
    James F. KELLY, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. NEW YORK STATE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, Jerry Boone, in His Official Capacity as President of the New York State Civil Service Commission, Patricia A. Hite, in Her Official Capacity as Past Acting President of the New York State Civil Service Commission, Caroline W. Ahl, in Her Official Capacity as Commissioner of the New York State Civil Service Commission, Dennis J. Hanrahan, in His Official Capacity as Commissioner of the New York State Civil Service Commission, Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 15-1062.
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    Jan. 25, 2016.
    James F. Kelly, pro se, Hyde Park, NY, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
    Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General of the State of New York; Barbara D. Underwood, Solicitor General; Anisha S. Dasgupta, Deputy Solicitor General; Philip V. Tisne, Assistant Solicitor General, New York, NY, for Defendants-Appellees.
    PRESENT: ROSEMARY S. POOLER, PETER W. HALL, SUSAN L. CARNEY, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Appellant James F. Kelly, proceeding pro se, appeals from the district court’s judgment dismissing his claims that the defendants violated 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”), and state law by enforcing New York Civil Service Law § 58(1)(a), and its order denying reconsideration of that decision. Although Kelly’s notice of appeal explicitly identifies only the district court’s order denying reconsideration, his intent to appeal both the dismissal and reconsideration orders is clear from the face of his notice of appeal. New Phone Co. v. City of N.Y., 498 F.3d 127, 131 (2d Cir.2007). Accordingly, we consider his challenge to both orders. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts', the procedural history of the case, and the issues on appeal.

We review de novo the grant of a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction or for failure to state a claim. Fink v. Time Warner Cable, 714 F.3d 739, 740-41 (2d Cir.2013); Moser v. Pollin, 294 F.3d 335, 339 (2d Cir.2002). Denials of motions for reconsideration are reviewed for abuse of discretion. Schwartz v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 539 F.3d 135, 150 (2d Cir.2008). We liberally construe Kelly’s pro se submissions as raising the strongest arguments they suggest. Triestman v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 470 F.3d 471, 474 (2d Cir.2006).

Upon review, we conclude that the district court correctly determined that the Eleventh Amendment shields the defendants from Kelly’s Section 1983 and ADEA claims. The Eleventh Amendment precludes suits against states and state agencies unless the state expressly waives its immunity or Congress abrogates that immunity. CSX Transp., Inc. v. N.Y. State Office of Real Prop. Servs., 306 F.3d 87, 94-95 (2d Cir.2002). “The reach of the Eleventh Amendment has .., been interpreted to extend beyond the terms of its text to bar suits in federal courts against states, by their own citizens or by foreign sovereigns.” State Emps. Bargaining Agent Coal. v. Rowland, 494 F.3d 71, 95 (2d Cir.2007) (internal quotation marks omitted). The Commission is an instrumentality of New York State. See Leitner v. Westchester Cmty. Coll., 779 F.3d 130, 134 (2d Cir.2015). Although suits against state officers acting in their official capacities that seek prospective injunctive relief to prevent a continuing violation of federal law are authorized under Ex Parte Young, 209 U.S. 123, 28 S.Ct. 441, 52 L.Ed. 714 (1908), the district court correctly concluded that Young does not apply here. The state officer against whom prospective relief is sought “must have some connection with the enforcement of the act” that violates federal law. Id. at 154, 28 S.Ct. 441; see also In re Dairy Mart Convenience Stores, Inc., 411 F.3d 367, 372-73 (2d Cir.2005). That requirement is not satisfied here. In addition, Young does not allow a federal court to issue an injunction for a violation of state law. Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 106, 104 S.Ct. 900, 79 L.Ed.2d 67 (1984).

We have considered all of Kelly’s remaining arguments and find them to be without merit. Accordingly, we AFFIRM the judgment and order of the district court. Each side to bear its own costs.  