State and Federal policy update as of April 21st

Here is the latest information coming out of Albany and D.C.! If you have questions, or would like additional information, please contact NYATEP's interim executive director, David Fischer at [email protected]. 

State Update

The New York State budget, “due” on April 1, is weeks late. The legislature has passed six short-term measures to keep the state running, with the last one stretching through April 23rd.

As news reports have noted, the main cause of the delay has been a number of disagreements over policy questions that Governor Hochul is determined to address in the budget. Even so, insiders now believe it will be completed and signed sometime next week. If so, NYATEP will include high level analysis in the next issue of the Buzz, as well as a more in-depth assessment to be shared with Members.

Federal Update

In Washington, a $5 trillion federal budget framework passed the House of Representatives earlier this month on a near party-line vote of 216-214. This means that Congress will be able to utilize the reconciliation process to pass budget-related legislation in the Senate with a simple majority vote rather than a required supermajority.

The framework calls for tax cuts, increased defense and border security spending, additional energy exploration, and $880 billion in spending cuts to help pay for it all. Republican leaders in both houses of Congress have expressed an interest in finding as much as $1.5 trillion in cuts. It is not yet clear how these cuts will specifically impact workforce development.

We are still awaiting news on a potential new workforce law, following the near-miss of the proposed A Stronger Workforce for America Act that very nearly passed into law during the last session of Congress. It is rumored that House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) is interested in moving a bill this year. As always, NYATEP will share updates as we get them.