Yesterday, Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C,I,Ref-Ballston) joined the Legislative Women’s Caucus (LWC) and additional members of the state legislature to discuss the state budget’s effect on the organizations ongoing initiatives. While this year’s budget contained $35 million in new funding for the Empire State Afterschool Program, one of the LWC’s major priorities, the $7 million in cuts to child care subsidies will result in 900 fewer slots in a program that currently services just 17 percent of eligible children across the state.

Assemblywoman Walsh echoed the LWC’s insistence that the formation of a child care task force is necessary to examine current needs and provide input on future budget investments and policy changes in this area of need.

“While I am thrilled to see invaluable support for after school programs included in this year’s budget, the concerning lack of funding for child care subsidies indicates an abdication of our responsibility to provide resources to the children and families that need them most,” said Walsh. “Caring for our state’s children needs to be a top priority, and I am honored to join the LWC in support of these measures.”