The Remarks Of Speaker Sheldon Silver

UJA Federation Of New York & The New York Association Of Jewish Federations
90th Anniversary Mission

Empire State Plaza, Legislative Office Building, Hearing Room "C," Albany, NY
Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Mission Chair Karen Kasner. UJA Board Chair, Suzi Stern.
Met Council Executive Director, Willie Rapfogel.
My friends from the United Jewish Council.
Members of the UJA Federation of New York.
Members of the New York Association of Jewish Federations.

On behalf of the New York State Assembly, let me welcome each and every one of you to our State Capital; and especially our delegations from New York City, Rochester and Buffalo.

Thank you for taking the time to travel here to the Legislative Office Building to speak for those most in need of a strong and caring government, but who cannot be present to speak for themselves.

My congratulations, and those of the People's House of the New York State Legislature, on this, your 90th anniversary mission.

Certainly, technology has advanced by leaps and bounds over the last ninety years, but human nature and subsequently, the depth of human need, remains unchanged.

That is why your mission is as important today as it was nine decades ago, as it will likely be nine decades from now.

Those of you who know me know that your mission in New York State has been and is my mission as well.

I am sure you can recall how difficult it was to carry out our mission throughout the twelve years of the previous administration.

Together, we stopped millions of dollars in cuts to education, to health care, and to human services.

Today, we have a governor with whom we share common bonds. We have a governor who is committed to "reform."

Let there be no doubt that the Assembly Majority shares Governor Spitzer's commitment to reforming state government from root to branch.

In this governor, I believe that we have the engine we need to enact the numerous reforms we have proposed for improving our government, and for strengthening our education and health-care systems.

Keep this in mind.

In my three decades of service to this state, the call to "reform" has required a variety of actions.

People forget that in 1980, I authored the law that guarantees that a "Bris" can be performed in a hospital. Before then, no such guarantee existed.

That same year, I authored the law requiring this State to provide alternate dates for standardized tests, such as the S.A.T., the Law Boards, and the Medical Boards, when such tests fall on days of religious observance.

This law is about to tested here in 2007, when the Law Boards conflict with the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av.

In 1983, "reform" meant "The Silver Get Law," which has helped thousands of women in New York State over the last twenty-four years.

In 1984, "reform" meant "The Silver Autopsy Law."

In 1986, I was proud to sponsor the legislation to create naturally occurring retirement communities. We worked on that program together, and I authored and guided to enactment the legislation establishing "NORCs."

Jump ahead to 1997.

I led an investigation which revealed that some of the Nation's leading car-rental companies were engaged in discriminatory practices targeted to groups, including Hasidic and Orthodox Jews.

In 2000, I authored and the state enacted the Hate Crimes Law.

In 2002, I advanced and the state enacted legislation requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of treatments for infertility.

That same year, I authored and the Assembly passed "religious freedom" legislation to guarantee reasonable accommodation of religious practices in the workplace. The other house would not pass this legislation.

In 2004, I authored legislation to prevent insurers from denying life and health coverage to anyone who had ever traveled to Israel. Believe it or not, some companies were including that information in their ratings for insurance coverage.

That same year, I joined with then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in authoring and gaining enactment of the Kosher Protection Act of 2004.

Throughout my term as Speaker, the Assembly Majority has fought for and achieved significant social reforms, including the establishment of Universal pre-K, the creation of Family Health Plus, and a significant increase in the minimum wage.

"Reform" is a fundamental component of my mission.

Reform is the history of the New York State Assembly.

There is still much more to do, and restoring public faith in this government is certainly part of our goal.

Yes, "process" is important, but please, let us not overlook "substance."

Isn't it time that we increased the basic grant for the poorest among us?

Shouldn't we continue the CFE education reforms?

Isn't it our moral obligation to continue to expand health-care coverage for the tens of thousands who do not have it?

How many years must pass before we take the necessary steps to reduce gun violence?

These are reforms as well, reforms that New Yorkers need us to advance; reforms that we must pursue together, as partners.

The UJA, the Association of Jewish Federations, the Assembly Majority … ours is a tradition of standing up for families, for children, for the elderly and the ailing, and for the less fortunate among us.

Let us honor that legacy today and always.

As you know by now, my door is always open to you.

Thank you for listening. Thank you for being here, and please, make this lobbying day your most successful one ever.