New York, NY\u2014\u00a0<\/strong>New York State\u2019s Enacted Budget for FY2024 will expand no cost school meals through $134 million in state funds to support schools and school districts adopting the Community Eligibility Provision and expand the Empire State Child Tax Credit to include children under four. The following is a statement from No Kid Hungry New York Director Rachel Sabella:<\/p>\n \u201cWe applaud Governor Hochul, the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly for crafting a budget that recognizes the important role nutritious meals play in the learning, health and development of New York kids. School meals are a critical tool to combat hunger and an important resource for families struggling to make ends meet, and today\u2019s investment of $134M is a significant step toward ensuring every child facing hunger can easily access no cost school meals.<\/p>\n \u201cNew Yorkers are hurting right now, with the increasingly high cost of groceries, gas and rent coming at the same time federal pandemic era benefits have been allowed to expire and additional cuts to critical nutrition programs are being proposed at the federal level. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that this budget put dollars directly back into families\u2019 bank accounts by expanding the Empire State Child Credit to support the youngest New Yorkers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re facing a hunger crisis in New York, and we must address it head on. We look forward to working with the Governor, the Legislature, and our partners across the state to make this a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n