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Katz Said 'Budget Shouldn't Be Tied To Dream Act'

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- In his 30-day budget amendments, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has tied future funding of the Tuition Assistance Program to the DREAM Act. 

Assemblyman Steve Katz speaks on Gov. Cuomo's decision to tie funding of TAP to the DREAM Act.

Assemblyman Steve Katz speaks on Gov. Cuomo's decision to tie funding of TAP to the DREAM Act.

Photo Credit: File

Assemblyman Steve Katz (R,C - Yorktown) is calling on Gov. Cuomo and the Legislature to remove the DREAM Act from the TAP funding equation. The Assemblyman argues TAP is an essential post-partisan program, whereas the same cannot be said for the DREAM Act. "TAP is a necessary program that provides families with the opportunity to send their child to college when they thought that was impossible," Katz said. 

"TAP funding shouldn't be so willfully used as a political tool to force a partisan agenda down the throats of New Yorkers. There's a reason the DREAM Act hasn't become law in our state, the people don't want it. To try to extort the Legislature into making a decision between those who have broken our laws and the continuation of funding for TAP is truly despicable. It is irresponsible and typical of this government to attach two remarkably different bills to one another. I sincerely hope that, during budget negotiations, everyone comes to their senses and removes the DREAM Act provision of the budget." Assemblyman Katz is the primary sponsor of Assembly Bill 2849, which would require any student admitted to a SUNY or CUNY school be a U.S. citizen or be legally admitted to the United States. As of the 2013-2014 school year, TAP had 372,527 recipients receiving between $500 and $5,165.

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