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NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 29, 2020

Senate and Assembly Majorities Announce Passage of Major Legislative Package Combating COVID-19 and Protecting New Yorkers


Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced the Legislature has passed a major legislative package to help support New Yorkers during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and help the state be prepared for future emergencies. The legislation focuses on protecting New Yorkers' rights, helping them stay in their homes, providing economic relief for struggling workers and businesses, strengthening the health care system and maintaining critical services.

"The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted nearly every aspect of our daily lives. This is a time for decisive government action to help the millions of struggling New Yorkers trying to endure this crisis," Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins said. "The bills advanced through the Senate and Assembly will help families trying to make ends meet, stay in their homes, and have some stability during this extraordinary time. I thank my partner in legislative leadership, Speaker Carl Heastie, and my Senate Democratic Majority colleagues for advancing these bills to help New Yorkers in need and for their tireless efforts to serve their constituents and New York State."

"Over the last several weeks, my colleagues and I in the Assembly Majority have been responding to the urgent needs of our communities and learning firsthand about the many challenges New Yorkers are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Speaker Heastie. "This week, we worked with our partners in the State Senate to protect the rights and health of New Yorkers, help struggling homeowners and renters, and support our small businesses and work force. I thank my colleagues in the Assembly Majority, for their continued commitment to the communities they serve, as well as my friend and counterpart in the Senate, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins."

Protecting New Yorkers' Rights

The Senate and Assembly Majorities are committed to protecting New Yorkers' rights. Legislation passed this week will continue to protect the rights of New Yorkers during this pandemic. The bills passed by the Senate and Assembly include:

Helping Struggling Renters and Homeowners

Affordable housing was a priority for the Senate and Assembly Majorities long before the arrival of COVID-19. Now, millions of New Yorkers are struggling to make rent or mortgage payments as a result of the pandemic and economic crisis. Included in this legislative package are bills that would address these concerns and help New Yorkers stay in their homes. The bills passed by the Senate and Assembly include:

Supporting New York Workers & Businesses

Many businesses have been forced to lay off or furlough workers since the pandemic began, causing unemployment to skyrocket, and millions of New Yorkers to struggle to make ends meet. The legislation passed this week will better allow state and local governments to help workers and businesses that have been impacted. The bills passed by the Senate and Assembly include:

Combating COVID-19 and Protecting New Yorkers' Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions and exposed weaknesses in health care systems. This legislative package prioritizes protecting New Yorkers' health during this crisis and will help New York prepare for future pandemics. The bills passed by the Senate and Assembly include:

Maintaining Quality of Life and Important Services

The Senate and Assembly Majorities are committed to maintaining New Yorkers quality of life as well as ensuring access to services they need during the COVID-19 pandemic, and passed legislation authorizing the use of available technologies to enable continued services and programing. The bills passed by the Senate and Assembly include: