Senator Patrick M. Gallivan, (R-C, Elma) and members of the Senate Minority Conference sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul urging immediate action to address the growing funding crisis in New York’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which helps working families access affordable, reliable childcare. The State recently expanded eligibility for CCAP but failed to provide the necessary funding to support this expansion. As a result, thousands of New York families have been given false hope and are now effectively locked out of the program.

Since 2022, demand for childcare assistance across New York has nearly tripled. Many counties have already exhausted their allocated CCAP funds, leaving working parents without options and placing further strain on local economies. Senator Gallivan and his colleagues are calling on the Governor to take immediate steps to provide supplemental funding and ensure that families who were promised access to assistance are not left behind.

“Families deserve access to safe, affordable childcare,” Senator Gallivan said. “For low and moderate-income parents, CCAP makes it possible for them to stay in the workforce or pursue an education while providing their children with a safe and nurturing environment. Unfortunately, the funding shortfall is putting the program in jeopardy and hurting New York families.”

In their letter to the governor, Senators say it is unfair and irresponsible to expand a program without providing the necessary funding, leaving families to bear the consequences of an unfunded promise. 

“As work begins on the FY 2026–27 Executive Budget, New York State has an opportunity to stabilize and strengthen CCAP by providing adequate funding to close current shortfalls and by developing a long-term, data-driven strategy to ensure funding keeps pace with need and there is sufficient funding to ensure every eligible family receives a subsidy. In the meantime, we urge you to take immediate steps to allow counties to access the funds already allocated to CCAP so that this essential program can continue supporting New York’s working families,” the letter concludes.

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