|
ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The SUNY College at Oneonta announced today that
Congressman Michael Arcuri, who
represents New York's 24th Congressional District, will be the speaker at
the College's 118th
Commencement on Saturday, May 19. Congressman Arcuri will address the
thousands of parents, alumni, and friends who will be on hand to honor the
graduating Class of 2007 in the Dewar Arena of the Alumni Field House on
campus.
Since taking office in January, Michael Arcuri has co-sponsored the
College Student Relief Act that lowers interest rates on subsidized
student loan; voted to cut student loan rates in half and increase Pell
Grants; co-sponsored legislation to raise the minimum wage; led support
for the Small Business Tax Relief Act; co-sponsored legislation to
implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission; co-sponsored two
bills to increase the research, production, and implementation of
alternative energy sources; gathered business leaders, scientific
experts, and citizens together to begin discussing strategies to make
upstate New York a major alternative energy center; worked for
bipartisan healthcare reform; and fought New York Regional
Interconnect's proposed power line with legislation and community
action.
Congressman Arcuri serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee as well as the House Rules Committee.
Born in Utica, Congressman Arcuri graduated from SUNY-Albany and went
on to study law at New York Law School in New York City. After passing
the state bar, he returned to Utica to open his own practice. He
frequently represented children and families as an advocate in court and
served as legal counsel for the New Hartford Central School District's
Board of Education.
In 1993, Michael Arcuri was elected Oneida County District Attorney.
In that position, he took an active role in prosecuting crime, worked
with local law enforcement agencies to reduce the rates of violent
crime, advocated for improving drug-treatment programs and ending
domestic violence and sexual assault, and improved the Oneida County
Child Advocacy Center for young survivors of crime and abuse. He also
served as President of the New York State District Attorney's
Association. He was re-elected as Oneida County District Attorney three
times.
Michael Arcuri was elected to the House of Representatives in last
November's elections, topping state senator Raymond Meier in the race to
succeed 12-term incumbent Sherwood Boehlert.
|
