S8440

The New York State Senate passed legislation renaming the Patroon Island Bridge between Albany and Rensselaer County as the Medal of Honor Recipient Sergeant Henry Johnson Memorial Bridge, with a vote of 58-1. The bill (S8440, Calendar No. 252) honors Sergeant Henry Johnson, an Albany native who served in the Harlem Hellfighters, an all-Black National Guard regiment, during World War I. Johnson survived a 1918 attack in the Argonne Forest in France despite suffering 21 wounds from hand-to-hand combat while protecting wounded comrades. Despite his valor, he waited nearly a century before receiving the Medal of Honor in 2015 under President Barack Obama. Sen. Fahy, the bill's sponsor, explained her affirmative vote by noting the bridge renaming preserves Johnson's legacy and accurate history, particularly following the Department of Defense's 2024 decision to remove his name from Fort Johnson in Louisiana and rename it Fort Polk. Fahy characterized Johnson as "probably our most distinguished hometown hero" and stated the legislation aims to prevent the "whitewashing" of history. Only Sen. Brisport voted against the measure.

The New York State Senate passed S8440, sponsored by Sen. Addabbo, an act to amend the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law. The bill received 62 affirmative votes with no recorded opposition. The measure, which carries Calendar Number 416, takes effect immediately upon passage. No floor debate was recorded prior to the vote.