News from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb
Assembly Office:
933 Legislative Office Building • Albany, NY 12248 • (518) 455-3751
District Offices:
607 West Washington Street • Suite 2 • Geneva, NY 14456 • (315) 781-2030
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For Release: IMMEDIATELY, March 28, 2017
Contact: Mike Fraser, office: (518) 455-3751/cell: (518) 859-8518
Leader Kolb Presented With
'There For Direct Care' Award From Statewide Coalition

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Shown here, Leader Kolb (center) with (from left) Steven Kroll, Executive Director, NYSARC, Michael Seereiter, President & CEO, NYSRA, Ann M. Hardiman, Executive Director, NYSACRA, and JR Drexelius, Attorney at Law, Law Office of John R. Drexelius Jr.

Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C,I,Ref-Canandaigua) was presented today with the inaugural "There for Direct Care" award for his outstanding commitment to direct-care workers. Leader Kolb has advocated for an increase in state funding to support a raise for direct-care workers, who care for those with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities. Leader Kolb was presented with the award during today's "Ring of Care" Rally held at the Capitol by the #bFair2DirectCare coalition.

"I am profoundly honored to receive this award, but the true credit goes to the men and women who make up New York's direct-care industry," Leader Kolb said. "Direct-care workers provide life-saving care and services to the people who need it most. I have the utmost respect for the incredible efforts direct-care workers perform and I want to extend my sincerest thanks for their commitment to our state's most vulnerable residents."

Last year's $15/hour minimum wage hike created a competitive imbalance and increased workforce pressures on the direct-care community. Gov. Cuomo's Executive Budget proposal failed to address these mounting challenges facing caregivers and service providers. Advocates had asked that this year's state budget include at least a $45 million increase in funding to allow direct-care workers a competitive salary.

Leader Kolb and the Assembly Minority Conference advocated tirelessly for the final state budget agreement to include funding that would allow direct-care workers a competitive salary. At the event, the governor announced an agreement with the Legislature to provide $55 million in the budget for direct-care workers.

Editor's Note: A jpg of New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb receiving the award can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/lappmfp.