Assemblywoman Russell promotes scholarship program for students in STEM

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A new scholarship program was created in New York State this year for high-achieving students planning to enter a career in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM). The program allows high school students in the top 10 percent of their graduating class to earn full-tuition for four or five year programs at a SUNY school, provided they keep their grades up and work and live in New York for five years after graduation in a STEM-related field. 

“The North Country is home to many high-tech industries and world-class universities,” Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, said. “This scholarship is an excellent opportunity that I hope many driven young people will take advantage of so they can write the next chapter of development in the region.”

Today, many of the best-paying, most secure jobs are STEM-related, and these opportunities continue to multiply. In New York State, STEM jobs are expected to grow 14 percent between 2014 and 2024, while other jobs will grow just 9 percent (vitalsigns.changetheequation.org/state/new-york/demand#fields-growing). Yet employers struggle to fill these positions because there are more jobs than there are workers qualified to do them, which hurts our state’s businesses (brookings.edu/research/interactives/2014/job-vacancies-and-stem-skills#/M10580).

“In the long-run, this scholarship will benefit all New Yorkers as we encourage and cultivate tomorrow’s industry leaders and secure a bright economic future,” Russell said.

For more information or to apply for this scholarship, visit the program’s website: www.hesc.ny.gov/stem

Russell proposes Public Benefit Corporation model for Massena Memorial Hospital

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An alternative to privatization that would give Massena Memorial Hospital greater business flexibility while allowing workers to remain in their current bargaining units, is being put forth by Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa. The plan would turn the hospital into a public benefit corporation, similar to what other hospitals across the state facing financial difficulties have done.

“I’m skeptical that privatization is in the best interest of the hospital or the town of Massena,” Russell said. “However, I recognize the financial stress Massena Memorial Hospital faces and I believe the creation of a public benefit would give the hospital and the community a viable path forward.”

The plan has the support from the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), the union representing the majority of the hospital’s workers.

“Our workers have always been in support of any method that would maintain community control and accountability for our hospital’s healthcare services. We believe conversion to a public benefit corporation would secure Massena Memorial’s future,” said CSEA Central Region President Colleen Wheaton.

“Overall, privatization threatens the very public services residents rely on,” said Jill Furillo, RN, Executive Director for the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA). “NYSNA members applaud Assemblywoman Russell’s efforts to maintain access to public health care throughout the community.”

A public benefit corporation would give the hospital greater authority to raise funding to improve the hospital’s operations while ensuring workers remain employees of the town with all their benefits. 

“I will advance this legislation so the hospital can get on with the important work of saving lives, caring for the community, and finding innovative solutions to the health care needs of the North Country,” Russell said.

Farm to School Roundtable focuses on simple, powerful changes to state law and funding structures

Simple but powerful tweaks to state law and funding structures could be a boon to local farms, economy and school districts according to participants at a roundtable hosted by Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, on Wednesday.

The roundtable, co-hosted by the chairs of the Assembly committees on Education and Agriculture, featured school administrators, farmers, and representatives from food banks, both from the local community and other regions of the state, among others, speaking about ways to streamline the process of getting farm-fresh food on trays in front of students.

Assemblyman Al A. Stirpe, D-Cicero, member of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, also attended.

"Giving our students the quality, local food they deserve is a top priority for me," Russell, who serves as Chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Food, Farm, and Nutrition, said. "There are common-sense changes we can make to state law and funding structures that would radically improve the food we give to our students."

A significant increase in state funding for school lunches - from about $.06 currently to $.31 per lunch - tied to incentives for buying locally produced food would stimulate the local agricultural industry, Russell said.

"This funding model would especially benefit North Country schools thanks to our vibrant agricultural sector that is engaged in this type of activity," Russell said.

Russell is also continuing to push legislation she introduced to enable schools to source food from small collectives of local farmers without requiring a time-consuming waiver from the state Commissioner of education (A.6182). The legislation would encourage schools to collaborate with local farmers.

"I will be aggressively pushing this legislation in 2016," Russell said. "I look forward to continuing to work with partners in the educational and agricultural fields, in addition to my colleagues in the state legislature, to ensure our students and farmers are given the support they need to thrive in New York State."

Russell applauds decision to open military combat roles to women

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, applauds the recent decision by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter to open combat roles in the military to women: 

"Opening up all combat roles to capable women from across the United States is a landmark decision that bodes well for the future of our military. As Chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Women Veterans and as a resident of the Fort Drum community, I am frequently in touch with many of the brave women who serve our nation. Their willingness to serve and their dedication to their mission demonstrates to me that opening up combat roles based solely on ability, not gender, will only strengthen our military. This is a proud day for America."

Read more on Vox at: http://www.vox.com/2015/12/3/9844404/women-military-combat-no-exceptions

Russell to host roundtable on bringing more local food to school cafeterias

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, with the chairs of the Assembly committees on Agriculture and Education, is hosting a roundtable discussion in Watertown on overcoming barriers to getting more local farm products into our school lunch programs.

Russell, chair of the Assembly Task Force on Food, Farm, and Nutrition Policy, said this issue is especially important to North Country farmers and school officials because of the particular needs of small, family farmers and rural school districts.

“Enabling smaller farmers and rural districts to work together to bring local food into the cafeteria doesn’t just make good economic sense,” Russell said, “it’s also a great way to promote good nutrition and an awareness of the importance of the agricultural industry.”

The roundtable discussion will bring together representatives of schools, agriculture, food businesses, academia, and the relevant government agencies to examine the barriers and opportunities for increasing the amount of locally-sourced, New York farm products found in schools across the state. With nearly 480 million meals served annually to New York children through the National School Lunch and Breakfast program - which provides more than $1 billion in federal reimbursements and more than $30 million in state reimbursements to school districts - the potential for increased purchases of New York grown, produced, and processed foods is significant.

“In New York we have world-class agricultural products and farmers who are tireless in their efforts to provide for their neighbors across the state,” Russell said. “What we need now is to make it easier for those farmers to work with schools to give our children access to that high-quality food. I’m excited by the opportunity to meet with stakeholders on this issue and work on real solutions that will better position New York’s farmers and students for the future.”

The roundtable discussion will be held on Dec. 9 in the first floor meeting room of the Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington Ave., Watertown. Please contact Russell’s office for more details at (315) 786-0284 or (518) 455-5545.