The Community Service Society of New York
01/15/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/15/2025 13:39
Press Release: CSS’s Statement on Governor Hochul’s `State of the State’
January 15th, 2025
Press Release
CSS's Statement on Governor Hochul's `State of the State'
At yesterday's annual `State of the State' address, Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled numerous proposals centered around tackling affordability and pocketbook issues for New York State residents. Prominent among them was her proposal to expand the Empire State Child Tax Credit.
As long-time proponents and leading advocates of leveraging the Child Tax Credit to alleviate poverty and improve economic stability for families in New York, the Community Service Society of New York (CSS) applauds the governor for taking this step. All too often, families feel that their daily economic struggles and concerns are not recognized by their elected representatives, whether it be housing, healthcare, childcare, student loan debt or saving for the future.
The governor's proposal closely follows one of the recommendations put forward by the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council report. By expanding the credit amount to $1,000 for children up to age four and to $500 for five and older, and by ensuring full refundability, the proposal has the potential of pushing thousands of households towards economic security.
CSS is thrilled that the governor has made affordability a centerpiece of her plans for the upcoming state budget. We urge her not to stop at expansion of the child tax credit, but to also consider championing some of the other core recommendations included in the Council's report that have the power of slashing child poverty drastically. Such recommendations include passing the Housing Voucher Access Program (HAVP), increasing the cash assistance grant amounts to reflect the accurate level of economic need, and expanding nutritional assistance to all children in New Yorker, irrespective of their immigration status.
Next week, the governor will release her FY26 Executive Budget. CSS looks forward to working with the Hochul Administration and the State Legislature on the expansion of the child tax credit and other initiatives that will help address the state's affordability crisis and remove barriers families face in achieving economic security.