Fifty years ago, the civil rights movement started in earnest when the Supreme Court handed down its revolutionary verdict in the Brown v. Board of Education case. Declaring that separate rarely is equal, the court, in a unanimous decision, ordered schools...

Libraries play a crucial role in our communities. By providing free access to books, ideas and information, libraries connect us with the insight and knowledge of the greatest minds and best teachers. That’s why it’s important we recognize and celebrate...

We must do a better job of protecting our families from gun violence, and we can do so by stopping guns from falling into the wrong hands. The Assembly’s passage of a comprehensive package of legislation I sponsored will curb gun violence by protecting...

Before this past year’s budget fight, Governor Pataki traveled the state, telling whoever would listen that he wouldn’t offer any new taxes in his budget proposal. Flash forward a few weeks and there was the same governor unveiling a budget that contained...

Winter’s cold weather is right around the corner, and with it comes higher home heating bills. Thankfully, the HEAP program will again provide financial assistance to qualified Suffolk residents to help pay for those higher energy costs. HEAP, or...

Elections are the lifeblood of our democracy, but they are meaningless without public trust. The 2000 presidential election debacle in Florida, and the hail of media attention that followed, brought the flaws in the election process into sharp focus....

October marks the 18th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to remember that steps can be taken to prevent and treat this disease. It’s also a time to celebrate breast cancer survivors and remember those who have lost their...

Since its institution, the Amber Alert system has been incredibly successful in helping safely track down missing children. To date, it’s credited with at least 103 recoveries nationwide. That’s why it’s so disappointing that the governor...

This week, I’ll be participating in America’s Legislators Back to School Week. This exciting program, which is nationwide and bipartisan, is a unique opportunity to visit classrooms and talk to students about the importance of state government and...

Now that a new school year is upon us, it’s important for parents to prepare their children for the challenges ahead. There are some simple things parents can do to help their children have a successful and safe school year – from discussing bus and...

As the saying goes, a job well done is its own reward. But across New York – in stores and businesses, construction sites and factories – all of us reap the benefits of the thousands of people who wake up each morning dedicated to doing hard, honest...

Younger generations often feel their voices go unheard and fail to see the importance of voting. By registering to vote however, they have a chance to express their opinions and vote for people who represent the issues that matter most to them. That’s...

Assemblyman Philip Ramos (D-Central Islip) said today that President Bush’s plan to eliminate overtime compensation for white collar workers would amount to a pay cut for as many as 438,500 New Yorkers. “The president’s policies are once again...

Earlier this year, the Legislature united in a spirit of bipartisanship to override the governor’s budget vetoes in order to prevent his historic cuts to education and block his proposal to freeze STAR benefits. We fought hard to protect quality education...

There is no doubt the housing crisis on Long Island is getting out of hand. There are thousands of working families struggling to make ends meet, unable to afford skyrocketing rent, mortgage rates and property taxes. Working families deserve to experience...

Before the close of session, the Assembly passed a package of legislation aimed at ending abuses of the public trust by state authorities and public benefit corporations. This package of legislation helps ensure the choices public authorities make are...

In today’s world, reading often competes with television, video games, and the Internet. While kids enjoy these things, it’s also important kids and parents experience the simple joy of reading. That’s why I am calling on children and parents to...