KINGS POINT, N.Y., June 22, 2026 — The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) today graduated 188 new merchant marine and military officers during its 90th commencement ceremony.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy, whose department oversees the Academy, one of the Nation’s five service academies, introduced the keynote speaker, U.S. Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll.
In his introduction, Rear Admiral Tony Ceraolo, USMS, Superintendent, called Secretary Duffy “the most Kings Point–loving secretary of transportation in the history of secretaries of transportation.” He added, “In my career, I have never known another secretary of transportation who has been as invested in the United States Merchant Marine Academy as you have been. Your passion for this place and for these midshipmen is felt across our entire community, from the regiment to the faculty and staff to our alumni and supporters around the country.”
Duffy underscored the significance of the moment while addressing the graduating class and introducing the keynote speaker, saying, “This is a special moment in our nation’s 250th year, and you are stepping forward at a time when duty will call and America will ask more of you. I have come to deeply appreciate the grit, patriotism and honor of the midshipmen here, and I am committed to matching your dedication with my own.”
Driscoll delivered the commencement address to the Class of 2026 before an audience of more than 3,000 family members, friends, alumni and representatives from the federal government, U.S. military and maritime industry.
Driscoll emphasized the enduring partnership between the Army and the Merchant Marine, both of which predate the Nation itself, as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, saying, “Two days before the Army was officially established on June 14, 1775, a group of local fishermen and sailors in Maine armed themselves with axes and muskets, inspired by Lexington and Concord. They commandeered ships and chased down a British schooner. They boarded her and captured warships of the most powerful navy at the time.
“For the rest of the American Revolution, merchant mariners harassed British supply lines and enabled our Army to win. That was the birth of the United States Merchant Marine in fire and fury and revolution.
“Just eight days ago, the United States Army celebrated its 251st birthday, which is also a celebration of our shared heritage, because our two institutions have been inextricably linked for over 250 years.
“The Army was built to win our nation’s wars, and the Merchant Marine was built to ensure we actually get to the battlefield and then sustain the fight once we’re there. In every single major conflict abroad, sealift has delivered Army heavy metal to the fight — from the shores of Cuba and the Philippines, to the beaches of Normandy, the jungles of Vietnam and the deserts of the Middle East.
“The most powerful weapons do not simply appear on the battlefield. They are delivered by mariners. All of you on this field are what keep our Army and the joint force moving around the world, and you are more important now than ever before,” Secretary Driscoll said.
The Academy awarded each graduate a Bachelor of Science degree, a U.S. Coast Guard license as a merchant marine deck or engine officer, and a commission as an officer in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Rear Adm. Michael E. Platt, USCG, commander of the Coast Guard Northeast District, administered the Merchant Mariner Oath. Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, USN, USMMA Class of 1993 and commander of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, administered the oath of office for newly commissioned officers.
The Academy recognized its top academic graduates. Midshipman John Walter Smolenski, a maritime logistics and security major from Colonia, New Jersey, earned valedictorian honors with a 3.87 GPA. Midshipman Connor Conrad Crymes, a marine engineering systems major from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, earned salutatorian honors with a 3.83 GPA. Each will sail on their license and serve a as an ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
The USMMA requires more credit hours for a Baccalaureate degree than any other federal service academy – the equivalent of a Masters completed in three-years’ time. The challenging coursework is augmented by the Academy’s Sea Year, which affords midshipmen hands-on, real world experience aboard working commercial or military vessels sailing around the world.
At graduation, the Kings Pointers are awarded the Bachelor of Science degree, a U.S. Coast Guard license, a merchant mariner’s license and an officer’s commission in the U.S. armed forces of their choosing.
USMMA graduates are required to fulfill a service obligation following graduation. Graduates can choose to work five years in the U.S. maritime industry with eight years of service as an officer in any reserve unit of the Armed Forces, or five years on active duty.
Grace Marie Thomas of Brooklyn NY, with Rose, the service dog she trained, is congratulated by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy at the USMMA 90th commencement, Kings Point, Long Island, NY
U.S. Merchant Marine was founded in 1942 by President Franklin Roosevelt to staff the merchant marine vessels supplying the troops. The USMMA is the only one of the five federal service academies that flies the battle standard as part of its color Guard. USMMA’s battle standard has 142 emblazoned into it, commemorating and perpetuating the memory of 142 Cadet Midshipmen who lost their lives during World War II. Indeed, as part of their arduous training – the hardest of any service academy – every Kings Pointer spends a year at sea, often in the service of the military engaged in conflict, as during the Iraq War.
The United States Merchant Marine Academy, in Kings Point, Long Island, NY, is recognized as vital to national security and the economic prosperity: 95 percent of the world’s products are transported over water. The Academy educates and trains those who are vital to the effective operation of the nation’s merchant fleet for both commercial and military transport, in peace as well as in war. Merchant ships can be ordered into national service, delivering military troops, supplies and equipment overseas, and operating as an auxiliary unit of the Navy. Academy graduates abide by the motto: “Acta Non Verba,” or “Deeds Not Words,” and are trained to be leaders who exemplify the ideals of service-above-self.
They began coming at 2 a.m, 3 a.m., the numbers continue to swell until by 10 a.m., there were well over 2 million people lining Broadway and cramming the streets leading to it, dozens thick, to see their heroes, the 2026 NBA Champions, the New York Knicks. It was a historic outpouring for a historic team and an historic occasion – the team’s first NBA Championship in 53 years, but also, how they did it. Yes, in a comfortable 5, losing only game 3, but each game, coming from behind, as much as an unheard of 29 points – to win four of five in the last minutes, last minute, last seconds, last second.
The throngs who came, swelled with joy and pride, did what New Yorkers do best – come together. You might consider the strain on getting to the parade on crammed subways, blocked sidewalks so crowded you couldn’t walk in any direction. But New Yorkers are kind, considerate, good humored and resilient – they somehow opened up space to get through, found a space or something to climb up and stand on.
More than two million lined the Canyon of Heroes, from Battery Park to City Hall, with thousands more cramming sidestreets to the point of b =eing impassable. They waited for hours before the parade even started, cheering, “Knicks in Five,” and finding ways to amuse themselves – playing with a balloon and when a squirrel somehow made its way through the crowd and dashed across Broadway, sent up giddy cheers.
It was as Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at the “keys to the city” ceremony that followed the parade: “Over these past weeks, our city has come together as one… So often when this city comes together it is because we are forced to by tragedy or adversity. What a gift to be brought together by pure, unfiltered. of joy.”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani rode the first float (shooting his own video with a broad smile) and other dignitaries like Governor Kathy Hochul and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Celebrities rode along like the Knicks #1 Fan, Spike Lee who rode on Jalen Brunson’s float. Fans also got to see Knicks Legends Knicks including Patrick Ewing, Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Carmelo Anthony, Bernard King, and John Starks.
The Knicks, themselves, were divided among several floats – or in Mitchell Robinson’s case, drove his own truck. Perhaps the biggest moment came when the undeniable MVP Jalen Brunson (he scored 45 of the Knicks’ 94 points in the series-clinching Game 5 in San Antonio), rode down next to his father, Rick Brunson, cradling his son’s MVP trophy. Rick Brunson was also a Knicks standout the last time New York reached the NBA Finals in 1999 before 2026 and became an assistant coach with the Knicks in 2022 the same year his son joined the team.
Just as the crowds waved signs, the people on the floats waved signs thanking fans for their support.
A mutual love fest. It was a celebration of community, with high school basketball champions, local school bands, the workers who make MSG run, and representatives of city departments participating.
People didn’t just hang out from windows in tall buildings, they stood out on ledges, threw what works as confetti and rolled out banners.
MTA Will Run Additional Subway Service on Match Days and to Free Fan Fest in Queens; Ample Service on LIRR and Metro-North for Fans to Connect to Matchday Shuttle Bus and Trains
Unprecedented Safety and Security Preparedness Effort Has Coordinated City and State Forces To Ensure Safety Throughout the Region During the Tournament
Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today updated New Yorkers on regionwide transportation and safety preparations in advance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With the first match at the NYNJ Stadium set just over a week away, New York is fully prepared to welcome over one million visitors to the city and to ensure they can travel safely to matches and throughout the region. Working across government, transportation and public safety, planning efforts have been underway for over a year. The MTA is fully prepared to handle additional transit needs throughout the tournament for matchgoing fans and New Yorkers alike, with extra subway service planned on strategic lines and a full deployment of customer ambassadors to assist fans making connections to the matches via shuttle bus or train.
“New York’s transit system safely and reliably moves millions every day, and we are ready to shine on the world stage,” Governor Hochul said. “The World Cup will be a once-in-a-generation event for our state, and whether you’re traveling from Brazil or Bed-Stuy, we have spent months developing a plan to get you to where you need to go safely.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, “We have spent months coordinating, drilling and preparing so that when the world arrives at our doorstep, we are ready. From the first kickoff to the final whistle and long after, our job is clear: keep residents and visiting fans safe, informed and supported during every moment of this busy summer.”
New York’s Transit System is Ready:
The MTA plans to run full service throughout the region on all matchdays and throughout the tournament, to support visitors to the region and the millions of New Yorkers who rely on mass transit to get around every single day. The MTA will run extra subway service on match days and fully scheduled commuter rail service at both Penn Station and Grand Central on both its railroads to ensure that the region continues to move, even on match days.
The New York City Subway has prepared additional service to meet demand on match days and for major events during the tournament. To get fans to and from shuttle buses and trains to the games, extra local service will be added on the 1, C and F lines. 1 and C frequencies will be increased all day on weekend match days between 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. In addition, 1, C and F train service will be increased for post-match travel to help move fans returning from matches. Lastly, to improve access to the free Fan Zone at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing, the MTA will run additional 7 train service on Mets game days where crowding is greatest. This added service will reduce crowding and improve customer wait times.
To ensure smooth travel, the MTA has also suspended all planned subway work in and around Midtown Manhattan on match days.
For fans traveling to matches via Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road, both railroads will provide connections to nearby shuttle bus service near Grand Central and trains to the game at Penn Station. Both LIRR and Metro-North have ample weekend capacity to meet the expected demand on matchdays.
To aid travelers, the MTA will deploy customer ambassadors at major shuttle bus hubs (Grand Central, Times Sq-42 St and 59 St Columbus Circle) to help guide travelers to the street level where they can connect to the stadium-bound bus service. For commuter rail travelers there will be extra LIRR, MTAPD and NYCT staff and MTA volunteers on site to support with wayfinding and customer assistance to navigate the station and provide directions to connecting rail service for the matches.
Keeping New Yorkers Safe:
As part of the FY27 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured an additional $77 million to support the deployment of NYPD officers across the subway system to target areas of greatest need and to enhance rider safety, bringing the total to $154 million. This year’s budget also includes an expansion of the Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams (SCOUT) initiative by 50 percent to reach more locations and operate with greater flexibility across the system.
These investments build on the Governor’s past investments in subway safety, which brought subway crime down to the lowest levels in 16 years in 2025. Last year, Governor Hochul expanded safety initiatives throughout the transit system by partnering with New York City officials to increase NYPD patrols on subway platforms and trains; installing new protective barriers on subway platforms to protect riders; upgrading fare gates and delaying egress on exit gates to help crack down on fare evasion; adding LED lighting throughout stations to increase visibility; and updating and strengthening key mental health laws to ensure that New Yorkers with severe mental illness are connected with care instead of being left to languish on subway trains and platforms.
Emergency Preparedness:
Over the last year, the MTA has been working with local partners to enhance security measures in preparation for the World Cup. The MTA has conducted in-person training, tabletops, and other readiness exercises — including one of the largest in State history at Moynihan Train Hall — across MTA and transit facilities with a wide range of law enforcement, safety, and other regional stakeholders. The MTA has also partnered with local and federal agencies to coordinate intelligence sharing and structure chains of communications plans for managing operations and any potential incidents on match days and special events.
Additionally, law enforcement agencies will maintain an enhanced security presence on match days and for special events, with boots on the ground across major hubs and advanced surveillance and proactive crowd management.
These efforts also include strengthened cyber and critical infrastructure protections to ensure digital and physical infrastructure is safe from bad actors and the increased external pressures associated with these events. Counter-UAS [i.e., drone] detection equipment will be deployed at critical locations throughout the MTA system, including across tunnel and bridge infrastructure.
Moving Fans Affordably:
To ensure that fans have affordable, accessible transportation options to and from matches, Governor Hochul teamed up with the NYNJ FIFA World Cup Host Committee to significantly reduce the cost of shuttle bus service and add additional bus capacity on matchdays. Bus tickets now cost $20 round trip, with 20 percent of all tickets reserved for New York residents. The total number of bus seats has increased from the initial 10,000 to 12,000 on school days and 18,000 on the five non-school days when matches will occur.
To date, the Host Committee has sold nearly 34,000 shuttle bus tickets. The first two matches on June 13 and June 16 are approximately 50 percent sold and are expected to sell out. Fans with valid match tickets are encouraged to take advantage of this low cost option to travel to the NYNJ Stadium while tickets are available by purchasing shuttle tickets here.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “After months of planning, we are adding trains wherever fans are going to watch matches while helping to keep them safe. Moving millions is what we do, and not just when the World Cup is in town.”
NYNJ FIFA World Cup Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry said, “With kickoff just days away, our region is ready to welcome the world. This level of preparation doesn’t happen overnight — it is the result of years of collaboration among transportation agencies, public safety officials, and government partners across New York and New Jersey. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani, the MTA and countless partners, fans will have safe and reliable ways to travel throughout the tournament while residents continue to move around the region. We are grateful for their partnership and shared commitment to delivering an unforgettable World Cup this summer.”
Trump Administration Set to Illegally Pay TotalEnergies $795 Million to Abandon Wind Lease off the Coast of New York and Invest in Fossil Fuels in Texas
Canceled Project Would Have Saved New Yorkers $10 Billion in Energy Bills and Brought More Than 1,700 Jobs to the State
Governor Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that New York is leading a coalition of six other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration over its unlawful cancellation of a major offshore wind lease off the coast of New York.
In March 2026, after a string of court losses in its crusade against wind energy, the administration struck a deal with TotalEnergies, a French energy company, to cancel two offshore wind leases and pay the company nearly $1 billion in taxpayer dollars. In exchange, TotalEnergies agreed to walk away from offshore wind, invest hundreds of millions of dollars in oil and gas projects, and pledge not to develop any new offshore wind projects in the United States. TotalEnergies subsidiary Attentive Energy would have developed the New York lease, and the project was expected to deliver clean energy directly to New York City, power more than 700,000 New York homes, and generate billions of dollars in benefits for New Yorkers. Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the deal is blatantly unlawful and are asking the court to strike it down.
“This pay-not-to-play scheme pressuring a foreign company to forego planned offshore wind projects in America in favor of gas and oil drilling is an outrageous abuse of taxpayer dollars that hurts our ability to meet our energy needs, create good jobs, and help secure American energy independence while reducing emissions,” Governor Hochul said. “Attorney General James and I will continue to aggressively fight back against Donald Trump’s overt and never-ending hostility toward offshore wind, including his unlawful use of the most powerful office in the world to get private companies like TotalEnergies to bow to his will.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James said, “The Trump administration is once again trying to kill clean energy projects and destroy good-paying jobs for New Yorkers. After repeatedly losing in court, this administration cooked up a sham deal to pay a foreign energy company hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to abandon offshore wind and invest in oil and gas instead. We are fighting back to stop this illegal agreement that threatens to erase over a thousand union jobs and cheat millions of New Yorkers out of clean, affordable energy.”
NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “I thank Attorney General James for continuing to fight to protect our offshore wind industry in New York State. Governor Hochul has made it clear that offshore wind is a vital part of our state’s diverse energy portfolio and we remain committed to delivering reliable, affordable energy to all New Yorkers.”
In 2022, Attentive Energy paid $795 million to purchase an offshore wind lease approximately 47 miles off the coast of New York, as part of the highest-grossing competitive offshore energy lease sale in United States history. The lease area was expected to support two projects: Attentive Energy One, which would have delivered energy directly to New York City, and Attentive Energy Two, which would have served New Jersey. The Attentive Energy One project was estimated to deliver $25.6 billion in economic benefits to New York state over its 25-year life, including $10 billion in savings on New Yorkers’ energy bills. The project was also expected to create an estimated 1,716 new jobs in New York.
In March 2026, more than four years after the lease was awarded and with construction plans already under review, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) suddenly announced that it had reached an agreement with TotalEnergies to cancel the Attentive Energy lease and a separate lease off the coast of North Carolina. DOI claimed that new national security concerns justified the cancellation, even though the federal government had already reviewed and approved the lease area after years of analysis and consultation. Under the agreement, TotalEnergies would invest approximately $795 million in fossil fuel projects, while the federal government would unlawfully “reimburse” the company with $795 million from the Judgment Fund, which may be used only to settle claims related to ongoing or imminent litigation. The administration also announced that TotalEnergies had pledged not to develop any new offshore wind projects in the United States.
The Trump administration’s deal with TotalEnergies followed a series of failed attempts to eliminate wind energy development. On his first day in office, the president halted federal approvals for all wind energy projects nationwide. Attorney General James led a coalition in a lawsuit and, in December 2025, secured a final judgment ending the illegal blockade. The administration later attempted to suspend construction on several offshore wind projects, including Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind in New York, on vague national security grounds. Again, Attorney General James sued, and federal courts blocked those suspensions as well.
Attorney General James and the coalition assert that the cancellation of the Attentive Energy projects will harm their states’ economies, energy grids, and climate goals. Offshore wind is a critical part of New York’s plan to meet growing electricity demand, especially in New York City, where Attentive Energy One was expected to deliver power directly. New York’s State Energy Plan projects that electricity demand will continue to rise significantly in coming years, and offshore wind is expected to play a major role in ensuring that the state has enough energy to meet that demand. Canceling the projects also threatens to deprive New York of more than a thousand new, good-paying jobs, infrastructure investment, and long-term economic development.
The attorneys general argue that the Trump administration’s deal violated the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which limits DOI’s ability to cancel offshore wind leases. DOI must hold a hearing, specifically find that continuing the lease would likely cause serious harm to life, property, national security, or the environment, and determine that the benefits of cancellation outweigh the benefits of allowing the lease to continue. DOI did none of that before canceling the Attentive Energy lease. The coalition also argues that the deal violates the Judgment Fund Act because the $795 million payment was not a legitimate compromise settlement in an imminent lawsuit, but rather a contrived arrangement to satisfy the president’s personal opposition to wind energy.
Attorney General James and the coalition are asking the court to strike down the plainly unlawful agreement, vacate the lease cancellation, and stop the administration from taking further action to implement this illegal deal.
Joining Attorney General James in today’s lawsuit are the attorneys general of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
The 2026 Israel Day Parade drew over 50,000 marchers from around the region and even the world but what it lacked in bipartisan, almost universal support from New Yorkers it more than made up for in a defiant, joyful energy and spirit.
For the first time in anyone’s memory, a New York City mayor declined to march in the parade. As a Palestinian rights supporter, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has criticized Israel’s response to the Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 27, 2023.
Instead, the march was led by New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch along with former mayor Mike Bloomberg. Other political luminaries and parade regulars included Senator Chuck Schumer; Governor Kathy Hochul; New York Attorney General Letitia James; NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli; city Comptroller Mark Levine; and city Council Speaker Julie Menin. Congressman Dan Goldman was also expected to march.
Governor Hochul did more than march, she signed the “Buffer Bill” – legislation that creates a 50-foot security perimeter between protests and houses of worship.
“Today we march in defiance and also to stand up for the values that define New York State since its very beginning,” Governor Hochul declared at the start of the march. “We will always be that bastion, that beacon of hope for others to be able to live the way they want to live, and practice their religious belief freely from harassment.
“That is why just one hour ago, I was proud to stand with our leaders from JCRC and UJA and other organizations to literally sign the ‘Buffer Bill’ — the first ever in the State of New York that says when you go to worship with your families, you should not have to endure harassment, intimidation or hatred from anyone.
“We’re going to stand up and make sure that you’re protected on our streets and in our subways and in our schools and our community centers, because this is who we are, my friends, and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. We stand up for each other. We are allies with one another, and hate against one is hate against all,” Governor Hochul declared.
Hochul’s Republican opponent, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, also took the opportunity to make himself – and his opposition to Mamdani- very visible, holding a rally and passing out campaign signs which a cluster of onlookers along the Fifth Avenue route held up. Blakeman, who after Mamdani’s election said he would erect a security “surveillance wall” between New York City and Nassau County, has attacked Mamdani as an antisemite because Mamdani loosened the definition of “antisemitism” to distinguish between hate speech and political criticism of the Israeli government.
(Blakeman’s surveillance wall consisted of AI video cameras with facial recognition, license plate readers, and increased police patrols and cooperation with ICE over immigration enforcement. The move prompted pushback from civil liberties advocates, still smarting from his formation of a secretive private militia but his “tough guy” persona and policies are central to Blakeman’s administration and his campaign for governor.)
Former Mayor Eric Adams also marched, and was greeted by a group of onlookers cheering, “We want you back.” Several on the sidelines and in the parade carried signs attacking Mamdani.
Israeli elected officials also joined, among them Amir Ohana, the speaker of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament; former UN Ambassador Magen David Adom Global President Gilad Erdan; Mayor Matah Katzman of Even-Yehuda; and Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon, with a large contingent from Israel’s consulate.
The overarching theme for the 2026 march was “Proud Americans, Proud Zionists,” focusing on Jewish visibility, identity, pride and community solidarity, and highlighting the strong bonds between the United States and Israel, Israel’s history and its permanence. Signs read “Standing Together. Standing Proud.” “Israel Our History. Our Future.” “Stronger than Before. Thank you for standing with us.” “Unapologentically Zionist.”
The defiant vibe predominated, amidst a worrisome decline in support from Americans (especially a Democratic faction and young progressives) that could hurt Israel severely as that country will likely have to deal with generational war as a result of its short-sighted militancy in Iran and Lebanon as well as Gaza and the West Bank.
A growing number of Americans are demanding an end to the billions in military aid for Israel and much of the world has lost sympathy for the decades of terror Israelis have had to endure in face of Netanyahu and the Israeli right-wing’s abuses in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. Even liberal American Jews have expressed opposition to Netanyahu and the direction his right wing extremists have taken Israel. Increasingly, support for Israel, once bipartisan, is being associated with Trump and the MAGA rightwing extremists, a partisan wedge that can only hurt Israel.
But that was not on the minds of the 50,000 who marched in the Israel Day Parade, nor the thousands of like-minded supporters who lined Fifth Avenue – albeit a shortened parade route – to cheer them on.
There was a joyous, triumphant, in-your-face pride, energy and clear demonstration of the unity of values and purpose they see between the United States and Israel.
Among the marchers, Holocaust survivors, American Veterans of Israel 1948, Jewish American Veterans, a huge contingent from Israel’s Consulate, the Judeo-Christian Zionist Congress and from Chinatown’s chamber of commerce.
More fanciful marchers included Philadelphia Mummers, two camels, bottle dancers from “Fiddler on the Roof,” and a contingent of Chai Riders motorcyclists.
Amidst heightened levels of antisemitism, anti-Israel and anti-Zionist acts and concern for terror attacks, the march this year came with an unprecedented level of security – streets were barricaded from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue, all onlookers had to go through security and were separated from the marchers by a buffer and barricades, the parade route was shortened, and there was an extra heavy police presence.
“As the mayor of our city, I take seriously my responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of every New Yorker and every event, regardless of my attendance,” Mayor Mamdani said at a press conference a week before.
As a result, there were few onlookers who were not somehow connected to the march, and no anti-Israel protesters along the route, though there was the regular, small group of ultra-orthodox outside the security perimeter who oppose Israel’s creation before the messiah.
A group of onlookers who were otherwise supportive of Israel but opposed to Netanyahu and his right wing government, waved signs saying reflecting their nuanced position: “The only hope: a shared Israel-Palestinian future” and “This Israeli Government belongs in the Hague, not in NYC”. Another tried to separate politics from supporting Israel’s security.
Governor Kathy Hochul signed her FY 2027 Budget making New York more affordable, keeping New Yorkers safe and expanding opportunity for all. The Governor delivered sweeping measures to lower costs including putting New York on a path to universal childcare, reducing utility costs and delivering energy rebate checks, and bringing auto insurance rates down for drivers. She also implemented a surcharge on luxury New York City second homes, generating much needed revenue for the City without impacting everyday New Yorkers. Additionally, the Governor continues to build on her unprecedented investments in public safety with more than $900 million in funding, measures to crack down on illegal 3D printed guns, and a nation leading package of immigration protections that keep New Yorkers safe.
“Every proposal included in this Budget was a fight for New Yorkers and their future. Working with my partners in the Legislature, we delivered an ambitious agenda that will lower costs for hardworking families, keep New Yorkers safe and create opportunity for all,” Governor Hochul said. “While Washington continues to make life more difficult for New Yorkers, I’m doing everything in my power to make real, tangible progress on the issues New Yorkers are facing and I will always fight for the people who call this great state home.”
Delivering Universal Childcare
Governor Hochul is putting New York State on a pathway toward universal childcare, beginning with committing to investments that will support the delivery of affordable childcare to up to nearly 100,000 additional children.
The Governor’s landmark investment will increase funding by $1.7 billion bringing the total FY27 investment to $4.5 billion for childcare and prekindergarten services statewide.
These investments will:
Make Pre-K truly universal statewide by making funding available to provide high-quality pre-k seats for all four-year-olds in the State by the start of the 2028-29 school year.
Partner with New York City to launch the Mayor’s signature 2-Care program and finally realize the promise of universal 3K access in New York City.
Support counties in building out New York’s First 3 Program providing high-quality affordable childcare to families across the state regardless of income.
Expand childcare subsidies to tens of thousands of additional families.
Support the workforce through early childhood educator preparation.
Launch an Office of Childcare and Early Education to steer the implementation of high-quality, universal childcare for New York families and will work to enhance awareness of the Child Tax Credit to ensure as many New Yorkers as possible benefit from the Governor’s historic expansion of the program that increased the credit from $330 per child to $1,000 annually for children under four.
Tackling Utility Costs
New Yorkers deserve reliable energy at a price they can afford, which is why Governor Hochul is proposing a sweeping set of reforms to modernize the Public Service Law, demanding strict fiscal discipline from utilities and empowering the State to fight more effectively for lower bills.
In her FY27 Budget, the Governor is putting ratepayers first by:
Issuing one-time $1 billion Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) checks to help provide needed relief. The POWER program will provide $200 to joint filers with incomes under $150,000 and $150 to joint filers with incomes between $150,000 and $300,000. Tying executive pay directly to customer affordability,
Requiring utilities to present a budget constrained option when requesting a rate increase to ensure efficiency and affordability are prioritized,
Ensuring customers do not foot the bill for hidden costs like lobbying, political contributions and unnecessary executive travel.
Allowing for the installation of an “Affordability Monitor” within any utility company when the average residential bills creep too high.
Modernizing the way utility rate cases are reviewed to help keep prices manageable.
Incentivizing the use of smart thermostats to help reduce energy usage and lower bills.
Establishing the RATES commission, bringing together consumer advocates and energy experts to investigate the root causes of surging utility bills, evaluate utility profits, review energy market designs and recommend actionable, transparent reforms.
Pied-à-Terre Tax on Luxury Second Homes in New York City
Governor Hochul’s Budget includes a pied-à-terre tax, a surcharge that will apply to high-value – $5 million or more – second homes within New York City. The tax ensures that those who own luxury properties as their second homes are still fairly contributing towards the funding of essential services like policing or parks that make New York City a global destination.
Given the complexity of New York City’s property tax system, the pied-à-terre surcharge makes accommodations in the short term transition phase for the ways in which different property types are currently valued in New York City, while ensuring the surcharge is applied fairly and immediately to luxury properties. The proposal is expected to generate at least $500 million a year in recurring revenue for New York City without impacting everyday New Yorkers.
Protecting New Yorkers From ICE Overreach
Governor Hochul has enacted a sweeping set of laws to protect New Yorkers against aggressive federal immigration enforcement as part of the FY27 Enacted Budget.
These new laws will expand protections by:
Prohibiting state, local and federal officers from wearing face covering while interacting with the public.
Prohibiting local governments, state and local police and state and local corrections from entering into 287(g) Agreements or similar agreements with the federal government that allow for state and local law enforcement personnel and facilities to be used for civil immigration enforcement purposes.
Establishing a state law under which New Yorkers can bring a lawsuit against federal, state and local government officials for a violation of their constitutional rights.
Prohibiting the use of state and local civilian agencies and public school resources, including employee time, for immigration enforcement activities.
Prohibiting civilian state, local and school employees (including higher education and K-12) from permitting access to any non-public area of a state-owned or operated facility to immigration authorities without a judicial warrant, meaning any state or municipally owned, or operated facility including housing accommodations, parks, childcare facilities, preschools, hospitals, schools, dorms, healthcare facilities, community centers, libraries and shelters, cannot grant or facilitate access to any non-public areas of their facilities to immigration authorities without a warrant.
Ensuring immigrant students can access education, codifying the right to a free public education regardless of immigration status.
Record Investments in Public Safety
Since taking office, Governor Hochul has invested more than $3 billion in public safety initiatives. The funding has provided record support for local and state law enforcement that has contributed to gun violence reaching record lows, reduced subway crime and combated pandemic-era surges in motor vehicle and retail thefts.
This Budget adds more than $900 million to those record investments and strengthens public safety by:
Prioritizing New Yorkers’ safety throughout the transit system. The Governor secured an additional $77 million to support the deployment of NYPD officers across the subway system and $25 million for expanding the Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams initiative to respond more quickly to individuals in acute distress.
Establishing a pilot program for New York City requiring the installation of Intelligent Speed Assistance devices in the vehicles of so-called “super speeders,” drivers with a documented pattern of flouting speeding laws and putting New Yorkers at risk.
Advancing a comprehensive approach to both prohibit risky drone use and expand responsible use of drones as first responders by creating a crime for dangerous drone use and flying in and around restricted areas, and authorizing the use of detection and mitigation efforts by qualified law enforcement officers.
Protecting safe access to worship — creating a new crime for knowingly and intentionally interfering with a person seeking to enter or exit a place of religious worship or acting in a way that makes a person within 50 feet of a place of worship fear for their safety.
Stopping Illegal Homegrown Guns
Governor Hochul has passed the strongest gun laws in the nation and made record investments in gun violence prevention, resulting in New York having the fewest shooting incidents statewide in 2025 in recorded history.
Governor Hochul’s FY27 Enacted Budget will:
Require first-in-the-nation minimum safety standards for 3D printers sold in New York to be equipped with basic technology that prevents the unlicensed, illegal production of lethal firearms and firearm parts.
Require the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to lead a task force of experts to recommend regulations that will ensure New Yorkers are protected from these dangerous weapons. Following the implementation of the resulting regulations, state law will allow for recourse against any actor who sells a 3D printer in New York without equipping it with such technology.
Criminalize the unlawful possession, sale, or distribution of blueprints that allow the printing of illegal guns and gun parts, and the manufacture of 3D-printed firearms.
Prohibit gun manufacturers and firearms dealers from selling pistols that can be quickly and easily converted into machine guns using common tools.
Lowering Car Insurance Rates for New Yorkers
Fraud is a major driver of elevated auto insurance premiums. Increasingly sophisticated actors stage elaborate accidents, designed to allow for “jackpot” payouts from insurance companies or jury awards. These schemes imperil the safety of honest drivers, cause property damage, and increase rates for drivers across the state. Increasingly, scams go beyond just one bad actor at the wheel and are orchestrated by organized criminal rings.
The Governor’s plan will:
Cap payouts for drivers engaging in criminal behavior at the time of the incident, including uninsured motorists, drunk drivers, and drivers in the act of committing a felony.
Better define what actually constitutes a ‘serious injury’ so that damages for pain and suffering or emotional distress are reserved for those able to objectively demonstrate that they have suffered a serious injury.
Ensure that if a driver is found to be mostly at fault for causing an accident, they cannot claim outsized payments for damages.
Prevent insurance companies from exorbitantly raising rates by setting a legal threshold that prevents excess profits and returns savings to consumers.
Create new regulatory safeguards to prevent insurance companies from raising rates without seeking express approval from the Department of Financial Services.
Protect consumers by prohibiting insurance companies from setting rates based on extraneous, personal factors like homeownership status, occupation, education level or zip code.
Enable prosecutors to seek criminal penalties against any individual responsible for organizing a staged accident, not just the particular individual behind the wheel.
These measures come in addition to the Governor’s whole-of-government approach to combatting fraud by tasking DFS, DMV, DCJS and NYSP with a more proactive and coordinated approach to enforcement.
The Governor’s plan also includes transparency for auto insurance policyholders by requiring insurers to notify policyholders about rate changes.
Protecting Vulnerable Renters and Homeowners
High prices and unscrupulous landlords are driving too many tenants out of their homes and making it harder for vulnerable homeowners to make ends meet. Governor Hochul has secured agreements to help address these issues in the FY27 Budget including:
Protecting renters by clarifying anti-harassment laws.
Enacting stiffer criminal penalties for landlords who engage in systemic harassment of rent-regulated tenants across multiple buildings or who are repeat serious offenders of existing anti-harassment laws.
To ensure that housing remains affordable for both seniors and New Yorkers with disabilities who are living in rent-regulated housing and Mitchell-Lama affordable housing, Governor Hochul’s final FY27 Budget:
Increases income eligibility limits for New York’s Rent Freeze Program for both the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption and Disability Rent Increase Exemption from $50,000 to $75,000.
Authorizes raising the eligibility for the Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption and Disabled Homeowner’s Exemption from $50,000 to $75,000.
Adds notice requirements to make more elderly and disabled rent-regulated tenants aware of the SCRIE/DRIE rent freeze programs.
Consistent with current practice, New York City and other communities may opt into both the SCRIE/DRIE and SCHE/DHE programs.
Improving Transparency in the Residential Property Insurance Market
Homeowners and housing providers across the state are contending with escalating home insurance premiums and shrinking options for coverage, which threaten the affordability of New York’s single and multi-family homes. While single family home insurance rates in New York are on average lower than many other states — thanks to New York’s tightly regulated market — year over year increases in insurance rates still threaten to sap money from families’ pocketbooks and make multi-family housing less and less affordable for homeowners and renters. For years, New Yorkers have not been properly informed about the reasons for rising premiums. This year, the Governor’s reforms will increase transparency for consumers and give the Department of Financial Services (DFS) a better understanding of the multi-family market with new data from insurers.
Governor Hochul is tackling this problem head-on by:
Requiring insurers to provide detailed information to DFS on how they price policies for multifamily residential buildings.
Increasing transparency for home insurance as well as auto insurance by requiring insurers to notify policyholders about rate changes.
Protecting New York Farmers from the Disruption of Federal Tariffs
Agriculture is a cornerstone of New York’s economy, yet the federal government’s tariff policy has threatened the competitiveness of our farmers. Federal actions have driven up the cost of essential resources — like seeds, fertilizer, and necessary machinery — while creating market instability. Although the USDA recently announced a national assistance program, it is fundamentally flawed for New York since it leaves specialty crops and the dairy sector with no meaningful support.
To relieve farmers from the adverse impacts caused by federal tariffs, Governor Hochul will:
Create the Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program, which will provide $30 million in direct payments to New York specialty crop growers, livestock producers, aquaculture, and dairy farmers.
This initiative will quickly distribute much needed support to offset rising costs caused by tariffs.
This program reinforces New York’s commitment to our agricultural community, while safeguarding local jobs and ensuring our farmers have the certainty needed to compete in a volatile global marketplace.
Helping New Yorkers Put Food on the Table
The recent shutdown of the federal government reminded the nation of how precarious our nutrition safety net is and how many New Yorkers contend with food insecurity. In response to the shutdown, Governor Hochul rushed an additional $65 million toward food assistance programs that delivered meals to tens of thousands of New Yorkers in their hour of need. To build on these actions and further reinforce our emergency food system:
Governor Hochul is announcing a $51 million investment in the Department of Health (DOH)’s Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) program, which will help New York’s network of about 2,700 food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens reach more New Yorkers in need. An additional $15 million will strengthen and expand operations, allowing them to reach more people with healthier options.
The Enacted Budget also includes $55 million for the Nourish New York Program, which reroutes surplus agricultural products to those who need them most through the state’s food banks.
Theft of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits is an epidemic across the United States, with hundreds of millions of dollars illegally stolen from families’ EBT cards nationwide using illegal “skimming” devices. Governor Hochul’s FY27 Budget will protect New Yorkers from this predatory behavior by:
Upgrading New York’s EBT cards to secure chip-based technology that makes cards virtually impervious to skimming. While the federal administration tries to strip SNAP benefits from as many New Yorkers as possible and turns a blind eye to criminals taking food from vulnerable families, transitioning to chip-based EBT cards will help safeguard the SNAP dollars that New Yorkers depend on.
The Governor’s plan will also:
Establish New York PLATES, a statewide competitive $10 million grant program for eligible food pantries that will fund capital projects, to increase the capacity of these critical organizations and enable food pantries to safely store, transport and distribute food to more families.
Support localities in expanding free summer meal sites.
No Taxes on Tips for Hardworking New Yorkers
Tipped workers — New York’s bartenders, servers, and deliveristas — are the backbone of the state’s service economy. In jobs that demand long hours and daily dedication, every dollar is hard-won. Governor Hochul is committed to making sure tipped workers can hold on to more of what they earn. The Governor passed legislation that eliminates state income taxes on up to $25,000 of tipped income in tax year 2026, consistent with federal tax guidance.
Governor Hochul’s FY27 Budget builds on her efforts to put more money back in New Yorkers’ pockets. To date, her administration has:
Cut middle-class taxes to their lowest rates in 70 years, ensuring families keep more of the paychecks they earn.
Raised New York’s minimum wage and tied future increases to inflation so a day’s work covers a day’s needs.
Implemented an historic expansion of New York’s Child Tax Credit, also known as the Empire State Child Credit, to provide families up to $1,000 per child under the age of four beginning in 2026, and up to $500 for school-aged children beginning in 2027, substantially increasing the previous maximum of $330.
Made school meals free for every student, saving families $1,600 per child every year and making sure no child goes hungry at school.
Sent Inflation Refund checks to 8.2 million New Yorkers — up to $200 for individuals and up to $400 for families.
Increased the maximum weekly unemployment benefit by $300 a week so people can focus on finding work, not keeping the lights on.
Established a nation-leading birth allowance — the New York State BABY Benefit (Birth Allowance for Beginning Year Benefit) — providing $1,800 to new parents receiving Public Assistance when they have a new baby.
It’s most apt that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who has ambitions of becoming New York State Governor, presided over an “America’s 250th” event at Peacock Point, a waterfront mansion in Locust Valley, to honor the founding of U.S. Naval Aviation by the First Yale Unit that became known as the “Millionaire’s Unit”, featuring a rainy-day flyover by a U.S. Navy T-45 Goshawk, before an audience of VIPs, Republican officials and county police and first responders, or that the host of the event, Henry Davison II, introduced him as “Mr. Governor…too soon?”
This wasn’t a flyover for 250,000, like at the Jones Beach Memorial Day air show, which this year, is being pushed back to July 5-6 to actually honor America’s 250th. The flyover lasting mere seconds – in rainy weather – was for an audience of about 60 invitees.
Blakeman’s boast about how he got the flyover was particularly revealing: “I called the White House to ask for a flyover and was directed to the Secretary of War,” he gleefully recounted. “Instead of 3 to 4, I got one” because there is a war on, you know. After the fly-by, the two pilots of Training Squadron NINE Tiger – US Navy Lt. Ravendran Shanmugam Thorny and Lt. Luke O’Sullivan (an “exchange” pilot from the Royal Navy Britain) – were ferried to the event by Nassau County Police helicopter, performing a second “flyover” and landing on the lawn.
Blakeman also related how he came to learn of the “Millionaires Unit.” it began at a dinner in New York City where he met a historian whom he asked what he might do to mark the 250th anniversary. He subsequently learned the history of these Yale students who formed their own flying club and went to Europe during World War I.
“The flying group they formed here at Peacock Point became the foundation for the U.S. naval air unit.
“Rather than do what others were doing for the 250th, I wanted to celebrate the rich history of the United States here in Nassau County.”
The event focused on the history surrounding “The Millionaire’s Unit,” a group of young Yale students who founded the U.S. Naval Aviation Reserves in Nassau County and became the first aviation unit to enter World War I from America. County Executive Blakeman highlighted Nassau County’s place in U.S. history and spoke about the values Americans should be proud of as we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary.
In fact, Long Island is known as the “Cradle of Aviation” (there is even a museum dedicated to it) for good reason – the first airplanes were developed and manufactured here, and it was from what is now Roosevelt Field on this very day in 1927 (of which Blakeman was not aware), that Charles Lindbergh set out on his historic solo, nonstop 33.5-hour flight 3,600 miles to Paris. Lindbergh actually stayed at Peacock Point.
“We are known as the Cradle of Aviation, but not that many people know what happened here at Peacock Point,” County Executive Blakeman said. “This is the greatest country in the world. This country was founded on values and principles that have made us a rich, diverse, and, quite frankly, the greatest country in the world…There are values that we cherish: Judeo-Christian work ethic…democracy, freedom of religion, freedom of speech – things we might take for granted. But on this day, we should remember that those freedoms cannot be taken for granted.”
The event was held on the property of Henry Davison II, the grandson of F. Trubee Davison, who with his brother, Henry P. Davison Jr., were founding members of the first Yale Unit (known as the Millionaires’ Unit). He reiterated the importance of honoring American history and spoke about his family’s connection to Nassau County.
“The Davison family has been here for a long time. We have been here longer than anybody but the Indians, and we plan to stay here. And we are never leaving Oyster Bay,” Davison said.
There actually is a link in this event – or rather this family – to America’s 250th. Davison noted that his wife, Christina, is descendent from Benjamin Talmadge who was George Washington’s first spy master. Nathan Hale, Talmadge’s roommate at Yale, was captured by the British very near to this place, and hung in 1776, famously declaring, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” After Hale’s death, Talmadge set up the Culper Spy Ring to report on British troop movements.
Davison, whose great grandfather, Harry P. Davison, was a managing partner of J.P. Morgan, related the story to illustrate his family’s commitment to duty and sacrifice. “There was an explicit understanding, that to whom much is given, much is expected.” Which is why the very wealthy, privileged Davisons and the other Yale men, formed the Millionaires Unit and went to Europe to fight in World War I, when they didn’t have to. “They were willing to sacrifice their own life for those who represented their ideals.”
Actually Harry P. Davison is an American Dream success story. Abandoned by his father and orphaned at a young age, he got into a card game with circus impresario P.T. Barnum who introduced him to his future wife, Kate Trubee, daughter of a local merchant family, and got Harry his first job as a cashier at the Astor Place Bank in New York City, where he foiled a bank robbery and came to the attention of J.P. Morgan. He worked his way up, founded the Bankers Trust Company, became J.P. Morgan’s personal assistant, and ultimately a partner. After J.P. Morgan died, he took the helm. He became chairman and raised funds for the American Red Cross during World War I – a demonstration of where the sense of noblesse oblige originated.
Marc Wortman, author of The Millionaires’ Unit that so inspired Blakeman, related that the First Yale Unit (dubbed “Millionaires’ Unit” for their privileged backgrounds), was a pioneering group of 28 wealthy Yale undergraduates who formed a private air militia in 1916. At a time when the United States had funding for but one airplane (but not for parts or equipment) and just 40 aviators (fewer than Bulgaria), they financed their own training, planes, and equipment and formed a private air militia. Their group became the founding squadron of the U.S. Naval Air Reserve and the first to fly for the U.S. in World War I, ultimately persuading Congress to create the Naval Reserve Flying Corps.
“They formed the vanguard, the nucleus of the service that grew to 40,000 men,” he said. Among them were the first American to fly a bomber, first to fly a submarine patrol, the first strategic bomber force and the first aviator ace (Lt. David Ingalls), as well as the first aviator killed in combat and numerous accounts of heroism – when Harry Davison’s friend, Di Gates, was shot down in Europe, he undertook a rescue mission (Gates was taken as a PoW).
Many members went on to become top government and military officials, including serving as Secretaries of War and Defense. Davison’s godfather was Robert Lovett, one of the Yale First Unit who became Under Secretary of State from 1947 to 1949 and George C. Marshall’s primary deputy. Lovett orchestrated the Berlin Air Lift and spearheaded early Cold War initiatives, including the Marshall Plan.
Wortman noted that the young men were well aware of the risks and horrors that would befall them. Trubee Davison had been an ambulance driver, bringing wounded from the front, before the United States entered World War I. “He knew how dangerous war and flying was.”
“They were after honor, loved their country, had a sense of duty, righteousness, loyalty and a spirit of mission.”
Their stories were all but forgotten when Wortman wrote his book (that was turned into a documentary) based in part on letters from Kenneth MacLeish to his brother, the Pulitzer prize winner Archibald McLeish. Kenneth MacLeish was shot down and killed over Belgium on October 14, 1918—just weeks before the war ended.
“They put their lives at risk for the ideals, the principles that kept our country free,” Blakeman added before unveiling a plaque that will commemorate Peacock Point as the place of the founding of U.S. Naval Aviation.
In addition to covering the history of aviation in Nassau County, the event also featured two live demonstrations. The proceedings began with a ceremonial flyover of a U.S. Navy T-45 Goshawk advanced jet trainer, operated by pilots of Training Squadron NINE “Tigers” of the Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi. A second flyover featuring a Nassau County Police Department helicopter concluded the ceremony.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Suozzi (D–Long Island, Queens) introduced a bipartisan bill to ensure that aging adults have a plan for their long-term care. The Planning for Long-term Aging Needs (PLAN) Act, co-led by Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL), launches a public campaign to educate families about the necessity of planning for long term care, helping them avoid the financial crisis that hits many families when their loved ones age.
This commonsense bill is part of Congressman Suozzi’s long-held dedication to addressing the long-term care crisis in this country. The PLAN Act complements his Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home (WISH) Act, which creates a federal catastrophic long-term care insurance program coupled with a robust private sector insurance market.
“As our country faces a looming long-term care crisis, now is the time to ensure our future generations have the tools they need to age with dignity,” said Congressman Suozzi. “More than 70% of American seniors will require some form of long-term care during their lifetime, but most don’t plan for it while they’re still working. This commonsense bill helps impress upon American families the importance of planning ahead and averting financial crises instead of compromising on quality care for their loved ones.”
“Far too many Americans underestimate the importance of long-term care planning until they are faced with limited options and significant stress. This bill will help empower individuals to plan ahead and make informed decisions that work best for themselves and their families. I’m honored to be working across the aisle with Congressman Suozzi to advance this commonsense legislation,” said Congressman Bean.
Almost 70% of seniors will need some level of long-term care as they get older. However, less than 30% of adults over the age of 50 have thought about how they will care for themselves if they become disabled, and about half of adults mistakenly believe Medicare will cover long-term services like nursing home care or a home health aide. With more than 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, this betrays a major gap in long-term care planning that will turn into a financial crisis for many families as their loved ones age.
The PLAN Act addresses this problem by working with the Department of Health and Human Services to create a public education campaign to encourage families and working age adults to plan ahead for their long-term care needs during retirement. The inspiration for this legislation came from the 2005 Own Your Future campaign, which leveraged TV, radio, and mail outreach to encourage the public to consider how they will plan for long-term care. That campaign resulted in thousands more families planning for long-term care.
As the baby boomer population approaches retirement age and it becomes clear that few are adequately prepared for the long-term care costs they may face, now is the time to ensure that future generations have the tools they need to age with dignity. The PLAN Act does just that.
The bipartisan PLAN Act has the support of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), LeadingAge, the Bipartisan Policy Center Action, the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), Finseca, Genworth Financial, Northwestern Mutual, New York Life Insurance, and Nationwide.
The WISH Act would create a Public-Private Partnership to address the approaching long-term care crisis
Previously, Congressman Suozzi, with Congressman Moolenaar (R-MI), had proposed a bipartisan Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home (WISH) Act, which would create a federal catastrophic long term care insurance program that provides financial support for disabled seniors while fostering a more vibrant private sector insurance market.
“When I was growing up, all four of my grandparents lived at our home. Three of them were very sick. My mother was a nurse, and we all helped to take care of them. Everyone has a personal story with a grandparent or a family member that needs help as they age” said Suozzi. “Right now, our country is facing a looming long-term care crisis. 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day; in five years, 6,500 seniors will turn 80 every day. Medicaid and nursing homes are already overburdened, and seniors have no other affordable options to pay for the care that they will need. We need to handle this problem before it becomes a crisis, and I believe a federal catastrophic long-term care insurance program coupled with a robust private sector insurance market is the way to do that.”
“Michigan seniors deserve to have more affordable options for their long-term care services, including home-based care. Unfortunately, too many faced with the need for long-term care are uninsured or unable to afford these necessary services, driving them to use their life savings or being placed on Medicaid. The WISH Act is a commonsense bipartisan proposal to assist those in need of long-term care by providing seniors with access to more affordable insurance options that would allow them to remain at home,” said Moolenaar.
After an elimination period of 1-5 years based on income, during which Americans would be expected to cover their own care through private insurance or otherwise, disabled seniors would receive a monthly benefit from the federal government to assist with long-term care costs. This proposal will incentivize private insurers to offer more affordable products and increase public awareness of the need to plan for long-term care costs before elderly individuals become disabled. This program will also reduce seniors’ need to spend down assets and qualify for Medicaid to afford care. By doing so, significant Medicaid savings would be created.
The WISH Act has been supported by the National Council on Aging, American Geriatric Society, American Academy of Physicians, American College of Physicians, National Alliance for Caregiving, Genworth Financial, and many industry experts.
“Older adults deserve access to affordable care at home. At the National Council on Aging, we hear stories every day of families devastated by the staggering costs of long-term care. Many caregivers must deplete their life savings or leave the workforce to care for family members. We applaud Congressmen Tom Suozzi and John Moolenaar for taking this first step in giving our nation’s families the support they deserve. We look forward to working with them to enact the WISH Act.,” said Ramsey Alwin, President & CEO of the National Council on Aging.
“Our country is rapidly aging–by 2040, adults 65 years and older will comprise nearly a quarter of the population. Right now, most adults, research shows, could not afford to cover a year or more of care in a nursing home or for a year’s worth of service provided by a paid nurse or aide. America’s current patchwork approach to long term care financing and delivery is unsustainable. We’ve long urged policymakers to recognize these realities, and provide critical, much-needed support. Mr. Suozzi’s legislation, The WISH Act, which would create a federal catastrophic long-term care insurance program, is a smart solution that would help pay for the supports that ensure quality of life as we grow older,” said Katie Smith Sloan, President and CEO of LeadingAge.
“On behalf of the American College of Physicians (ACP), I am pleased to offer our support for the Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home (WISH) Act. The WISH Act would establish a long-term care insurance system for older Americans—allowing older adults to age at home if they prefer….The number of Americans aged 65 years or older is expected to grow from 56 million in 2020 to 73 million in 2030, roughly 20% of the U.S. population…We commend you for introducing the WISH Act to help address the complex issue of financing long-term care for America’s older adults,” said Isaac Opole, President of the American College of Physicians.
“The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is pleased to support the Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home (WISH) Act, a bill to create federal catastrophic long-term care insurance for older adults. We greatly appreciate (Congressman Suozzi’s) leadership in addressing the cost challenges of long-term care. As geriatrics healthcare professionals, our members help their patients and their patients’ families navigate the long-term care system on a daily basis. There is no doubt a huge gap in care for most patients when it comes to the provision of and access to long-term care,” said Nancy E. Lundebjerg, CEO of the American Geriatrics Society.
“Almost no one can provide for their own risks of disability in old age. One in seven of us will need around-the-clock personal care for more than 5 years – and the vast majority cannot simply save for those costs. We need federal long-term care insurance to help cover the costs for long periods of long term care! The WISH Act would save so many families from the devastating costs of eldercare and would save all states from much of the costs of Medicaid for those among us who would otherwise become utterly impoverished,” said Dr. Joanne Lynn, Eldercare Advocate, Professor, and Author.
“For more than 30 years researchers and policymakers have been stymied trying to address the long-term care financing challenge. Along comes US. Congressman Suozzi who presents a bold, thoughtful, and creative solution to the problem that will help address the needs of our growing older adult population, offer relief to states, who have been facing significant increases in their Medicaid budgets, and deliver financial support to long-term care providers, who have been trying to give high quality care in an underfunded system. The problem is urgent, and this practical, targeted solution is worthy of Congressional consideration and support by all who want to solve this growing problem,” said Dr. Marc A. Cohen, Professor of Gerontology and Co-Director of the LeadingAge LTSS Center at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
“Genworth and CareScout have long believed that public-private collaboration is the answer to our national long-term care funding crisis. The reintroduction of the WISH Act is a solid step towards an effective combination of public and private sector solutions to help more people understand and plan for the cost of long-term care supports and services (“LTSS”). As this proposal continues to evolve, we look forward to engaging further with all stakeholders within the LTSS ecosystem to find meaningful, practical funding solutions that empower Americans to navigate the aging journey with confidence,” said Tom McInerney, CEO of Genworth Financial.
“The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) appreciates Representative Suozzi’s leadership in proposing legislation to address the need for catastrophic long-term care insurance. We look forward to continuing to discuss public-private options to finance caregiving and long-term care expenses,” said a spokesperson for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
“We have a storm coming in this country. Spending down your assets and living in poverty on Medicaid is no way to end a life,” said Suozzi. “Seniors deserve to age in dignity and at home with the care they need, and the WISH Act can make that happen.”
Support for the Plan Act
“I commend Congressman Tom Suozzi for continuing to serve as a champion for long-term care solutions. Today, Representatives Tom Suozzi and Aaron Bean introduced a bill that will direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and implement, as part of the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information, a public education initiative on the need for individuals to plan for long-term care. Far too many American families face caring for their loved ones with little to no financial resources, and they don’t know where to turn for help. This bill is a critical step forward in addressing this pressing challenge,” said Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO The National Council on Aging (NCOA).
“Our long-term care system is complex, opaque, and difficult to navigate. Education is a vital component of ensuring strong access to care and easing the immense burden on individuals and their caregivers as they navigate options for loved ones. The ‘Planning for Long-Term Aging Needs Act of 2026,’ or the ‘PLAN Act of 2026,’ provides much-needed infrastructure to ensure more individuals are aware of their long-term care options and can make plans that align with their wishes. This is a much-needed first step toward a broader conversation about long-term care education and financing that is urgently needed. We thank Reps. Suozzi and Bean for introducing this important piece of legislation,” said Katie Smith Sloan, President and CEO of LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services.
“BPC Action applauds Reps. Suozzi (D-NY) and Bean (R-FL) for their bipartisan leadership on the PLAN Act of 2026. This bill aligns with recommendations from the Bipartisan Policy Center’s long-term care work, which has consistently called for greater public education and awareness to help Americans plan ahead for their long-term care needs. Expanding access to information about the full spectrum of care options is essential to helping families make informed decisions and to building a more sustainable long-term care system, and BPC Action is proud to support this effort” said Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action).
“People need access to reliable information about long-term care before costs become a crisis and personal savings are on the line. Life insurers offer solutions to help cover those costs, and it starts with giving people the resources they need to plan ahead. ACLI supports Representatives Suozzi and Bean’s leadership on this bill that will help people plan for their long-term care needs,” said David Chavern, American Council of Life Insurers President and CEO.
“America’s aging population demands action—together, through education, planning, and partnership. Bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Tom Suozzi and Aaron Bean to create a comprehensive public education initiative focused on the critical need for individuals and families to plan for their long-term care needs does just that. This forward-thinking measure will help Americans better understand the financial, emotional, and personal challenges associated with aging and extended care, empowering them to take proactive steps to protect their independence, assets, and loved ones,” said Christopher Gandy, President of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA).
“This long-term care education bill reflects exactly the kind of bipartisan leadership our country needs,” said Marc Cadin, CEO of Finseca. “Finseca is grateful to Representatives Bean and Suozzi for stepping up to lead on this issue. For too long, long-term care has been a quiet crisis in American households. Now, we have a real opportunity to turn awareness into action. When people understand the risks and their options, financial security professionals can help them make smart choices that protect their savings, provide peace of mind, and support lasting financial security.”
“The need for long-term care isn’t a remote possibility, it’s a reality most families will face, often without a plan for how to navigate or pay for it,” said Tom McInerney, President & CEO of Genworth. “That lack of awareness is one of the biggest drivers of financial and emotional strain when care needs arise. Genworth and CareScout support Congressman Suozzi’s proposal as an important and meaningful step toward bringing long-term care planning into the national conversation because better information, delivered earlier, can help individuals and families make more confident decisions and avoid crisis-driven outcomes.”
“Many people think they won’t need long-term care; however, research suggests they’ll need it at some point in their life. We therefore appreciate Congressman Suozzi’s efforts to raise public awareness about the importance of long-term care insurance,” said a representative from Northwestern Mutual.
“Everyone has a personal story with a grandparent or a family member that needs help as they age. When I was growing up, all four of my grandparents lived at our home. Three of them were very sick. My mother was a nurse, and we all helped to take care of them,” Suozzi stated. “We need to make sure the next generation knows their options so our loved ones have the support necessary to age with dignity.”
Governor Hochul: “I also would not accept a deal that would compromise affordability for Long Islanders. At a time when everything is going up, we all know the story, I was not going to allow taxes or fares to go up. And that’s why we stood firm for a deal that would not require any additional fare increases or tax increases, period. Full stop. Got it done.”
Hochul: “Now, this contract will ensure that 3,500 Long Island Rail Road employees will be paid fairly for their labor. I want them to know this, I deeply value and respect the hard work they do. They’re out there every single day making sure the job gets done. Their work is critical for the entire region, and they deserve a fair wage.”
Late Monday night, after the first full work day with the Long Island Railroad, the busiest commuter railroad in the country, on strike, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a resolution ending the strike: Here are her comments:
Good evening, everyone. I’m truly pleased to share that the five Long Island Rail Road unions and the MTA were able to come together and reach a fair deal this evening.
Now, negotiations are rarely easy, but I have a lot of respect for the collective bargaining process that unfolded over the last few days. And I always believed that we could reach a good, fair compromise, a contract that achieved two principles: Number one, protecting affordability for Long Islanders and commuters while giving fair wages to the employees. And by working and negotiating together, we have reached that kind of deal.
Now, this contract will ensure that 3,500 Long Island Rail Road employees will be paid fairly for their labor. I want them to know this, I deeply value and respect the hard work they do. They’re out there every single day making sure the job gets done. Their work is critical for the entire region, and they deserve a fair wage.
I also would not accept a deal that would compromise affordability for Long Islanders. At a time when everything is going up, we all know the story, I was not going to allow taxes or fares to go up. And that’s why we stood firm for a deal that would not require any additional fare increases or tax increases, period. Full stop. Got it done.
Now, the Long Island Rail Road service will resume tomorrow at noon, with the full service time, expected in time for the evening rush hour, and yes, in time for the Knicks game. Knicks fans will be able to take the trains to MSG tomorrow in time for game one of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Finally, I want to thank so many people. I want to thank New Yorkers, Long Islanders particularly, who made all the accommodations, who had to work from home, who sacrificed, who had to put up with inconveniences. We are so grateful for their patience and understanding. And for those who helped us weather the storm over the last few days, to their employers who made the accommodations, helped get this done, the elected officials who helped get the word out.
I also want to say, the MTA negotiating team, led by Janno Lieber, did an exceptional job. I want to thank every single one of them. And also the preparations that I came down to see over many days, going to the command centers and talking to the people that were deciding how many shuttle buses, how many trains, how many workers need to be out there greeting people. The job was done like a military operation, and I was very impressed with that, Janno, so I want to thank you and your entire team for anticipating the worst and preparing all of our commuters for a better experience than they would have had otherwise.
I also want to thank our labor leaders, who fought hard for a fair deal, and I respect them for that. They’re looking out for their members. Also, Mario Cilento, the state leader of the AFL-CIO, played an integral role in this process as well. I want to thank, finally, the extra people who showed up every single day to make sure this ran smoothly. We got the deal done. It is a very good night for everyone, and I’m really proud of the work that was accomplished by an extraordinary team and our partners in labor. Thank you.
For the first time in 30 years, the Long Island Rail Road, the biggest commuter rail system in the nation, is on strike, causing havoc across the region, as some 300,000 daily riders have to find alternate ways to get to work.
At a time when the air quality is already bad, the increased traffic and emissions will make it worse.
People who normally have to drive for work, to get to doctor, or some emergency are stuck in traffic, at a time when gas prices are reaching new heights, compounding family financial woes.
You look at the vacant cafes and shops around the train station that are normally bustling with people.
The timing is interesting, aimed at hurting Governor Kathy Hochul who is being challenged by Republican Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County Executive.
The NICE buses which are under Blakeman’s control, take only 13,000 people from Long Island train stations, depositing them at subway stations in Queens.
A commute that normally takes 40 minutes can take 2 hours.
The timing of the strike – the first in 30 years – is interesting, especially since the MTA put very favorable terms on the table, and the LIRR workers are already the highest paid in the nation.
I would bet Trump is behind the Long Island Railroad strike in order to boost Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is the Republican challenging Governor Kathy Hochul and thinks the strike makes Governor Hochul look bad and the pain it will cause the 300,000 daily LIRR riders will result in lots of angry votes against her, because of course you blame the Democrat – except it actually makes Blakeman look impotent.
It also makes it clear that like his idol, Donald Trump, Blakeman is willing to inflict misery and suffering on his constituents in order to benefit himself. The Teamsters, who have supported trump for the unfathomable notion that trump is for workers and for unions (when he has sold workers and unions under the bus at every turn) and that waving the trump flag makes them more patriotic and better Americans than others (radical liberal lunatics who want to be able to afford food, clothing and shelter) are doing this to bolster Blakeman.
Here’s how you know that Blakeman is enjoying seeing Hochul and Long Islanders squirm: he could offer to help organize NICE buses to relieve some of the stress, but instead, uses the opportunity to try to get Hochul to cancel congestion pricing tolls (which he sued to overturn), to be told by Hochul that it is not possible under the federal contract. Instead, the pro-Blakeman NICE unions are urging bus drivers to support the LIRR strikers and not change their schedules to help. (Where were the unions defending the federal workers as they were fired by DOGE?)
But Governor Hochul, while showing respect for unions and workers, has noted that Long Island Railroad workers are already the highest paid in the country, and if the MTA accedes to their fairly outrageous demands, it not only will force a further increase in fares for already hard-pressed Long Islanders, but will trigger similar, unsustainable increases throughout the workforce.
“The LIRR is more stable now than it has been for generations,” Governor Kathy Hochul stated. “The decision by some unions to strike over demands that would threaten that progress is reckless. These unions represent the highest paid workers of any railroad in the nation, yet they are demanding contracts that could raise fares as much as 8%, pit workers against one another, and risk tax hikes for Long Islanders. This is unacceptable. My priority is protecting affordability for riders and ensuring fairness across the workforce.
“The disruption that Long Islanders face starting tonight is the direct result of reckless actions by the Trump Administration to cut mediation short and push these negotiations toward a strike. For weeks, the MTA has attempted to negotiate in good faith and put multiple fair offers on the table that included meaningful wage increases, but you cannot make a deal if one side refuses to engage in good faith.
“Commuters are dealing with unnecessary dysfunction and thousands of union LIRR workers are being forced to go without a paycheck because of decisions made by a small group of union leaders. I stand with LIRR riders and will fight to preserve the long term stability of the MTA. I believe a deal can be done and I urge both the MTA and these unions to return to the table and bargain non-stop until a deal is reached.”
