While Washington Takes, New York Invests
Let’s talk about our budget. We can talk about the process or even the lateness but I want to talk about contrasts. Because while here in New York we’ve spent the last month fighting for working families, Washington—under its current leadership, has been doing the opposite.
While they propose slashing SNAP benefits and gutting programs that help families access healthy food, we are investing $50 million in food security through Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance and Nourish NY.
You can’t call for a nationwide ‘baby boom’ while actively undermining the infrastructure families rely on. Here in New York, we’re providing $8 million in baby benefits and distributing 10 million diapers to new families. While also providing free school meals to our children. Because caring for our kids and feeding them shouldn’t be up for debate.
While they talk about cutting veterans’ health care and support services, we’re expanding eligibility for the Gold Star Annuity, funding mental health training for veterans, and enhancing services that help our veterans transition home with dignity and support.
While they push tax giveaways for the ultra-wealthy and mega-corporations, we’re maintaining the lowest middle-class tax rates in more than 70 years. We’re issuing inflation checks to put real dollars back into the pockets of working families. We’ve expanded the child tax credit because New York’s families should come first.
While they try to gut environmental protections, walk away from climate science, and defund clean energy, we’re making the largest Environmental Protection Fund investment in state history. We’re directing $1 billion toward climate resiliency and clean energy infrastructure, including $450 million for building decarbonization, $250 million for zero-emission transportation, and $200 million for renewable energy. We also secured $500 million in clean water grants because we understand that the health of our economy is linked to the health of our planet.
While they look to cut education funding and ban books, we’re increasing support for public schools and libraries—fully funding Foundation Aid, expanding BOCES career and technical education programs to 9th grade, and increasing salaries for BOCES teachers. We’re allocating $400 million in child care funding, and creating capital grant programs for both SUNY and CUNY infrastructure improvements. We’re launching the New York Opportunity Promise Scholarship to open pathways for adult learners, and boosting community college support across the board.
While Washington is more interested in laying roadblocks to state infrastructure improvements, we are moving forward—committing $3 billion to modernize the MTA and improve transit infrastructure across the state. We’ve also increased CHIPS funding to repair our roads and extended the work zone speed enforcement program to protect workers and drivers alike.
While they ignore the mental health crisis and criminalize people in crisis, we are expanding access to inpatient psychiatric beds, launching Daniel’s Law pilot programs, and enhancing crisis response systems. We’re improving discharge planning, expanding assisted outpatient treatment, and creating new standards to ensure care is accessible, respectful, and effective.
While they cut funding to reproductive health grants and continue to criminalize a woman’s right to choose, our budget puts additional funding towards accessing abortion care, including new money towards our abortion provider training fund, while also ensuring that New York hospitals are equipped to provide life saving care in emergency pregnancy situations.
While they sow fear and neglect public safety needs, we are supporting victims and communities—funding youth development and community violence intervention programs, increasing discovery reform resources, and establishing a new Office of Gun Violence Prevention to coordinate smart, data-driven safety strategies.
And while they threaten to gut affordable housing programs, we’re continuing historic investments in housing—from $1 billion to support new housing development in New York City including NYCHA to expanded programs across the state for renters, homeowners, Mitchell-Lamas,and land banks. We are piloting a statewide Housing Access Voucher Program, boosting homeownership and supportive housing opportunities, and tackling vacant units with targeted repair funds.
We didn’t stop there. While Washington has imposed tariffs that threaten to cripple our small businesses. Our budget stands up for these same businesses by providing tax relief and paying off their $8 billion Unemployment Insurance debt.
While they target our middle class workers, our budget increases weekly unemployment benefits, expands apprenticeship programs, supports farmworkers and food production, restores funding for the arts and cultural institutions, strengthens protections against wage theft and deceptive business practices, and waives civil service exam fees to open doors to more public service careers.
This is what budgets are about—Choices. Values. Priorities.
In this budget, New York has made the choice to stand with working people and to invest in people, We have decided to strengthen our schools and hospitals, not starve them. To expand access to food and housing, not rip it away.
And while Washington continues to take more from New York than it gives back, we will keep doing the work. We will keep investing in people. And we will carry that responsibility forward—because that is the promise we make to every New Yorker.
Andrea Stewart-Cousins holds the positions of President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate, and she is the Senator for the 35th District. As the longest-serving Democratic Majority Leader in New York State Senate history, and the first woman and African American woman to occupy this role, her tenure is distinguished by significant legislative achievements and a steadfast commitment to addressing the needs of New Yorkers.
