Governor Kathy Hochul delivered remarks at the 1199SEIU rally with labor leaders and elected officials on March 19. During her speech, Hochul reaffirmed her commitment to supporting health care workers and addressed concerns about federal funding cuts.
The event highlighted ongoing challenges faced by health care workers, particularly in light of proposed reductions in federal support. Hochul said she is committed to ensuring that the state budget will provide relief for health care workers and patients.
In her remarks, Hochul said, “You don’t need to worry about going to ‘all clear’ in Albany. In Albany, you’re already all clear from your ‘Code Red’ because we’re taking care of our workers in this Budget, I can guarantee that.” She credited SEIU 1199 President Yvonne Armstrong and the union’s leadership team as a “force to be reckoned with,” emphasizing their advocacy for health care and those in need.
Hochul also acknowledged Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie as key allies in state government who support efforts to protect health care funding. She shared personal stories about her family’s connection to nursing and recognized the sacrifices made by health care professionals.
Addressing political opposition, Hochul criticized Republicans in Washington led by Donald Trump for not valuing the work of health care providers. She recounted her own experience standing up for Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act during her time in Congress: “Forty-three times they tried to get me to repeal the Affordable Care Act and I said no. Well, I lost my seat in Congress because of that — don’t worry, everything turned out okay.”
Hochul concluded by reiterating her support for New York’s health care workers: “So you have an ally in me, an ally in your leaders, 1199 and greater New York… when you pick a fight with 20 million New Yorkers, you have to get through all of us and we’re standing up for our people now forever.”