NEWS FROM STATE SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA

SENATOR RIVERA ON THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT PASSING THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY  "I applaud the leadership of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, the bill sponsor, Assemblymember Dick Gottfried, and the members of the New York State Assembly for passing the New York Health Act for the fourth year in a row. With the White House and Republicans in Congress relentlessly attacking our right to healthcare and vigorously working to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, this vote is a critical step in our State's efforts to ensure that every New Yorker, regardless of their wealth or status, has an adequate access to affordable healthcare. It is now time for the members of the New York State Senate to stand up for what is right and work towards the implementation of an efficient and universal healthcare system for New York State. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Health Committee and proud sponsor of the New York Health Act, I will continue to work to make healthcare in our great State a right and not a privilege." SENATOR RIVERA AND MEMBERS OF THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE CALL FOR EXTENSION OF SUNY AND CUNY CREDIT PROGRAM FOR PUERTO RICAN AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLAND EVACUEES Ahead of SUNY and CUNY Board of Trustees' Critical Vote, State Senator Gustavo Rivera Spearheads Effort to Support Displaced Students to Continue their Education State Senator Gustavo Rivera and 16 members of the Senate Democratic Conference wrote to the Board of Trustees for the State University of New York (SUNY) and to the City University of New York (CUNY) urging them to extend the in-state tuition credit program for Puerto Rican and U.S. Virgin Island evacuees for the 2018-2019 academic year. This program was initially approved by SUNY and CUNY in October 2017 after Governor Cuomo called on both boards to implement such a program. The Board of Trustees for SUNY will vote on this measure tomorrow, June 14, while the Board of Trustees for CUNY will hold the same vote on Monday, June 25. Since the federal response to Hurricanes Maria and Irma has been inconsistent, uncoordinated, and lackluster, the responsibility has fallen on states and cities to make up for the inefficiency of the federal government. Millions of American citizens continue to live in conditions that are not too different from the conditions immediately following the destruction. Programs, such as SUNY and CUNY's offer of in-state tuition, help provide a bridge for evacuees on the mainland United States to have every opportunity to continue their education. "I am extremely pleased that a number of my colleagues have joined me in urging SUNY and CUNY to continue providing evacuees from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands access to the in-state tuition credit program," said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. "As a State that hosts a large Puerto Rican and U.S. Virgin Islander communities, we need to ensure that these bright students are able to continue pursuing their education and complete their academic degrees on time. We cannot allow a natural disaster and federal inaction to derail their futures." To read letter to SUNY, click here. To read letter to CUNY, click here. MEMBERS WHO SIGNED ON:  1. Senator Michael Gianaris  2. Senator James Sanders Jr. 3. Senator Liz Krueger 4. Senator Jose Peralta 5. Senator Martin Malavé Dilan 6. Senator Jesse Hamilton 7. Senator Marisol Alcantara 8. Senator Brian A. Benjamin 9. Senator Toby Ann Stavinsky 10. Senator Timothy M. Kennedy 11. Senator Diane J. Savino 12. Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. 13. Senator Luis Sepulveda 14. Senator Neil D. Breslin 15. Senator David Carlucci 16. Senator Roxanne J. Persaud