Statement from Senator Michelle Hinchey on Senate One-House Budget Proposal

“At a time when Washington is contemplating devastating cuts to the services we rely on, my priority is protecting the Hudson Valley and bringing dollars back home. Our Senate one-house proposal lays out a clear vision for a New York that fights to better people’s lives, and I’m proud that it includes many of the community investments I’m championing for our district.

“As the federal administration pushes policies that drive up costs and favor tax cuts for billionaires, we’re fighting for the opposite. Our focus is making life more affordable with long-term relief for working people and seniors: expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, increasing the Child Tax Credit to $1,600 per child, and investing in universal child care, UPK, afterschool programs, and public schools. We’re also proposing that the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share while keeping middle-class taxes at historic lows. Housing, too, remains one of our biggest challenges, and I’m thrilled we’re building on my rural and upstate housing package, which will continue funding local projects that revitalize vacant properties, build new homes to meet demand, protect tenants, and help homeowners stay in the places they love. And as we brace for catastrophic federal Medicaid cuts that would rip away healthcare for nearly 59,000 children, seniors, and neighbors in our district, we take a clear stand in our one-house to reject these federal efforts by expanding coverage, bolstering care, and advancing my Hospital Transparency Act to expose healthcare deserts and protect access.

“We’re also on the verge of making New York a Universal School Meals state and finally gaining traction to expand the farm-to-school program to include all meals in school—something we’ve been fighting for for years. There’s no better connection than having fresh food from local farms served to our kids, and these efforts will help ensure that healthy, locally grown food reaches every cafeteria across our state—rural, suburban, and city—because that’s what our communities deserve. While the federal government pulls the rug out from under farmers and guts their key markets, we’re working to bolster New York’s farm economy by building stronger local markets and connecting the dots between farmer and consumer. 

“These are the kinds of connections that show how government is supposed to work. It’s not lost on me that the very same day we’re moving these proposals forward, the federal government decides to cut $1 billion from programs that help farmers get fresh food into schools—including a loss of $24 million to New York State. That tells you all you need to know about federal priorities and where our state government needs to stand in comparison. Our final state budget has to reflect our values with absolute clarity on how New York will lead in this moment. I will fight in every way possible to protect these programs, and so many others, at the state level.”