Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered his State of the State address, where he outlined the proposed New York state budget for 2019. In his address, Governor Cuomo proposed a number of policies that would support and improve the lives of young New Yorkers, including safeguarding protections for pre-existing medical conditions, prioritizing the passage of the New York State DREAM Act, and making voting easier and more accessible for New Yorkers. These policy proposals are necessary to meet the needs of today’s young New Yorkers and offer much-needed support for institutions that serve young adults across the state.

In response to the Governor’s State of the State address, Melanie Kruvelis, Northeast Policy Analyst for Young Invincibles, issued the following statement:

“The Governor’s proposed budget highlights the importance of investing in young New Yorkers and recognizes that the next generation’s ability to thrive is essential for New York’s future. As getting ahead in New York becomes increasingly more difficult and expensive – particularly for low-income New Yorkers, young people of color, and the state’s young immigrants – the Governor’s proposed budget takes some important steps by ensuring pre-existing condition protections remain in place, prioritizing the passage of the New York State DREAM Act, and making voting easier for every New Yorker.

Although there’s more work to be done at the state level to address the unique needs of young New Yorkers, today’s proposed budget makes a commendable effort to help address the challenges facing New York’s young people. We look forward to working with leadership in Albany to ensure that every young person in New York can achieve financial stability and flourish.”