Staten Island – Speaker Sheldon Silver recently appointed Assembly Member Matthew Titone (Staten Island North Shore) Chair of the Assembly Office of State-Federal Relations. A top priority of the Office will be to focus on federal funding for Superstorm Sandy relief, disseminating information not only to the members of the legislature but to the general public.

Senator Charles Schumer was quick to offer praise for Speaker Silver’s selection. “Congratulations to my friend Assemblyman Matthew Titone on his appointment to Chair of the Assembly Office of State-Federal Relations. I know from first-hand experience that Matthew works hard for his constituents and fights for the resources they need on Staten Island, as he has done following Superstorm Sandy. Matthew has always been a fighter, and I look forward to working alongside him in his new role as we put to good use the federal funding from our recently passed Superstorm Sandy relief bill.”

According to Titone, “I am honored that the Speaker has asked me to take on this responsibility. Actions in Washington have a huge impact on New York, its budget and its citizens. As Congress and the President work to address the federal deficit, I will pay close attention to how any changes affect our State. As the President advances his second term initiatives, I expect that there will be many other policy developments important to our State that should be tracked and reported.”

“I am pleased that Congress has finally concluded necessary action on legislation that will provide relief for individuals, businesses and local governments in the area damaged by Hurricane Sandy,” Titone further noted. “I also want to stress that it is very important that the final package included funds to help with mitigation projects as well as immediate relief.” The supplemental disaster relief package passed by Congress includes almost $3.5 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake projects to help reduce the risk of future flooding; over $10 billion to help with recovery and mitigation efforts for metropolitan area mass transit; and $2 billion repairing and restoring highways. “Estimates are that New York may receive about $30 billion from the overall appropriation, and that these federal funds will be disbursed over several years,” Titone said.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Assemblyman Matthew Titone as Chair of the Assembly Office of State-Federal Relations. As a lifelong Staten Island resident who has been dealing with the devastation to our communities wrought by Hurricane Sandy, Matt has a unique perspective on the importance of cooperation and partnership across all levels of government. I know he will lead this task force with the same drive and passion with which he serves his constituents.”