Press Releases

DeStefano Attends NYS Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) pictured at the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service with NYS Association of Fire Chief President Rob Parisi and officers on October 8 in Albany, NY.
Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) attended the 22nd Annual New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony on October 8 inside the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, NY. Twenty-three firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice...

DeStefano Holds Press Conference for Passage of Bill Designating Portion of the State Highway System as SSgt. Louis Bonacasa Memorial Bridge

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Louis Bonacasa, age 31, of Suffolk County was killed in a suicide attack while on patrol near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in December 2015. Assemblyman Joe DeStefano sponsored legislation that designates a portion of the...

DeStefano Attends Long Island Pine Barrens Society Recognizing Future Student Leaders

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) pictured at the Suffolk County Water Authority’s Education Center with Richard Amper, Executive Director of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, Sen. Monica Martinez, Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Super
Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) attended the honors ceremony for the Long Island Pine Barrens Society program, “Middle School Kids Go to College”, on July 31 at the Suffolk County Water Authority’s Education Center in Hauppauge....

DeStefano Attends 2019 Long Island Breast Cancer Forum

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Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) attended the 2019 Long Island Breast Cancer Forum at Farmingdale State College on July 24. The event focused on breast cancer awareness and the importance of screening. The forum featured a panel of speakers...

DeStefano Attends 7th Power Of Women Exchanging Resources Anniversary

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On July 14, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) attended the 7th Power of Women Exchanging Resources (POWER) Anniversary where he presented Jen Poppiti with the Women in Business Award. “Small business owners like Jen inspire us to work...

DeStefano Weighs in on End of Session

“It’s no surprise that this year’s Legislative Session was chock-full of needless debate. With state Majority in full control, it seemed that their only concern was increasing rights for criminals, prisoners and illegal immigrants. Despite...

DeStefano Designates Portion of Highway after Local Fallen Soldier

Today, the New York State Assembly passed a bill that would designate a portion of the Long Island Expressway as the “Staff Sgt. Louis Bonacasa Memorial Bridge.” The bill, introduced by Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford), is in honor...

DeStefano Rallies with St. Clare’s Pensioners

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Today, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) joined fellow Senate and Assembly members of the Capitol Region and St. Clare’s pensioners at a rally at the State Capitol to urge the state to launch an investigation into the St. Clare’s...

DeStefano Passes Legislation to Benefit Patchogue-Medford Library

Today, the State Assembly passed a bill that would allow the Town of Brookhaven to lease municipality-owned parklands to the Patchogue-Medford Library for the purpose of establishing a local library branch. Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford)...

DeStefano Votes against Driver’s Licenses For Illegal Immigrants

“We are in the final stretch of the legislative session, a time when our legislators should be working to make meaningful change and relieving residents and businesses of burdensome taxes and regulations. Instead, state Majority has chosen to waste...

DeStefano Calls for Amendments to Bail Reform

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Today, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) joined colleagues at a press conference held by Assemblyman Ed Ra (R,C,I-Franklin Square), Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo (R,C,I,Ref-New Suffolk) and Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan to...

DeStefano Criticizes Majority Members on Veterans’ Affairs Committee

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) criticized Assembly Majority members on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee after they rejected bills that would reduce costs for veterans’ groups and families’ use of state parks and recreational...

DeStefano Criticizes Green Light Bill

***Editor’s Note: Stand up can be viewed here. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rq_KytnTqju4PstYYX4GSc8pX2gO42Iz/view) “Drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants will be the catalyst to a whole slew of privileges soon to be awarded. The...

DeStefano Condemns Majority Bill to Increase Wages for Prisoners

Today in the Corrections Committee, Assembly Majority voted to move forward Assembly Bill 8080. The bill would give inmates a 1,566% minimum wage increase and establish a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) every five years. Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford)...

DeStefano Opposes Assembly Majority Bill That Prevents Federal Law Enforcement From Making Arrests

Today, the Assembly Codes Committee voted to move a bill that would prevent federal law enforcement from entering a courthouse to obtain illegal immigrants involved in a court proceeding. Assembly Bill 2176 would protect people involved in court proceedings...

DeStefano Calls for Increased Incentives for Firefighters & EMS Volunteers

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Today, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) helped introduce legislation (A.7655) with Assemblyman Chris Tague (R,C,I,Ref-Schoharie) that would free volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel from paying state income...

DeStefano Opposes Majority Bill That Aids Criminals in the Workplace

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) voiced his disapproval for Assembly Bill 3972, a majority bill that would prevent employers from performing background checks on prospective employees. The bill would require employers to make a conditional...

DeStefano Supports Increasing Earned Income Tax Credit

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) voiced his support for Assembly Bill 4177, which would increase the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 30 percent to 45 percent. The bill, sponsored by Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua), was blocked...

DeStefano: Residents Can Participate in Recruitny

This weekend, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) is announcing that residents can take part in RecruitNY, an initiative aimed at increasing the number of volunteer firefighters. Local fire departments across the state will be holding open houses...

DeStefano Criticizes Pro-Criminal Legislation

This week, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) voiced his concerns for Assembly Bill 4319, a bill that would permit the Board of Parole to evaluate all inmates over the age of 55 for possible parole release. Inmates eligible would be those who...