Press Releases

Assemblyman Ra Responds to Rockefeller Institute Study on Foundation Aid

Following the release of the Rockefeller Institute of Government’s study on Foundation Aid today, Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) is emphasizing the urgent need for a funding formula that better addresses the needs of modern schools, particularly...

Durso and Ra’s Response to The Governor’s Press Office Statement Regarding Elected Officials Opposition to the NYS Ed Regionalization Plan

Recently, members of the legislature received a letter from the Governor’s Long Island Regional Director and Press Secretary stating that elected officials are intentionally misleading the public on the NYS Department of Education’s Regionalization...

Assemblyman Ra Celebrates Student Art Tribute to Local Veterans at Long Island Children’s Museum

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Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) was joined by local veterans, students and families yesterday at the Long Island Children’s Museum for a reception honoring the participants of his annual Veterans Portrait Project. The event celebrated the hard...

Ra Honors 13 Local Women of Distinction

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Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) was proud to present the 2024 Women of Distinction awards this past Saturday, Sept. 21, at Adelphi University’s Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom to 13 honorees, one emerging leader and one special recognition in the...

Assemblyman Ra Launches Veterans Portrait Project to Honor Local Heroes Through Student Artwork

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Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) kicked off his annual Veterans Portrait Project on Thursday, Sept. 19, at Notre Dame School where eighth graders had the honor of meeting and interviewing 23 local veterans. The project invites students to create...

It’s Blood Cancer Awareness Month—Let’s Make Research and Funding A Priority

Every three minutes, one American will be diagnosed with blood cancer. It might be someone you know—a coworker, child, sibling, spouse or friend. My mother was one of those Americans. She was first diagnosed with non-Hodkin’s Lymphoma in her 20s....

Assemblyman Ra, NYS Legislators Fight for Fair Water Bills in Nassau County Following New PSC Rate Hike

Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) introduced a bill this year to eliminate the “special franchise” tax on privately owned water companies, aiming to provide immediate financial relief to residents facing high water bills. Despite these efforts,...

Ra Honors Local Veterans at 2024 Patriotic Picnic

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On Thursday, Aug. 8, Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) welcomed veterans from the 19th Assembly District and their guests to a free patriotic picnic at VFW Post 2718 in Franklin Square to enjoy complimentary food and fellowship. Joining Assemblyman...

Assemblyman Ra, Local Officials Lead Effort to Petition FAA on Airplane Noise Concerns

Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) joined with Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jen DeSena, Rep. Anthony D’Esposito and a coalition of state legislators this morning to announce a crucial initiative aimed...

Ra Announces Winners of 2024 ‘There Ought To Be A Law Contest’

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Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) hosted his sixth annual “There Ought to Be a Law” ceremony on Monday, June 17, at Mineola Middle School to recognize 33 semi-finalists who were selected to represent their class. There were 657 total entries from...

Assemblyman Ed Ra Celebrates Flag Day with Local Schools, Presents Capitol-Flown Flags

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Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) commemorated Flag Day on Friday, June 14, by presenting American flags to the Locust and Hemlock schools in the Garden City School District. Each flag had been flown over the Capitol building in Albany. During his...

Ra Announces 2024 Video Challenge Winners

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Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) proudly announced the winners of his 2024 video challenge last month. Students were asked to create and submit engaging 60-second public YouTube videos on a given topic, which were then posted on Assemblyman Ra’s...

Ra Collaborates with Garden City PTA to Educate Youth on Bike Safety and Traffic Rules

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On Saturday, June 1, Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) hosted a Bike Rodeo at Garden City Middle School for children ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade. Sponsored by the Garden City Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and facilitated in cooperation...

Ra: Governor Hochul's Budget Gambit Threatens New York's Fiscal Stability

“This isn’t our first state budget to be passed weeks late, without a financial plan in place during debates and with a record-breaking spending plan—and it won’t be our last. While the budget process has truly been off the rails for years, Governor...

Ra & Jensen: Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program Changes Raises Great Concern

With news of a conceptual budget agreement that includes drastic changes to the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, we have serious concerns that potential reforms could lead to negative outcomes for New Yorkers and their families in the disabled...

Ra: New York’s Enormous Tax Burden, Poor Economic Outlook Indicate Alarming Trend

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Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) joined Assembly Minority Conference colleagues for a press conference today at the New York State Capitol to highlight the significance of Tax Day in New York state. “It’s no surprise New York is once again ranked...

State Budget Eclipsed by Another Delay with Third Extender

“We are accustomed to passing budget bills in the dark of night—why we can’t be in session Monday because of the eclipse is astronomically out of this world. While everyone else is looking up at the eclipse, our heads should be down and focused...

Ra Supports Call to Action on Israeli Hostage Crisis

 Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) joined his Assembly colleagues at the “Run for Their Lives” rally today in the New York State Capitol in support of the call to release the 134 hostages being held in Gaza. Among the hostages held since the...

New York State Budget Process Begins with Passage of the Debt Service Budget Bill

Today, the Assembly took up the first of its ten budget bills, the debt service bill, which is necessary to make legally required payments related to the sale and servicing of debt by the state as well as contractual debt agreements with public authorities...

Assembly Minority Propose Child Care Investment to Increase Access & Improve Affordability

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C-Pulaski) and his Assembly Minority colleagues today addressed serious concerns with the lack of high-quality and affordable child care throughout the state. Nearly half of all parents say their child care situation...