Press Releases

DeStefano Applauds Signing of Amended “Gio’s Law” to Expand Emergency EpiPen Use by First Responders

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) is pleased to announce Gov. Hochul has signed legislation amending the 2019 “Gio’s Law” (A.7961) to clarify that all counties in New York, outside of New York City, can enact local laws allowing law enforcement...

Assemblyman DeStefano, Sen. Murray Hold Bridge Designation Ceremony for Medford FD Commissioner Niel Marturiello

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Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) and Sen. Dean Murray (R,C-3rd District) hosted a ceremony yesterday at the Medford Fire Department to designate a portion of the state highway system as the “Medford FD Commissioner Niel Marturiello Memorial Bridge,”...

DeStefano Pushes for Parole Board Reforms

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Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) supported Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt and fellow members of the Assembly and Senate Minority Conferences at a press conference today in West Capitol Park where they continued...

DeStefano: Everyone Should Have Access to FDA-Approved Opioid Reversal Agents

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“I was joined by some of my Assembly colleagues yesterday, May 7, at a press conference to discuss the evolving epidemic here in New York that is the opioid crisis. This crisis has continued to grow significantly, transitioning from prescription drugs...

DeStefano: Volunteer First Responders Finally Getting the Funding They Deserve

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“Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to attend and speak at a press conference hosted by Assemblyman Steve Stern and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine with respect to new legislative initiatives introduced in support of our invaluable volunteer first...

DeStefano: Assembly Majority Approach to State Budget is Broken

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Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) was joined by his colleagues this morning at a press conference held by Minority Leader Will Barclay and Ways & Means Committee Ranking Minority Member Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) with respect to our state’s broken...

DeStefano: ‘Donate Life’ Needed Now

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Assembly members and other elected officials gathered in the Legislative Office Building in Albany today to honor and celebrate those who have saved lives through the gift of organ, eye and tissue donation for Donate Life Month. Over the past decade,...

DeStefano: New Yorkers Deserve a Tax Code That Will Allow Them to Live Comfortably

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April 15, also known as Tax Day, prompted government officials to gather in the state capital today to speak on New York’s tax policies. Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C-Mohawk Valley and the Adirondacks) held a Tax Day press conference that highlighted...

DeStefano: Help Our Veterans Now!

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Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) was joined today by his colleagues at a press conference urging the governor to end the unlawful practice of withholding donated tax check-off funds from veteran service agencies and release them immediately. This...

DeStefano: Call for Release of 134 Hostages in Gaza

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford), joined by other members in the Assembly Minority Conference, called for the release of the 134 hostages being held in Gaza. Two New Yorkers are among the hostages being held since the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks....

DeStefano Comments on Beginning of State Budget Process with Passage of Debt Service Bill

Today, the Assembly took up the first of its 10 budget bills, the debt service bill, which is necessary to make legally required payments related to the sale and servicing of debt by the state as well as contractual debt agreements with public authorities...

DeStefano: ‘Finders Keepers’ Property Laws Must Change

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Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) joined his Assembly colleagues at a press conference today in the New York State Capitol with landlords and small property owners to address alarming squatting-related incidents and necessary fixes to the state’s...

DeStefano, Assembly Minority Responds to Urgent Plea from New York Families: Child Care Access and Affordability Must be Improved

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Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) attended a press conference in Albany today, joining Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C-Pulaski), Assembly Minority colleagues, parents and child care experts to share serious concerns regarding access and...

DeStefano Joins Bipartisan Effort for Immediate Passage of ‘Melanie’s Law’ to Strengthen Domestic Violence Protections

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Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) attended a press conference in the New York state Capitol today to support his colleagues’ bipartisan push to pass “Melanie’s Law” (A.6026/S.6288), allowing courts to issue orders of protection for immediate...

Assemblyman DeStefano Condemns $60 Million Cut to Local Road Maintenance

“Local roads play a crucial role in our daily lives, serving as vital connections to work, school, health care and our loved ones. As we all know, New York state is notorious for its poorly maintained, pot-hole-riddled roads and appropriately ranks...

DeStefano: It’s Time to Make all of New York Accessible

“For too long, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), along with the dedicated direct-support professionals (DSP) supporting them, have been in the shadows. They need quality care, fair raises and they need it now,” DeStefano...

DeStefano: This is all Preventable, We Must Pass Legislation to Protect Warehouse Worker Injury

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Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) attended a press conference in the New York State Capitol today to call for the passage of the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act (A.3309-/S.5081). Warehouse work is one of the most dangerous occupations in the...

DeStefano Joins Colleagues, Union Members to Support PLA Legislation

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Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) joined the Laborers and other Building Trades unions for a rally on the Million Dollar Staircase, advocating for bill A.5486 and good union jobs at SUNY. As a co-sponsor on the bill, DeStefano joined legislative...

DeStefano: State of The State Highlights Weak Package of Proposals for 2024

“The governor’s State of the State today was full of promise, but again fails to acknowledge the cliff our state hangs over—New Yorkers are fleeing due to an exorbitant cost of living and stifling overregulation, particularly burdening our small...

DeStefano Joins Forces to Combat Fentanyl Epidemic, Urges Swift Action

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Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) attended a press conference on the Million Dollar Staircase in the Capitol this morning to support the unveiling of a legislative package aimed at stemming the rising tide of overdose deaths in New York state. More...