Sen. Gounardes: The Senate One-House Budget Resolution Includes Important Investments in Working Families, Affordable Housing and College Access

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 12th, 2024

Albany, NY - New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes (D-26), Chair of Senate Committee on Budget And Revenue, issued the following statement today in response to the release of the New York State Senate’s One-House Budget Proposal:

"Today’s Senate one-house budget proposal outlines a vision for a New York that is stronger, safer, more affordable and more accessible for all of us. With one in four New York City children living in poverty and an affordability crisis that is spiraling out of control across the state, we need to take bold action to meet the needs of New Yorkers. This proposed budget provides critical funding to public education and child care; creates safer streets and more reliable public transit; protects workers; invests in affordable housing, and advances our climate goals.

"I’m particularly glad that the budget proposal lays the foundation for my Working Families Tax Credit by including language that would provide a $550 credit per child to single parents making under $75,000 and married households making under $130,000. While this proposal provides more desperately-needed resources to working families, we can—and must—pass the full version of my proposal to reduce child poverty and ensure working-class and middle-class families can afford to live and thrive here. The Working Families Tax Credit makes our tax system more streamlined and efficient, and is an investment that will pay off for generations to come.

"I’m also proud the budget proposal includes my legislation to create universal FAFSA access. The research is clear: when more students fill out the FAFSA, more students attend college—because they’ve learned they can actually afford it. Increasing FAFSA access means increasing access to opportunity for millions of New Yorkers.

"The one-house budget includes many important proposals to increase affordable housing options in this state, including my Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act—which enables houses of worship to develop mixed-income and affordable housing on their land across New York—and  Good Cause eviction protections that will keep tenants in their homes. With half of all households in New York City struggling to hold down an apartment, access sufficient food or get basic health care, we need to use all the tools in our toolkit. 

"With children across the country facing a mental health crisis thanks to toxic, addictive social algorithms, I’m glad the budget proposal includes key provisions of my Child Data Privacy Protection Act. New York needs to act urgently to protect our kids, and I’m looking forward to passing the full Child Data Protection Act and SAFE for Kids Act this year.

"Budgets are a reflection of our values. Now that the Senate’s one house budget has been voted on and we move onto collaboration with Governor Hochul to produce a unified final state budget, I’m committed to building a New York that is fairer and more affordable, and where all working families have the opportunity to thrive."

Press Contact:

Billy Richling

Communications Director, State Senator Andrew Gounardes

billy@senatorgounardes.nyc

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