State Senator Gustavo Rivera on Senate One House Budget Resolution

“The Senate One-House Budget Resolution adopted today is not only fiscally responsible, but it adequately invests resources to uplift working class New Yorkers across our state. After decades of austerity budgets that slashed government services that New Yorkers rely on, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic further straining our safety net programs and institutions, the Senate’s One-House proposal puts forward a financial plan that will deliver the resources needed for our state to thrive.

As the Chair of the Health Committee, I am proud that significant measures to improve New Yorkers access to quality care are part of this resolution, including: 

• $1 billion for assistance to financially distressed or safety net hospitals.

• An additional $345 million to expand the Essential Plan to all uninsured individuals under 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, regardless of their immigration status.

• The Fair Pay for Home Care Act, which raises the minimum wage for home care workers to 150% of the regional minimum wage and increases the reimbursement to home care agencies and fiscal intermediaries.

• Repeal of the Medicaid Global Cap 

• Extension of the Medicaid coverage period for all new mothers to a period of one year beginning on the last day of pregnancy.