Press Releases

Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) released the following statement after Governor Hochul signed “Clean Slate” into law earlier today.

“In Governor Kathy Hochul’s New York, criminals come first,” said Congressman Mike Lawler. “That’s the message she sent loud and clear today by signing the disastrous 'Clean Slate' legislation into law.”

“Hiding the criminal records of millions of convicted felons from potential employers and the public, while simultaneously impugning the reputations of heroic law enforcement officers, is absurd public policy,” concluded Congressman Lawler. “This two-tiered system of transparency, where criminals come first, is wrong, appalling, and must change. 2026 can’t get here soon enough.”

New York's 17th Congressional District is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.