Legislative Bulletin: 2019 Legislative Session Kickoff
Hitting the Ground Running
This week, LeadingAge NY staff kicked off the 2019 Legislative Session by meeting with some of the new Senate and Assembly members and committee staff to educate them about our members’ priority issues. Highlights of the week included meetings with health committee staff people at Senate Finance, Assembly Ways and Means, and Assembly Program and Counsel, as well as a meeting with the new Senate Health Chair, Gustavo Rivera. LeadingAge New York took these opportunities to strengthen relationships with key contacts at the Assembly and Senate as well as educate new members and staff about our key priorities heading into the budget.
Top Issues for the 2019 Legislative Session
The New York State Legislature officially began it’s 2019 session on Wednesday afternoon, formally welcoming new Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and the return of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. With the shift of power in the State Senate, this will be the first time in over 10 years that Democrats control both legislative chambers. The political shift is evident in the ambitious goals laid out by majority members. Top legislative issues identified for 2019 include universal healthcare, election reform, gun control and the legalization of marijuana.
Strength in Numbers – Registration is Open for LeadingAge New York Advocacy Days!
We are less than one month away from our first of two Advocacy Days. With so many new legislators and staff and a new majority in the Senate, we need your help to educate lawmakers during State budget negotiations. Advocacy days are vital in educating lawmakers on the impact of budget cuts and mandates on your organization. We hope that you will join us for a full day of grassroots advocacy on:
- Tuesday, February 5th - Focused on Medicaid issues impacting Nursing Homes, MLTC, Home Care, Hospice, Adult Day Health Care– click here to register!
- Tuesday March 5th – Focused on budget issues impacting Assisted Living, Housing, Aging Services (Social Day, NORC/NNORC) - click here to register!
Please click here to find your legislators and begin setting up meetings for the day. LeadingAge NY staff are happy to assist you in scheduling your meetings and helping to coordinate with other members in your area. There are also LeadingAge NY staff who can accompany you on your visits. For questions or assistance setting up legislative meetings, contact Sarah Daly at sdaly@leadingageny.org.
Assembly Standing Committee Members are Announced
The New York State Assembly announced their standing committee appointments this week. A comprehensive list of the committees can be found here. Are your legislators on committees that have jurisdiction over issues impacting your organization (health, housing, aging, social services)? If your legislator sits on a relevant committee, reach out to them and let them know you are a resource as they begin reviewing legislation.
Federal Government Shutdown’s Impact on HUD and New York’s Affordable Housing
Today marks the 21st day of the partial government shutdown, matching the record for longest government shutdown in US history. The lengthy shutdown and the lapse of funding is putting pressure on roughly a quarter of the federal government including the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, the State Department, and now Housing and Urban Development (HUD). On Thursday, LeadingAge reported that HUD did not renew 650 rental assistance contracts that were up for renewal in December. Of those 650 expired contracts, 224 of them are connected to Section 202 Housing for the Elderly communities. HUD officials have assured the public that 92% of these Section 202 communities have enough funds in reserve accounts to support them for several months. As they continue to operate with minimal staff, HUD anticipates that the 500 contracts up for renewal in January will also not be renewed.
In addition to contacting cbloom@leadingage.org and lcouch@leadingage.org with issues and concerns, members are urged to contact their House and Senate members with these messages:
- Please protect low income older adults by ending the government shutdown and passing a full year HUD spending bill that provides strong funding for affordable housing programs such as the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly and Project-Based Rental Assistance programs.
- We are gravely concerned of the shutdown’s immediate and long-term impacts on HUD's programs and the low income older adults they serve.
- The shutdown is threatening to destabilize over 1.6 million older adult households that depend on HUD’s rental assistance programs.
Please click here to find your Congress member.
Next Week: Governor Cuomo’s State Budget Proposal
Governor Cuomo will propose his State Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 in an address on Tuesday, January 15th. LeadingAge New York will be sharing a summary of the budget following the address, and a more thorough budget memo after the following week.
Contacts:
Ami Schnauber, aschnauber@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8854
Sarah Daly, sdaly@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8845