Asm. Brian Maher

Acknowledged the bill addresses an important issue but stressed the need to accurately calculate costs and ensure adequate funding for child care subsidies to prevent counties from canceling assistance programs.

The bill provides court officers in the Town of Montgomery with peace officer status, giving them tools and resources needed to protect themselves and the general public.

Reinterpreted Pope Francis's concept of 'hope' not merely as hope to live, but as hope to have the strength to face death with dignity.

Argued the bill addresses workforce shortages and economic challenges by creating sector partnerships between businesses and educational institutions, with grant programs and private matching funds to maximize State investment and keep New Yorkers in the State.

Argued that New York's workforce development strategies are failing, with only 19 percent of Upstate business leaders reporting adequate supply of trained workers. Maher contended the bill would create sector partnerships between businesses and educational institutions, provide technical assistance and matching grants, and align with existing state policy that emphasizes sector partnerships but lacks implementation.

Detailed childcare crisis with 64 percent of NY families in childcare deserts, declining provider numbers (Poughkeepsie providers dropped 50 percent from 2007-2023), and state agency communication failures causing providers to close or face massive insurance increases.

Sponsor argued New York lags nationally on childcare access with 64 percent of families in deserts; detailed how the study would examine barriers and require inter-agency coordination, citing insurance crises and documented provider decline in Hudson Valley.

Recalled work with Senator Bill Larkin on the Purple Heart Memorial Veterans' Bridge and noted the Hall of Honor is the only national repository of Purple Heart medals in the country, supported by a $10 million state grant.

Spoke to personal experience of witnessing discrimination against his mother as one of the first Hispanics in his upstate community, and supported the bill as an acknowledgment of the need to confront systemic racism.

Supported the bill citing the 2021 Orange County IDA scandal, while noting the current Orange County board is performing well and hoping for future amendments to address remaining concerns.