Press Releases

DeStefano Commends Funding of Gold Star Families’ Scholarships

“This past week, my Minority colleagues and I have pushed back on the Assembly Majority’s’ decision to block a bill that expanded scholarships for Gold Star families. After public outrage, Gov. Cuomo has announced that the scholarships...

Destefano Launches Petition for Gold Star Families’ Bill

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I-Medford) is encouraging constituents to sign a petition to ensure that Assembly Bill 2991 becomes law. The bill would provide Gold Star families free tuition and room and board to SUNY & CUNY institutions. Last week, the...

Governor Supports Free Tuition for Gold Star Families

“It was disheartening to hear our fellow legislators call this proposal ‘an entitlement,’ but I am encouraged by the governor’s support on this meaningful initiative that would provide free college tuition to surviving dependent family...

Assembly Majority Blocks Bill to Help Military Family Members Attend College

Today, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I-Medford) called out Assembly Majority for blocking a bill (A.2991) that would provide free college tuition to family members of New York state military personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. DeStefano...

DeStefano To Host Narcan Training Event

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) and County Legislator Rudy Sunderman are hosting a Narcan Training event on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. Narcan reduces the effects of opioids in the event of an overdose. The training event will include ways...

Budget Remains a Partisan Process

“As legislators, our top priority is— and always should be—to make New York a better place to live, but state Majority is only concerned about improving the lives of illegal immigrants and convicted felons. While our Minority conference...

DeStefano Rallies for Expansion of Prevailing Wage

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Yesterday, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) joined labor union members at a rally in the New York State Capitol in support of expanding the prevailing wage to all projects that receive any public funding. Prevailing wage is a set wage that...

DeStefano Calls for Increase in Funding for Early Childhood Education

Pictured: Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) attends a press conference calling for an increase in funding to early childhood education on Tuesday, March 26.
Yesterday, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) attended a press conference in the New York State Capitol calling on legislative leaders to adopt the Assembly one-house proposals to increase funding for child care subsidies by $20 million. He...

Destefano Calls for Living Wage

Pictured: Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) attends #bfair2DirectCare Rally held in the New York State Capitol War Room on Monday, March 25
Today, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) attended the #bfair2DirectCare rally in the New York State Capitol War Room. The rally included many direct-care workers from across the state demanding a living wage. The Assembly Minority Conference...

Destefano Calls for Increase in Funding Towards Mental Hygiene System

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) attends press conference calling for an increase in funding for the mental hygiene system on Wednesday, March 20.
Today, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) attended a press conference calling for an increase in funding for the mental hygiene system in this year’s final budget. The conference was hosted by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, chairwoman of...

Destefano Joins Call For $150,000 For American Legion

This week, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) joined members of the Assembly Minority Conference in signing a letter to the governor requesting $150,000 be allocated to the American Legion Boys State program in the upcoming final state budget....

Destefano: One House Budget Is Irresponsible

“It appears the Assembly Majority has designed a budget simply to push more people out of New York state. They continue to tax hardworking residents to pay for their progressive wish list while the rest of the state can’t afford the high cost...

DeStefano Joins Highway Workers for CHIPS Rally

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) stands alongside highway workers on Wednesday, March 6.
Today, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) joined New York highway employees to call on the governor to include necessary funding to repair damaged roads and highways throughout the state. The Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement...

Destefano Calls for Permanent Two Percent Property Tax Cap

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Editor’s Note: Click Here https://youtu.be/k77OPKn49V0 to view Assemblyman DeStefano’s comments at today’s press conference. Today, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I, Ref-Medford) attended a press conference with a bipartisan group of legislators...

DeStefano Calls On the MTA to Scale Back Fare Raise

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Today, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref- Medford) joined Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine, Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy, Senator Monica Martinez, Assemblyman Dough Smith and Suffolk County officials Rudy Sundermann and Bob Martinez...

Apply Today For the New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators Scholarship

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) is encouraging all high school seniors and current college students to apply for the New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators annual academic and athletic scholarships. Each scholarship is...

DeStefano Attends Albany Press Conference Outlining Budget Priorities

Today, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) attended a press conference outlining the Assembly Minority Conference’s budget priorities in the back of the chamber in the New York State Capitol. Hosted by Assembly Minority Leader Brian M....

DeStefano: Amazon Breaks Gov. Cuomo’s Heart

“Gov. Cuomo’s $3 billion handout wasn’t enough to entice Amazon to open shop in Long Island City. His actions have proven that this deal was not created with the taxpayers in mind, but only to benefit his self-serving agenda. There are...

DeStefano Fights to Restore Disability Funding

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Today, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I, Ref- Medford) joined Assemblywoman Missy Miller (R,C,I-Atlantic Beach), Angela’s House Founder Bob Policastro, Disability Rights Advocate Douglas King, and members of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance...

DeStefano Calls On Governor to Restore Aim Funding

“Gov. Cuomo outlined a massive $179 billion state budget this year with proposals that will spend money on everything but our local towns and villages. His proposed Assistance and Initiatives for Municipalities (AIM) budget cuts would cut $59 million...