Press Releases

Pearl River, NY - 2/20/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) lambasted Governor Kathy Hochul for losing control of New York State’s prisons, requiring the National Guard to be activated to staff them.

“Governor Hochul activating the National Guard to staff prisons is the result of her total failure in recognizing there was a problem,” said Congressman Lawler (NY-17). “Our brave corrections officers across New York State have been working 16-24 hour shifts habitually due to staffing shortages, which are driven by Albany’s insatiable desire to kowtow to criminals over law enforcement officers.”

“The HALT Act, which I vehemently opposed in the State Assembly, has made working in our prisons near impossible,” Congressman Lawler concluded. “If Governor Hochul was serious about fixing this problem, or the issue of cashless bail, she would repeal both laws and empower law enforcement to do their jobs.”

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.