Senate Democratic Majority Unveils One-House Budget Proposal to Increase Affordability and Support New Yorkers

I am excited to share the One-House budget proposal, which was recently advanced by the Senate Democratic Majority. Our proposal is aimed at stabilizing the economy and increasing affordability for all New Yorkers, particularly the working and middle-class who are facing financial strain.

With record inflation levels exacerbating the affordability crisis, we viewed this year's budget as an opportunity to provide much-needed relief to our citizens. Our top priority is addressing the housing crisis by building new housing throughout the state, from Long Island to Upstate New York, with $250 million allocated to the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP), $40 million for the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP), and adding $389 million to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) for a total of $639 million.

We are also fighting the climate crisis while creating middle-class jobs by providing $500 million for localities that meet growth targets. In addition, we are investing in public goods like education and childcare, while preventing rate hikes that would be too difficult for the average household to absorb.

Regarding public safety, our proposal allocates necessary funds to reduce crime rates and support Criminal Defender services, Discovery Reform Criminal Defenders, and New York City District Attorneys. We're also providing funding for gun violence prevention programs like SNUG and enforcement of Extreme Risk Protection Orders, while supporting the implementation of the Clean Slate Act with $1 million in funding.

We're continuing to champion fair pay for home care workers and have proposed cost of living increases for public employees who care for our most vulnerable populations. We're also investing in healthcare with $1 billion in additional State funding for Financially Distressed and Safety-Net Hospitals and preventing Medicaid costs from being shifted onto local governments.

Lastly, we're investing in education by fully funding Foundation Aid and allocating funds to support K-12 learning. This includes $125 million for UPK reimbursement increases for early adopting schools, over a billion dollars to improve access to childcare, and $280 million for Universal School Meals.

We believe that our One-House budget proposal animates our values and enables us to put our words into action for the people of New York. We're investing in the issues that not only strengthen our citizens today but put us on a better track for tomorrow.