"Today, the United States Senate took the essential first steps towards ensuring New York State receives over $2.5 billion in health care and education funding. I commend the strong advocacy of Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and their tireless efforts on behalf of all New York's communities.

I am confident the House will return to Washington shortly and deliver this critical assistance to our state so that the cuts that were contained in our budget may be alleviated as soon as possible and programs and services that the Assembly majority fought so hard to protect may be restored."