Washington, DC--Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) released the following statement today after the Senate finally voted to pass critical aid which will save New York State from having to make devastating budget cuts in medical care and education. Next week, the House will meet in special session to pass the measure and send it to President Obama for a swift signing into law.  Rep. Engel is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health.

The Senate measure provides $16 billion of enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) rate, which will save New York State from scheduled deep and damaging budget cuts.   It also includes $10 billion to be used for Education Jobs Funds designed to spare teachers from layoffs.  FMAP determines the amount of Federal matching funds for States for assistance payments, state medical and medical insurance expenditures, and for certain social services. A higher FMAP would increase the federal share of Medicaid costs, freeing up scarce dollars for other necessary programs.

"New York State needs this extension of FMAP, and the Education Jobs Funds, to prevent the state from having to make additional harsh choices – such as who will not receive adequate medical care or how many teachers to terminate.  I welcome the chance to return to Washington to pass this important legislation.  New York and other states are facing deep budget cuts which will greatly harm millions of Americans who can least afford them.

“As a former educator, I am very pleased to be able to provide relief to teachers – and more importantly their students.  It would have been catastrophic to our nation’s education system to have mass layoffs of experienced teachers just before the start of classes.  In New York alone, over 7,000 teachers will avoid layoffs as a result of this legislation.  In order to better prepare our next generation of leaders, we must have a solid public education system, and our teachers are integral to that system.

“This bill will save jobs in New York State, and across the country.  I call on the Senate to pass more of the job-saving legislation already passed by the House earlier this year.  This will continue to provide help to the many Americans who are in need while our economy is still recovering.  I am certain I speak for my House colleagues when I say we will continue returning to vote on bills to help our hard-working American families.”

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