A strong advocate for the rights of senior citizens and veterans, Steve Stern serves as Chairman of the Veterans and Seniors Committee. He has not only sponsored the Veteran’s Long-Term Care Act, but has advocated for better living standards for seniors—helping to protect nursing home patients from sexual predators. In an effort to address the needs of today's seniors as well as the aging baby boomer population, he has also established the countywide Senior Task Force, composed of 16 members representing the 10 Towns, elected officials and senior advocates to address critical issues facing older adults including housing, transportation and access to long term care. Due to the high cost of living, he has helped to lower taxes and provide property tax exemptions for seniors and veterans, while lowering the cost of drug prescriptions.

• Co-sponsored legislation to strengthen nursing home screening requirements.

• Sponsored legislation requesting the United States Congress to enact the “Reverse Mortgages to Help American Seniors Act.”

• Sponsored legislation requesting New York State to provide tax credits to seniors for performing volunteer services.

• Co-sponsored legislation expanding veterans alternative real property tax exemptions.

• Co-sponsored legislation linking County park fees for veterans to park fees for senior citizens.

• Co-sponsored legislation to extend protections to residents of planned retirement communities.

• Co-sponsored legislation expanding income eligibility limits for real property tax emption for seniors.

• Co-sponsored legislation expanding tax exemptions to veterans.