Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C-Pulaski) joined U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro, Voices for Seniors Co-Founder Vivian Zayas and Director Tracey Alvino and colleagues from the Assembly and Senate Minority Conferences to gather at the Capitol, marking the fourth anniversary of the Department of Health (DOH) directive that forced nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients. The infamous order was a public health catastrophe that had devastating effects on nursing home populations and directly contributed to the almost 15,000 COVID deaths in long-term care facilities during the pandemic.

The group renewed its calls for the long-awaited independent review of the state’s disastrous COVID response. Despite commitments from the Hochul Administration to conduct an investigation, little to no progress has been made. As thousands of families continue to wait for answers, the investigation process has only identified an outside consultant—The Olson Group, Ltd., from Virginia. In addition, lawmakers on Monday urged the governor to finally convene the “Reimagining Long-Term Care Task Force,” which has also been delayed.

Assembly and Senate Minority have repeatedly requested legislative hearings equipped with subpoena power to seek answers and provide accountability for the families who lost loved ones due to the previous administration’s mishandling of the pandemic. The now publicly disclosed intentional omission of information by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his staff, and the damaging reports from Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Attorney General Letitia James support the need for further examination of the state’s COVID response by an independent entity.

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said, “Four years of unanswered questions, four years of families grieving, four years of zero transparency. Gov. Kathy Hochul promised families an independent review of the state’s policies during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic; New York families are still awaiting that review. The state’s approach to the pandemic was severely mishandled, and we will continue to fight until proper action is taken. We must seek to learn from the mistakes of the past, or I fear, we will be doomed to repeat them in the future.”

“The best way to ensure New York is better prepared in the future, is to openly and honestly assess the mistakes of the past. Thousands of families continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones in nursing homes due to the disastrous March 25th directive from former Governor Cuomo. They deserve the thorough, transparent investigation that was promised, not more inaction from their state government,” said Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt. 

“Today is an emotional day for so many. Four years ago today, Governor Cuomo mandated COVID positive seniors be forced into nursing homes. Instead of addressing it, he covered it up. Actions should have consequences. Those responsible for the deadly mandate and cover-up must be held to account,” said Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19).

“The families of loved ones who tragically passed while living in long-term care deserve an open, honest accounting from state government about what happened to cause so many deaths in our nursing homes,” said Assemblyman Josh Jensen (R,C-Greece). “This is not about politics, but rather about getting answers and ensuring the effects on nursing home residents, their families and the nursing homes themselves are never repeated.” 

“It’s deeply concerning that, after four years, an independent review still hasn’t been conducted regarding the state’s response to the COVID crisis, leaving families who have lost loved ones without the justice they deserve. This lack of action is verging on criminal negligence. Our mothers, fathers, siblings and friends are not disposable. As a dedicated member of the Committee on Aging and a longstanding friend and supporter of Voices for Seniors, I wholeheartedly stand with affected families in advocating for the long-overdue accountability that we need. The tragic consequences of the Department of Health’s order cannot be ignored, and it’s our duty to ensure families who have suffered loss receive the justice and closure they deserve,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford).

“In March of 2020, I tested positive for COVID-19 and spent the next two weeks on a ventilator and 33 days in the ICU,” said Assemblyman Brian Miller (R,C-New Hartford). “Delving into the Department of Health mandate that compelled nursing homes to admit COVID-positive patients raises profound questions, demanding even more profound answers. The residents of New York, along with those who mourn the loss of their loved ones, deserve clarity and closure. In 2021, our New York State Legislature passed legislation to establish the ‘Reimagining Long-Term Care Task Force.’ However, the task force has failed to produce a report by the due date of May 1, 2022. It’s imperative that New York conducts a thorough audit of its COVID response and that the task force releases the report to ensure that history does not repeat itself.”

“People lose faith in institutions that can’t acknowledge mistakes and accept accountability. There will be another public health emergency in our lifetime. Being prepared means avoiding the same deadly mistakes that came to define the Cuomo administration. Without a thorough, independent review and comprehensive legislative hearings, families won’t get answers and the state won’t have a roadmap to a smarter pandemic response,” said Sen. Jake Ashby. 

“New Yorkers are used to empty promises from Albany, however, in the case of COVID nursing home deaths we cannot allow this miserable track record to continue. Thousands of families lost loved ones due to the March 25 directive, yet a full investigation has still not taken place four years later. The fact that the ‘Reimagining Long-Term Care Task Force’ hasn’t met is a complete slap in the face to those grieving families. It is time for answers, transparency and a true commitment to finally show some respect to those who lost their lives due to reckless decisions by the state,” said Sen. Peter Oberacker.

“Four years ago, our state lost 15,000 people in state-regulated nursing homes to the COVID virus—one of the worst natural disasters in the history of our state. Yet there’s been little to no policy reflection by our state government about what happened and what can be done to prevent this from reoccurring when a future pandemic strikes. Governor Hochul and her one-time partner, Governor Cuomo, may wish to forget this devastating tragedy ever happened, but the families who were impacted will not let this go quietly into the night until we have justice and nor will I,” said Sen. Jim Tedisco, who is the sponsor of legislation to launch a bipartisan, independent investigation with subpoena power into the nursing home deaths and who successfully sued the Cuomo Administration with the Empire Center to get the real number of nursing home deaths publicly released.