Albany - Today New York Assembly Members took action to protect women’s reproductive health and rights, passing three critical bills: the Reproductive Health Act (S2796 Krueger, Stewart-Cousins/A1748 Glick), the Boss Bill (S3791 Krueger/A566 Jaffee), and the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act (S3668 Bonacic/A1378 Cahill). Passage of these bills ensures access to safe and legal abortion, freedom from discrimination in the workplace for employees' reproductive healthcare decisions, and removes barriers to accessing contraception.
 
At this crucial time when women’s health and reproductive rights are under attack at the national and federal level, the BPCLC asserts the importance of New York State demonstrating bold leadership. We must stand up for women’s equality and healthy families. The Senate must pass the Reproductive Health Act, the Boss Bill, and the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, so that all New Yorkers can have the freedom to make responsible decisions for themselves and their families.
 
BPCLC Co-Chair Senator Liz Krueger released the following statement after the passage of the bill:
 
"Once again I commend my colleagues in the Assembly for making it clear that the government and employers have no business interfering in New Yorkers’ personal decisions about reproductive healthcare. Reproductive rights are under attack across the country, and soon we may not even be able to rely on the limited protections provided by Roe v Wade. Now is the time for New York to lead, with modern laws ensuring that decisions about reproductive health are the sole responsibility of a woman or a man and their medical providers. I call on the Senate Republican/IDC Coalition to bring these bills to the floor for a vote. The rights of New York State families should be fully protected by New York State laws."

​Albany – Today Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts held its Annual Day of Action, with more than 1,700 advocates, patients, and supporters of reproductive rights in attendance. Following a morning rally, groups met with legislators to advocate for passage of the Women’s Agenda and funding for family planning in New York State. 
 
Special guests at the event included Governor Andrew Cuomo, Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Democratic Conference Leader and BPCLC Co-Chair Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Thank you to Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, Assemblyman Kevin Cahill and all of our Assemblymembers who passed the Reproductive Health Act (A1748 Glick/S2796 Krueger, Stewart-Cousins)  and the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act (A1378 Cahill/S3668 Bonacic).  Once again, our Assemblymembers have demonstrated that they understand what’s at stake with an anti-choice Congress and White House that have pledged to repeal the ACA, defund Planned Parenthood, and appoint anti-choice Supreme Court justices to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

NY Assembly Passes Legislation To Keep Contraception Free After GOP Kills Affordable Care Act

New York - The women legislators in the BPCLC have submitted comments in support of the Obama administration’s proposed amendment of regulations to the Title X Family Planning Program. The amendment would ensure that states provide fair access to family planning services and stop playing politics with women’s health.

States receive the federal funding to distribute to health care providers to ensure that low-income people can access critical services like cancer screenings, contraceptives, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and to reduce maternal mortality. Many states have restricted access to this funding from providers like Planned Parenthood that also provide abortions -- even when these providers are in the best position to deliver the family planning services. As a result, low-income women and people of color suffer the most.

Link to the federal register
NY Times editorial in support of the proposed regulatory change