Following the success of his previous Veterans Forum in November, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara (D-Rotterdam) will be hosting another conversation with veterans to discuss the issues they and their families are facing. The forum is scheduled for Friday, April 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Riverfront Center in Amsterdam.

“Our veterans have served with tremendous bravery and honor, and this open discussion will allow me to hear their concerns firsthand so that I can best serve them and represent their needs in our community,” Assemblyman Santabarbara stated.

The forum will be an opportunity to discuss issues that impact our veterans today, including the very serious matter of finding employment upon their return home. Previously, Assemblyman Santabarbara fought for a veteran’s tax credit for businesses that hire veterans, and this year he helped pass the “Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Act,” which sets aside 6 percent of state contracts for businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. The forum will be an occasion to discuss these legislative initiatives as well as what more needs to be done to protect and honor our veterans, Assemblyman Santabarbara noted.

Additionally, Assemblyman Santabarbara is the host of “Santabarbara NOW: The Veterans Project,” where he sits down with veterans to discuss their stories about serving in the military. To view the videos, please visit: www.tinyurl.com/VeteransProject.

Assemblyman Santabarbara served in the Army Reserves from 1990-98 and is the AMVETS Post 35 Commander in Rotterdam. He also sits on the Assembly’s Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

For more information on the Veteran’s Forum, please contact Assemblyman Santabarbara’s office at 382-2941.