FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Justin Henry / jhenry@rubenstein.com / 908.448.8397
NEW YORK, NY (May 29, 2026) – Rachel Sabella, Director of No Kid Hungry New York, issued this statement following the passage of the New York State budget, which includes policies that will distribute chip-enabled EBT cards for SNAP grocery benefits, grow the state’s summer meal infrastructure, and expand child care access.
“This budget agreement from Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature sends a powerful message to millions of children and families all over the state: New York is taking the child hunger crisis seriously.
“With this agreement, the Governor and the Legislature are delivering on the agenda they laid out earlier this year to ensure that every child in New York gets the food they need to thrive. This budget advances a statewide transition to chip-enabled EBT cards, which will help protect families from benefit theft. It supports transformative summer meal programming, such as Summer EBT, that provides eligible kids with healthy food when school is out of session. It provides support for New York’s food banks and soup kitchens, which continue to provide critical emergency meal assistance to hungry kids and families. It expands access to affordable child care, giving families relief from rising costs and giving them additional flexibility in their budgets.
“These are real, practical solutions that will make a difference for New Yorkers, and we’ve never needed them more. According to data from No Kid Hungry New York, three-fourths of New York families are being forced to choose between buying food and paying for other necessities like rent, utilities, and transportation. As the federal government makes dangerous cuts to SNAP and other food assistance, New York is showing strong leadership in the fight against hunger.
“We are grateful to Governor Hochul, Assembly Speaker Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and both houses of the Legislature for reaching this agreement to address the hunger crisis. Now, we’re urging federal leaders to do the same. No child – in New York or anywhere – should go hungry.”
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