Albany, NY – Today, as a Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-119) participated in the New York State Assembly Joint Human Services Budget Hearing. The day’s hearing brought lawmakers together to hear testimony from the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Reverend Viviana DeCohen, Commissioner Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, state & non-profit leadership, as well as statewide advocates to examine and provide insight on the proposals for human, childrens’, and veterans’ services set forth in Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2026-27 Executive Budget.

“Today’s hearing addressed investments for expanding and supporting state child care resources and operations, child welfare initiatives, veterans support services including peer-to-peer initiatives, and housing services for homeless veterans, highlighting areas of success, as well as the remaining work to ensure our state programs are both adequately funded and equitably distributed.”

The Governor’s Executive Budget has proposed nearly $3 billion for the Office of Children and Family Services to subsidize the Governor’s childcare commitments, including $2.4 billion in base subsidy funding and an additional $155 million for counties outside of New York City. The Executive proposal further calls for the provision of $116.1 million to support children’s afterschool programs, as well as the establishment of the new Office of Child Care and Early Education to oversee the implementation of the state’s universal child care programs, allocating $1.5 million for the Office’s creation. Questioning Commissioner Harris-Madden, Assemblywoman Buttenschon sought confirmation on the collaboration of OCFS and the Department of Education to ensure adequate program funding ratios for upstate communities, as well as updates as to the current state of New York’s shortage of teachers and teaching assistants, the effectiveness of the recruitment pipeline, and its impact on programming implementation.

“It is imperative that the services our children and families deserve are both adequately funded, staffed, and equitably distributed,” said Buttenschon. “Our collective future lies in the hands and success of our children, and we must be sure that all our state’s children are evenly provided with the necessary resources and support to meet their needs.”

For the Department of Veterans’ Services, the Executive Budget is proposing nearly $31.8 million, encompassing several significant investments aimed at both expanding and improving upon the state’s provision of veterans’ services, including an additional $500,000 increase in funding for emergency and temporary housing, as well as assistance for home repair and renovations for veterans, $1 million for veteran-to-veterans support services, $1 million for suicide prevention initiatives, and just over $7 million in combined annuity assistance program funding. Further, the Executive has proposed $2.4 million of funding aid to city & county veterans’ service agencies.

“Our veterans have served our country with dedication, bravery, and sacrifice. Now, we must honor that service by providing them with the comprehensive care and resources necessary for their future success,” the Assemblywoman said. “It is critical that we ensure every veteran can access state resources without unnecessary barriers, and that every veteran is provided with, and knows how and where to go for the support they deserve.”

The day’s hearing concluded with the Members offering their sincere appreciation for the testimony of Commissioners Dr. Harris-Madden and Reverend DeCohen, and for their continued hard work, perseverance, and dedication to achieving meaningful results for the children, families, and veterans of our great State.

“I would like to offer my thanks to all those who testified today, including Commissioners Reverend DeCohen and Dr. Harris-Madded, as well as our advocates and non-profits, who provided the Committees the first-hand and on-the-ground insights that are key to determining the best allocations in the upcoming budget. I look forward to continuing today’s conversations, and remain steadfastly committed to ensuring our state provides the comprehensive support to meet all our constituents' needs.”