New York State continues to be a national leader in student financial aid. In the 1999-2000 fiscal year, New York will invest more than $500 million on needs-based grants for college students. The parents of these students are well aware that grant programs improve access to higher education.

In the 22nd Assembly district alone, some 3,000 students attend Nassau County Community College and depend on programs like TAP to assist them in their college expenses. As your Assemblyman, you can rest assured that I will be working to ensure that TAP is restored and enhanced.

The Tuition Assistance Program provides financial support to nearly 280,000 college students in New York State. In fact, over 96,000 of those students attend SUNY. The TAP program must be fully funded so that every college student can have access to higher education.

Simply stated, I feel that an investment in education is an investment toward our future. The students who are the recipients of grant-aid, like TAP are tomorrow's workforce who will contribute millions of dollars to our local tax base by adding their acquired skills to an ever-evolving technological economy.

As your state legislator, I have an inherent responsibility to assure that the necessary tools and financial resources are available to our students so that they become tomorrow's leaders in business, education and public service.

That's why parents and students can count on my continued support to keep higher education accessible and affordable. That means restoring programs like TAP.

Thomas W. Alfano

Assemblyman