Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell, Jr. was elected to the State Assembly in 1974 -from a district which encompasses Harlem and Washington Heights in New York City. Prior to that, he was Assistant Director of the Mayor's office in Washington Heights under then Mayor John Lindsay and had been a Confidential Aide to a State Supreme Court Judge.

From 1979 until 1994 Farrell was Chair of the Assembly Banks Committee. In March of 1994 Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver appointed Mr. Farrell Chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. Farrell is a member of the Rules Committee. He is also a member of the Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus as well as the New York State Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force.

In 1981-82 he was Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Financial Institutions of the National Conference of State Legislators. From 1981-84 he taught a course at the New School for Social Research on "Banking in New York." In 1983, Governor Mario Cuomo appointed him to the Temporary Committee on Interstate Banking.

In 1970 Farrell was elected a Democratic State Committeeman. In 1973, he was elected Democratic District Leader, a post he still holds. Assemblyman Farrell was elected County Leader of the New York County Democratic Committee in April 1981 and is currently serving in this position. From 1982-1992 Mr. Farrell was Vice Chair of the Democratic State Party. Assemblyman Farrell has served as a member of the Democratic National Committee since his election to that body in 1988.

Among the legislation Assemblyman Farrell is most proud of is the passage of the Omnibus Consumer Protection and Banking Legislation Act of 1994. The provisions of this landmark act include consumer protections in the auto leasing industry, the establishment of a toll free number at the New York State Banking Department to enable consumers to receive free information on credit card interest rates, fees and grace period, and a requirement that banks provide low cost "lifeline" checking accounts. In addition the bill prohibits discrimination based on residency in the opening of bank accounts and requires banks to make annual reports of the number and amount of small business and small farm loans.

Assemblyman Farrell's outstanding accomplishments in the Legislature began when he initiated the Neighborhood Preservation Companies Act, pioneer legislation, which enables the State to fund community groups to provide tenant advocacy and fight housing abandonment in their neighborhoods. Farrell was responsible for the passage of check clearing legislation which requires banks to clear checks in a shorter period of time and to notify depositors of the time it takes to clear checks. In addition, legislation was passed to require banks to disclose their interest rates and other pertinent information in chart form clearly marked in bold face type an all mail solicitations. These two State laws became the model for Federal legislation. He also strengthened anti-red- lining legislation by requiring stricter enforcement of Community Reinvestment provisions and was successful in passing legislation to monitor bank branch closings.

Organizations that Farrell has been honored by include; New York State Supreme Court Officers Association, "Man of the Year Award," Harlem Week Committee, New York State Psychiatric Institute, State University of New York Educational Opportunity Center, Harlem Commonwealth Council Foundation, Frank Scanlon Tenants Association, Ralph J. Rangel Tenants Association, Federation of Negro Civil Service Organizations, Chew Lun Association, Child Memorial Church, Parole Officers and New York State Affirmative Action Council.