Biography
Senator Young has an established record of civic, professional and volunteer achievements. Elected to the Senate in 2005, she immediately took on a leadership post as Chair. of the Senate Agriculture committee, working to strengthen New York State’s top industry. She also Co-Chaired the Administrative Regulations Review Commission which helped to reduce regulations and red tape that impede job growth. Senator Young currently serves active roles as a member of the, Transportation Committee, Health Committee, Environmental Conservation Committee, Housing Committee, Insurance Committee and is also the ranking member of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee.Senator Young has also taken on numerous assignments, including the Rural Resources Commission, Task Force on the State of New York Agriculture, the Sex Crimes and Women and Children Task Force, Task Force on the New York State Juvenile Justice System Reform, the Task Force on Educational Standards, the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, the New York State Armed Forces Legislative Caucus and the Nursing Shortage Task Force. She also founded the Legislative Wine and Grape Caucus to boost the industry sponsored legislation that formed the New York State Council on Food Policy of which she current is a member. She previously served in the State Assembly from 1999 until her election to the Senate. As a member of the Assembly, she was named to several top leadership positions, including Assistant Minority Leader Pro Tempore. She also served on the Cattaraugus County Legislature including a leadership post as Majority Whip, and was a member of the Cattaraugus County Board of Health.Senator Young has become a recognized voice on tax relief, economic growth, job creation and government reform, and has authored numerous laws to protect families, including Penny’s Law providing justice to juvenile murderers. The mother of three grown children, Senator Young grew up on a third-generation dairy and crops farm, and for several years has been recognized by the New York State Farm Bureau for her support of agricultural issues. She attended SUNY Fredonia, where she met her future husband, Richard, a Fredonia alumnus, and graduated magna cum laude from St. Bonaventure University with a major in Mass Communication. Senator Young is also a major in the Civil Air Patrol. Her many honors include the Fredonia College Foundation Distinguished Service Award, the United University Professions’ 2008 Friend of SUNY award, the J. Henry Smith Distinguished Public Service Award from Alfred University, and Business First’s 40 Under Forty recognition. She was also named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Olean Rotary Club.
Elected to the Senate in 2005, she immediately took on a leadership post as Chair. of the Senate Agriculture committee, working to strengthen New York State’s top industry. She also Co-Chaired the Administrative Regulations Review Commission which helped to reduce regulations and red tape that impede job growth.
Senator Young currently serves active roles as a member of the, Transportation Committee, Health Committee, Environmental Conservation Committee, Housing Committee, Insurance Committee and is also the ranking member of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee.
Senator Young has also taken on numerous assignments, including the Rural Resources Commission, Task Force on the State of New York Agriculture, the Sex Crimes and Women and Children Task Force, Task Force on the New York State Juvenile Justice System Reform, the Task Force on Educational Standards, the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, the New York State Armed Forces Legislative Caucus and the Nursing Shortage Task Force. She also founded the Legislative Wine and Grape Caucus to boost the industry sponsored legislation that formed the New York State Council on Food Policy of which she current is a member.
She previously served in the State Assembly from 1999 until her election to the Senate. As a member of the Assembly, she was named to several top leadership positions, including Assistant Minority Leader Pro Tempore. She also served on the Cattaraugus County Legislature including a leadership post as Majority Whip, and was a member of the Cattaraugus County Board of Health.
Senator Young has become a recognized voice on tax relief, economic growth, job creation and government reform, and has authored numerous laws to protect families, including Penny’s Law providing justice to juvenile murderers.
The mother of three grown children, Senator Young grew up on a third-generation dairy and crops farm, and for several years has been recognized by the New York State Farm Bureau for her support of agricultural issues. She attended SUNY Fredonia, where she met her future husband, Richard, a Fredonia alumnus, and graduated magna cum laude from St. Bonaventure University with a major in Mass Communication. Senator Young is also a major in the Civil Air Patrol.
Her many honors include the Fredonia College Foundation Distinguished Service Award, the United University Professions’ 2008 Friend of SUNY award, the J. Henry Smith Distinguished Public Service Award from Alfred University, and Business First’s 40 Under Forty recognition. She was also named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Olean Rotary Club.