
20 the resolution. All those in favor signify by
21 saying aye.
22 (Response of "Aye.")
23 THE PRESIDENT: Opposed?
24 (No response.)
25 THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
52
1 adopted.
2 Senator Gianaris.
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: Next up, the
4 resolution appointing the committee of two, being
5 Senator Fahy and Senator Walczyk, to inform the
6 Assembly. Please take that up.
7 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
8 read.
9 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
10 8, by Senator Stewart-Cousins: RESOLVED, That
11 the Temporary President appoint a committee of
12 two, comprised of Senator Fahy and
13 Senator Walczyk, for the purpose of waiting upon
14 the Assembly and informing that body that the
15 Senate is assembled and ready to proceed with
16 business.
17 THE PRESIDENT: The question is on
18 the resolution. All those in favor signify by
19 saying aye.
20 (Response of "Aye.")
21 THE PRESIDENT: Opposed?
22 (No response.)
23 THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
24 adopted.
25 Senator Gianaris.
53
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: On behalf of
2 Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, I hand up the
3 following committee and conference assignments
4 for the Majority Conference and ask that it be
5 filed in the Journal.
6 THE PRESIDENT: The hand-up is
7 received and shall be filed in the Journal.
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: On behalf of
9 Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, in consultation
10 with Senator Ortt, I hand up the following
11 committee assignments of the Minority Conference
12 and ask that it please be filed in the Journal.
13 THE PRESIDENT: The hand-up is
14 received and shall be filed in the Journal.
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: If we could
16 return to messages from the Governor, I believe
17 we have a message.
18 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
19 read.
20 (Pause.)
21 THE PRESIDENT: The Senate has
22 received the Governor's invitation to the State
23 of the State on January 14th, and it will be
24 noted in the Journal.
25 Senator Gianaris.
54
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
2 further business at the desk today?
3 THE PRESIDENT: There is no further
4 business at the desk.
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
6 adjourn until Monday, January 13th, at 3:00 p.m.,
7 intervening days being legislative days.
8 THE PRESIDENT: On motion, the
9 Senate will stand adjourned until Monday,
10 January 13th, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days
11 being legislative days.
12 The Senate is adjourned.
13 (Whereupon, at 1:13 p.m., the Senate
14 adjourned.)
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