Calls on Senate to pass all 10 points
In a demonstration of her ongoing
commitment to combating discrimination against the women of New York State,
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) announced that the Assembly once
again passed the Women’s Equality Act (A.8070). This 10-point agenda, which
passed the Assembly in 2013 but was not taken up the Senate, includes
comprehensive reforms that would increase protections for victims of domestic
violence, address pay inequity and end gender based discrimination and reinforce
women’s health and reproductive rights.
“Last year, we passed this historic piece of
legislation to fight discrimination and provide basic protections to mothers,
sisters, aunts and nieces across the state, but the Senate failed to act.”
Assemblywoman Russell said. “Today we are renewing the call to pass this vital
legislation in its entirety because the women of New York deserve action on
every single one of their rights – not just some of them.”
The Women’s Equality Act contains
10-points that accomplish the following:
- Achieves pay equity
- Prevents sexual
harassment in the workplace
- Strengthens human
trafficking laws
- Protects domestic
violence victims
- Protects reproductive
rights
- Ends housing
discrimination for victims of domestic violence
- Ends family status
discrimination
- Prevents pregnancy
discrimination
- Removes barriers to
remedying discrimination
- Stops source-of-income
discrimination
“Our laws regarding women's rights are
in desperate need of an upgrade and this legislation provides that in a
comprehensive way,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “We cannot stand by and allow
these practices from a bygone era to be tolerated any longer. The time to act
is now.”
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