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This week, the Senate Democratic Majority advanced the One House Resolution which is the Senate’s response to the Governor’s proposed budget.
Senator Rivera was proud that many of his priorities in this proposal including:
- Stopping cuts to healthcare providers and the Medicaid program:
- $1.9 billion for Financially Distressed Hospitals and Safety Net Hospitals, $600 million more than the Executive proposal.
- $1.6 billion to increase Medicaid rates across the board, for hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living programs, and hospice.
- Restores cuts to the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) and Nourish NY funding for emergency food programs and further increases that funding to $150M for both programs.
- 5% increase for reimbursement rates for Early Intervention providers as well as the 3% across the board Medicaid increase.
- Restored drastic cuts to public education and rejected all Executive changes to Foundation Aid, including the elimination of “hold harmless.”
- Tenant protections that align with the core principles of Good Cause Eviction, $250 Million for the Housing Access Voucher Program, and $40 million for the Homeowner Protection Program.
Senator Rivera spoke on the Senate floor about the One House Resolution's inclusion of his #Coverage4All bill, which is one of his top priorities for this session.
SENATOR RIVERA'S HEALTH COMMITTEE PASSES 10 BILLS
Senator Rivera's Livable New York Act, which aims to fight back against the climate crisis while providing additional affordable housing and employment opportunities. Senator Rivera's bill would pay up to $50,000 in expenses per unit of housing to transition a building fully off of fossil fuels. Those funds are contingent on high-road labor practices, such as project labor agreements, family-supporting jobs, and union jobs. They would also maximize employment opportunities for formerly-incarcerated residents.
"We find ourselves in a crisis moment. And I think we all know that. Whether it’s the lack of affordable housing. Whether it’s the climate crisis that just puts pressure on our infrastructure. Whether it’s how some of that climate crisis actually has an impact on migration which then impacts our city. Whether it’s the lack of good opportunities to have jobs like good union jobs that protect workers. All of those things are things that are real in our lives." - State Senator Gustavo Rivera