Press Releases

Bridging Gaps and Honoring Heroes: Alleviating Legal Disparities for Veterans

Recently, I joined a bipartisan letter requesting the Assembly One-House Budget Proposal to include a legal veterans tax credit law (A.4612). In the wise words of Harry S. Truman, “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country...

Blankenbush: Fully Funding Our Local Roads is a Moral Obligation

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Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush’s (R,C-Black River) was joined today by constituent members of the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways and the New York State County Highway Superintendents Association on their Local Roads are...

Blankenbush Advocates for Increased Transportation Funding in Albany

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The annual “Local Roads Are Essential” advocacy campaign is set to return to Albany on March 5 and 6, aiming to push for an increase in the final budget for transportation aid. Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush’s (R,C-Black River) office joined Assemblyman...

Blankenbush Congratulates Boonville on $4.5 Million Downtown Revitalization Award

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C-Black River) congratulates the Village of Boonville for receiving the NY Forward program’s $4.5 million award. Boonville was one of several applicants in the Mohawk Valley Region in Round 7 of the $10 million Downtown...

Blankenbush: A Day of Mental Health Awareness

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This week, I wore purple alongside my Assembly colleagues for P.S. I Love You Day, which is held on the second Friday in February to raise awareness for mental health. The Long Island non-profit organization P.S. I Love You is dedicated to addressing...

Reality Check Advocates Visit Blankenbush to Share Concerns About Youth Vaping and Tobacco Use

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On Tuesday, Feb. 6, Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C-Black River) welcomed student volunteers from Reality Check, an organization tackling tobacco use among youth and developing effective prevention methods. In 2023, the data from the Centers for Disease...

School Aid: Where Do We Go from Here?

Time is racing in this new year, it feels like just yesterday we were celebrating Christmas. In the last four weeks, my team and I have been hitting the ground running, traveling around the district. It has been a pleasure reconnecting with many old friends...

Blankenbush Supports Expanding Agricultural Education in Public Schools

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Future Farmers of America Students (FFA) from St. Lawrence County, Jefferson, and Lewis county visited Assemblyman Blankenbush  (R,C-Black River) Albany office to advocate expanding learning opportunities. In participation for FFA day, several board...

Blankenbush Supports the Joseph Fletcher Act to Expand Covid-19 Workers’ Compensation Assistance

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C-Black River) joined his colleagues in support of the “Joseph Fletcher Act,” which aims to allow those who were denied or missed the deadline for benefits and perished from COVID-19 to receive compensation claim benefits....

Blankenbush Congratulates the Village of Lowville on $10 Million Grant Approval

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C-Black River) congratulates the Village of Lowville on a $10 million grant award from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward program. Gov. Hochul announced in a recent press release Lowville is one...

Blankenbush Reaction to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Budget Proposal

“Gov. Hochul is once again making it clear her priorities lie elsewhere. Rather than addressing the concerns of taxpayers, she is having them foot a $233 billion bill for her progressive policies,” said Blankenbush. “This is a $4 billion increase...

December’s Month of Magic Before Session

December is a magical month. Homes and towns transform into Christmas wonderlands with their lights illuminating the early dark days. This is a month filled with an array of cultural festivities. Families unite in celebration of Christmas, Hanukkah and...

Mask Mandates Have No Place in New York

COVID-19 has left a bad mark on the words masks and mandates. Those two words will forever serve as a reminder of a dark, unpredictable time in our state. Last week, the commissioner of the Department of Health (DOH) declared the flu to be prevalent in...

Gratitude And Community: A Thanksgiving Message From Assemblyman Blankenbush

I always look forward to the end of November; it means there will be more time to spend home with my wife, Sheila, and I also get to see more of my amazing grandchildren. Thanksgiving is one of the few holidays that brings families around the table to...

Halloween Festivities Safety Reminder

We are approaching the end of October, which means the Halloween festivities will begin to pick up. As we dress up and admire the carved pumpkins and spooky decorations, I hope this column will be useful and serve as a reminder of potential hazards on...

Ammunition Background Check Updates

One month has passed since the ammunition background check law was enacted, and my office is still receiving calls from worried residents across the district. Visiting gun shops in light of these recent legal changes was an eye-opening experience. As...

Celebrating Tug Hill Commission’s 50th Anniversary

In the heart of Upstate New York lies a hidden gem, a region renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, abundant wildlife and vibrant communities. This year, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tug Hill Commission, an organization that has played...

North Country End of September Fall Activities

After months of unpredictable storms and burning temperatures, we’ve made it to fall. This week, those in the Adirondacks and Thousand Islands-Seaway regions will begin to notice color changes in their landscape. The I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report recorded...

Blankenbush Calls on Governor Hochul To Sign “Direct Pay” Bill into Law

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C-Black River) today announced support for the 2023 “EMS Direct Pay” bill (A.250-A). The current system allows insurance companies to pay ambulance service charges directly to the patient unless the ambulance company...

Inhale Knowledge This School Year, Not Chemicals

Children are replacing blowing bubbles with puffing out smoke. More than 2.5 million middle and high-school students are vape users and unfortunately, this smoke is unlike any other inhalants. It's light and doesn't linger, making it undetectable for...