“Governor Hochul’s State of the State address and the beginning of a new state legislative session spell hope on important fronts. Last year, the Assembly made significant progress in improving public libraries and early childhood education. The 2020-2021 state budget provided a $105 million increase for universal prekindergarten as well as a $2.5 million increase in aid to public libraries and an additional $20 million for library construction grants. While these victories represent a considerable step forward, the fight to bring home better resources to Long Island families doesn’t stop there.

“As the chair of the Assembly Libraries and Education Technology Committee, I’m committed to working hard to ensure both children and adults have access to good education and public libraries. This year, I look forward to working with Governor Hochul and my colleagues in the Assembly to increase funding for universal prekindergarten and public libraries, foster greater diversity within the teaching profession and invest in childcare deserts. I’m confident that this upcoming session will allow us to build on our previous victories and work toward an even better year.”