The Federal Government has passed the CARES Act, which extends unemployment benefits. There is help for those who have had their employment interrupted by Covid-19.

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C-Big Flats), his legislative colleagues and local highway superintends today called for an increase in local road and bridge aid. They are fighting for a $200 million increase to the Consolidated Local Street and...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C-Big Flats) recently served breakfast to visiting students from FFA, formally known as Future Farmers of America, in Albany on their annual advocacy day. He and the students discussed ways to promote and improve agricultural...

Assemblyman Christopher Friend (R,C-Big Flats) is calling for the state Legislature to take action to restore judicial discretion in our courts to reverse increasing crime rates created by the 2019 bail reform law. According to a recent Siena College...

“I, along with many law-abiding New Yorkers, have been decrying the bail reform and its negative impacts on public safety in our communities. If Gov. Hochul truly wants to make New York safer, we must give judges judicial discretion. Public safety under...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is reiterating that New York is long overdue for effective oversight of the state’s generous economic development programs, which are funded at the expense of hardworking taxpayers. State Comptroller...

“New York needs to get emergency rental relief funds into the hands of those who are owed rent. Our small-to-medium-sized rental property owners have been doing all they can to stay afloat. The state has been slow to release these funds and another...

“I wish Kathy Hochul well as she takes on the mantel as governor. There is much work ahead to restore the broken trust of the public in their government, but I am ready to work with the governor to reform our government to best serve the people of New...

“Andrew Cuomo, by stepping down, is doing the right thing for our state; we need to move forward and have an executive not mired down by multiple serious scandals which are being investigated by the Assembly. Still, these brave women deserve their day...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is encouraging voters to participate in an upcoming virtual public hearing to be held by the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) on August 9 at 2 p.m. Those interested may register or submit testimony...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is co-sponsoring legislation which would prohibit state agencies from imposing mask mandates on children unless they are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. The assemblyman points to the state’s successful...

Elmira, N.Y., May 7—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia), Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblyman Joe Giglio (R,C-Olean), and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today sent...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is urging the state Department of Health (DOH) to align their COVID-19 guidance for group homes and day habilitation programs with that of the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Currently, state policies...

“Finally, the Legislature is acting to curtail the governor’s excessive executive orders as I have been arguing for over the past year. Today we’re ending restrictions on healthcare facilities and providers in helping to administer the COVID-19...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is disappointed by the Assembly Majority who just rejected a bill which would give veterans 85 years and older a modest $71 personal income tax exemption to help make living in New York more affordable...

Members of the Assembly Minority Conference today wrote to Speaker Carl Heastie and colleagues in the Majority Conference seeking the official notification from Gov. Cuomo and certification from Dr. Howard Zucker, Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner,...

“The budget agreement being passed now has the largest spending this state has ever seen – $212 billion with $5 billion in new taxes despite the significant federal aid New York just received. This budget is irresponsible and doesn’t prioritize...

Elmira — State lawmakers from across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions today renewed their call for Governor Andrew Cuomo to give the go-ahead to allow all schools to return to full-time, in-person classroom instruction. The move has also...