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The PowHer Network Partners Respond to the FY2025 NY Budget

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The FY2025 NYS budget negotiations finally came to a close last week. How did women fare? There was progress on some key priorities of our coalition, but, to the disappointment of our dedicated partners, the budget did not address many urgent needs. We thank the many elected officials who demonstrated their interest and awareness of our goals, and hope to see a deeper investment in women in the legislative session and future budgets. Below, hear directly from the organizations leading the campaigns.

Paid Medical Leave

 “When New Yorkers have serious health needs — from cancer treatment to pregnancy loss — they should be able to take time off from work to take care of their health and recovery,” said Allie Bohm, senior policy counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union. “By failing to increase temporary disability insurance benefits and ensure workers aren’t fired during their leave, New York is continuing to deny people the security they need during a health crisis. “A Better Balance congratulates the Governor and legislature on including the right to time off to attend prenatal visits to pregnant workers in the 2025 budget,” said Sherry Leiwat, A Better Balance Co-President. “At the same time, we are extremely disappointed that the robust paid medical leave program New Yorkers need and deserve has been omitted from the final FY25 budget” Full statements on medical leave in the budget: 

Child Care

The Empire State Campaign for Child Care believes that in a state as wealthy as New York, no family should go without the basic need of child care being met, and no child care educator should live in poverty. We will continue fighting for a high-quality, free, equitable, and universal child care system that meets the needs of all children and families and pays child care programs the true cost of care with a thriving wage and benefits. We look forward to building on this progress in the remainder of the legislative session. This budget includes a reduced investment in the child care workforce compared to last year – a workforce overwhelmingly composed of women- specifically women of color and immigrant women, a workforce that earns less than 96% of other occupations” reported the Schuyler Center in a statement. “These cuts come at a moment when child care programs are already operating under capacity, even while carrying waitlists, because of workforce shortages due to low wages.“ “Every year that child care remains one of the lowest paying occupations in New York State is another year that passionate educators will continue to leave in droves, with those who stay unable to provide enough of the care that families need and the high quality early education our  children deserve.” – The Empire State Campaign for Child Care See our partner’s full statements on child care in the budget:

Reproductive Rights

“There’s a lot of work we have to do, and with the fall of Roe and the horrible stories we’re hearing across the country with pregnant people not having access to the care they need, New York needs to be a lot more aggressive about meeting the needs of our residents and people who need access to care in this really difficult time”  said Robin Chappelle Golston, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts. “This program creates a sustainable state funding mechanism for abortion providers and abortion funds, bringing us closer to a world where New Yorkers can freely make decisions about their futures and bodies,” said Allie Bohm, senior policy counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union, on the Reproductive Freedom & Equity Fund. “While this is an important step in the right direction, our lawmakers must do more to remove all barriers limiting abortion accessibility, including by investing in practical support for patients seeking care and capital improvements for abortion providers.” See our partners’ statements on reproductive rights in the budget:

Home Care

The NY Caring Majority’s statement asserted: “We will remain in a cycle of fighting short-sighted, devastating cuts each year until the State builds a sustainable home care program that puts older adults, disabled New Yorkers, home care workers and family caregivers first.”

Partner Statements on Other Issues