Two of the North Country’s state representatives were recently appointed to committees on ethics and nutrition.

Assemblywoman Janet L. Duprey (R, Peru) was appointed by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to a panel that will conduct a national search for an executive director for the new Office of Ethics and Compliance.

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) was recently appointed chair of the Assembly Task Force on Food, Farm and Nutrition Policy.

The panel will recommend a list of potential directors, with Heastie making the final selection. The committee also includes Assemblymen Todd D. Kaminsky, Bill Magnarelli, and Philip Ramos and Assemblywomen Shelley Mayer and Michele Titus. Duprey says she is the only Republican member on the committee.

“I applaud the decision by Speaker Heastie to establish a bipartisan search committee, and I appreciate that he has appointed me to serve on it. Being elected to represent the interests and concerns of the citizens of my Assembly District has always been, to me, a privilege and a sacred duty,” Duprey said. “Sadly, too many of my colleagues have fallen prey to the temptations that always accompany authority. I look forward to working with my colleagues to establish an independent office led by a recognized expert in ethical compliance to help the Assembly restore the people’s faith in the people’s house.”

Russell said she looks forward to getting to work, focusing on the state’s school lunch reimbursement formula, which hasn't been updated in 40 years, reducing the number of people who go hungry in New York, and supporting farmers.

“The appointment provides me a platform to support North Country food consumers and producers and tackle barriers to strengthening our families and communities,” Russell said.

“We need to open up the dialogue on school meals programs and look for solutions to help more families who are in need gain access,” Russell continued. “Children simply cannot be expected to learn if they are hungry all day, every day.”

Low meal reimbursement rates put districts in a difficult position as they are forced to come up with money to support the cafeterias from elsewhere. Moreover, low rates and shifts in federal regulations have made it difficult for schools to realistically engage in farm-to-school programs, according to Russell.

In the 2015 agriculture budget proposed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo last month a $250,000 pool of grant money is on the table to help stimulate farm-to-school initiatives. Russell says further action is needed, such as incentivizing farm-to-school programs in state reimbursements.