Albany- State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) has issued the following statement following the approval of the New York State Senate of legislation he introduced, S. 4648, that establishes the Asian Lunar New Year day as a school holiday for New York City public schools, or in communities with an Asian population of 7.5% or more:

“Today, the New York State Senate has fulfilled its promise to the Asian American community by passing a law making the Lunar New Year an official school holiday. According to recent statistics, Asian-American students comprise approximately 15 percent of all public school students. I urge my colleagues in the State Assembly to join the Senate in taking this action so that we can allow students to spend this important holiday with their families without the stress of missing school. As legislators, it is vitally important that we work tirelessly to ensure our State remains culturally sensitive and promotes our ethnic diversity.”

The bill was sent to the Assembly. Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Queens) is the sponsor of the bill, A 2149, in the Assembly.