South Queens, NY – Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens) was appointed as the new Chairwoman of the New York State Governmental Employee Committee. Pheffer Amato is the second woman to be appointed Chair of this Committee in the history of New York State. The Committee serves as the leading legislative authority on all public employees in New York, including retirees. In her role she will now preside over and facilitate legislation and policies for public employees that range in pensions, retirement benefits, and health insurance. The Assemblywoman is a known advocate and champion of public employees and their unions and has been publicly praised for her commitment and strong support of public employees.

The appointment, a historic moment in New York, came at the discretion of New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie."I am proud to have appointed Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato to serve as chair of the Committee on Governmental Employees," said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. "She has always been an invaluable asset to the Assembly Majority and New Yorkers, and I know that as chair of the Governmental as Employees Committee she will be a tireless champion for the hard-working men and women of this state."

Throughout the State, the Assemblywoman’s appointment was supported by numerous public employee unions. Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL-CIO expressed his support for the Assemblywoman with, "Congratulations to Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato on her appointment as Chairwoman of the Governmental Employees Committee. It’s our government workers who deliver the vital services we all rely on every day and we know Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato will be a strong advocate to help them as they continue to help all of us.”

New York State Public Employee Federation President Wayne Spence said, “During her tenure in the NYS Assembly, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato has been an extremely important and effective advocate for PEF’s 50,000 members and all workers. PEF is very pleased that our long-time friend and ally has been appointed Chair of the NYS Assembly Governmental Employees Committee. We look forward to working with her and her team to advance the interests of working people and all New Yorkers!”

The New York State Public Employee Conference joined in with the similar excitement with their Chairman Peter D. Meringolo saying, “...we now are blessed with the appointment of Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato.Having served on the Governmental Employees Committee since her first election, Stacey has demonstrated staunch advocacy for public employees.Her ascendance to the Chair reinforces our confidence in the commitment of Speaker Heastie that the needs of our more than one million active and retired members will be addressed favorably.”

NYC PBA President Patrick J. Lynch said: “Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato is no stranger to the issues affecting front-line civil servants, especially the women and men who protect New York City. We look forward to continuing to work with her to ensure that New York City police officers receive fair treatment under the law and the equitable benefits we have worked for and earned.”

“I am honored and thrilled to Chair this Committee and thank Speaker Heastie for his remarkable dedication to our State’s public employees. I appreciate all the confidence and support from our public employee unions throughout our State, cities and countries. I look forward to leading this Committee and supporting legislation for our public employees and their families,” said Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato.