John,

Happy summer!

This month and every month, I’m fighting to make life more affordable for New York families. One way we’re doing that is through the STAR tax credit program, which is delivering $2.2 billion back to three million New York homeowners. Eligible homeowners are receiving up to $1,500 back in their pockets — and checks are already in the mail!

The STAR program is just one part of the savings New Yorkers will see this year. From expanding the child tax credit to issuing Inflation Refunds and enacting free school meals for every public school student, I’m making sure that families across the state are getting money put back in their pockets.

The Latest From the Empire State

Powering the future. We need clean, reliable, affordable energy to power New York’s incredible growth. We’re taking bold action to build upstate New York’s first new advanced nuclear power in a generation.

Breaking Ground on a new Port Authority Bus Terminal. The current Port Authority Bus Terminal opened 75 years ago — and it shows. New Yorkers deserve better. In recent decades, many tried and failed to replace the terminal, and we're getting it done.

Standing up for working families. While I'm putting money back in the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers, New York's Republican members of Congress voted to cut food benefits and rip away health coverage from 1.5 million of our neighbors. I was in the North Country to let our small businesses, farmers, and working families know that we've got their back.

We also announced...

• More than 10,000 new homes are coming to the Hudson Valley!
• We've invested more than $758 million to move the North Country forward.
• Ways that my fellow governors and Canadian officials can strengthen our economic partnership amidst uncertainty in Washington.
• A landmark victory to improve wages and benefits for LaGuardia airport workers.
• We’re expanding service on more than a dozen bus routes throughout New York City.
• We’ll be able to raise benefits for unemployed New Yorkers and cut costs for small businesses.

New York Moments

School is out for the summer! As students left school for the summer, they also left behind years of being distracted by phones in the classroom. Our new statewide, bell-to-bell distraction-free learning policy takes effect this fall.

Standing up to anti-choice extremists. It’s been three years since the Supreme Court stripped women of their constitutional right to an abortion. New York continues to send a clear message: We won’t go back.

Creating a cleaner, greener future. Empire Wind is going to bring good-paying union jobs and more affordable energy to New York.

• Planning a vacation? Swing by your local DMV to apply to get a REAL ID before you fly.
• Beat the heat. Find a cooling center near you before the next heatwave!
• I joined Kelly Clarkson to talk about New York’s nation-leading restrictions on smartphones in schools.

News to Know

• Governor Hochul announces $1 billion for nearly 3,000 homes in NY (CBS 6)
• 'It will be cataclysmic': Gov. Kathy Hochul warns of federal policy impacts during visit to Saranac Lake (NBC 5)
• New York to build one of first U.S. nuclear-power plants in generation (Wall Street Journal)
• Shootings plunge as Hochul makes state gun-violence office official (WENY)
• Kathy Hochul joins 22 governors to oppose drastic SNAP cuts in reconciliation bill (FingerLakes1)
• Hochul and MTA announces increased service on five Queens bus routes starting June 29 (QNS)
• Governor Hochul announces end of school smartphone disruptions (570 WSYR)
• Hochul announces $75 million for two N.Y. dairy processing facilities (Spectrum)
• Buffalo's Hispanic Heritage Cultural Institute to receive $7 million in state funding (Spectrum)
• Hochul, Scott argue - which state's maple syrup is the best? (WETM)

That’s all for now! I hope you have a fantastic Fourth of July weekend and are able to get offline, get outside, and enjoy all New York has to offer this summer.

Ever Upward, 

Gov. Kathy Hochul 

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