Press Releases

Assemblymember Barrett Helps Farmers Get Goods to Market

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) announced the passage of legislation she authored that will help local farmers on the cost of transporting their goods to markets across the state. Specifically, the bill would create a tax credit for...

Assemblymember Barrett Continues to Push for Tougher Ethics Reforms

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) announced the passage of legislation aimed at addressing the aggregate amount of political contributions that a limited liability company (LLC) may make in a year. The bill focuses on closing the so-called...

Assemblymember Barrett Helps Ensure Greater Protections and Support for Victims of Domestic Violence

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) announced the Assembly passed a series of bills aimed at providing better assistance and additional safeguards for victims of domestic violence, as well as steps to ensure victims are granted the justice...

Assemblymember Didi Barrett Helps Push for Fundamental Equality

“Today, the Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to basic equality by passing a series of bills aimed at eliminating pay disparity in the workforce. Women and men across the country have fought tirelessly to raise awareness of pay inequality women face...

Assemblymember Barrett to Chair New Regional Tourism Development Subcommittee

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) announced her appointment as Chair of a new subcommittee on Regional Tourism Development. The committee will focus on the state’s tourist attractions as local and regional economic engines, enhancing...

Local High School Students Shadow Assemblymember Didi Barrett

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) was joined in Albany by Arlington High School honor students Brianna Bisceglia and Owen A. Patterson for Career Shadow Day. The students accompanied Assemblymember Barrett throughout the day, attending...

Assemblymember Barrett Votes to Protect a Woman’s Right to Make Her Own Healthcare Decisions

“Today’s vote reaffirms the Assembly’s commitment to ensuring the women of New York have access to all of their rights, not just some of them. All my life I have fought to ensure that all women have the same protections, opportunities and respect...

Assemblymember Barrett Supports Paid Family Leave to Hardworking Families

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) announced the Assembly passed legislation she sponsored to implement paid family leave benefits for injury or sickness, pregnancy or to care for a family member (A.3870). Providing workers with paid time...

Assemblymember Didi Barrett Applauds Legislative Package Passed to Combat Human Trafficking

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) announced today that the Assembly passed a legislative package to combat against human trafficking. “Human trafficking is exploitation at its most despicable and the number of victims has reached...

Assemblymember Didi Barrett Helps Pass ‘Families First’ Budget Proposal

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) announced the passage of the Assembly’s “Families First” state budget proposal (E.203). Specifically, the Assembly proposal continues to invest in New York’s thriving agricultural industry and...

Assemblymember Barrett Celebrates Hudson Valley Women’s History With New Booklet

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) released the second volume of “Women’s History in the Hudson Valley: Ten Stories from Columbia and Dutchess Counties,” a booklet she created in collaboration...

Assemblymember Didi Barrett Announces Her 2015 Diner Stop Tour Dates

Committed to keeping an open dialogue with Hudson Valley residents, Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) is again bringing her office to local diners as part of her fourth annual “Diner Stop Tour.” “I am a huge diner fan and we...

Assemblymember Barrett Wants to Ensure Farmland Preservation Funds Stay in the Budget

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia & Dutchess) is encouraged by the governor’s inclusion of a $20 million farmland preservation initiative in this year’s 2015-16 budget, but she urges people to let their legislators and the governor know how...

Assemblymember Didi Barrett Calls for Truly Universal Pre-Kindergarten

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) announced that she is authoring legislation to ensure state-funded Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) for three and four year olds is truly universal and that special needs children are included in both...

Didi Barrett Sworn Into the New York State Assembly

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Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) announced that her swearing-in ceremony took place at the Red Devon on Sunday, January 25 in Bangall. She was reelected to a second full term to represent the 106th Assembly District, which covers Columbia...

Assemblymember Didi Barrett Supports $20 Million Farmland Preservation Initiative

“We continue to see how agriculture is a catalyst to other economic development, so I was very pleased to hear the governor discuss the need to preserve farmland in the Hudson Valley by announcing a $20 million initiative in this year’s budget. Our...

Assemblymember Barrett Supports Recommendation to Ban Hydrofracking

“Our communities have worked hard to protect our natural resources and our beautiful Hudson River because we know how important it is to have a vibrant, safe and healthy water supply. The Department of Health’s recommendation to ban fracking is consistent...

Governor Enacts Barrett’s Lyme Bill

Assemblymember Didi Barrett’s (D-Columbia, Dutchess) bill to improve the care of those suffering from Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses has been signed into law (Chp. 532 of 2014). This new law will allow physicians to prescribe long-term antibiotic...

Area Regional Councils Awarded Over $140 Million

“The Mid-Hudson Valley and Capital regions have been awarded over $140 million by the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) to help strengthen our economy and expand our core industries. The Mid-Hudson Valley has been named a “Top Performer”...

Barrett Encourages the Governor to Sign Important Lyme Legislation

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D – Columbia, Dutchess) announced that legislation she authored that would expand treatment options for patients suffering from Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses has been delivered to Governor Cuomo (A.7558/S.7854). Under...