Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell votes to enhance New York’s ability to curb human trafficking

          “The disturbing and dangerous crime of human trafficking is a growing problem, including right here in the North Country.  It is not easily detected – because of the traffickers’ ability to operate undetected.

“The legislation we passed (A.5538-A) will lead to modifying protocols that will help law enforcement crack down on these criminals and save countless lives, especially young women.  In addition, it will go a long way toward increasing public awareness, making it easier to investigate and pursue leads, while forming strong connections among those who have the most access to potential victims and their families.

“Thankfully, with help from the governor – who has made strengthening human trafficking laws part of his Women’s Equality Act – we are bringing even more awareness to this immoral practice so that we can save future victims from suffering.”

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Assemblywoman Addie Russell to be the keynote speaker at the New York State AAUW Convention

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) said, “I am pleased to have been offered the opportunity to speak to those attending the American Association of University Women’s New York State Convention in Lake Placid this Saturday evening.  As the Chair of the Assembly Task Force on Women’s Issues, my remarks will include the importance of the Women’s Equality Agenda that the New York State Legislature is expected to take up before the end of session this year. 

Recently, Assemblywoman Russell introduced a Resolution supporting Pay Equity for women, and helped pass legislation on the same subject.  At the time she said, “In this day and age, any form of wage discrimination, especially gender discrimination, in the workplace is disgraceful.  This legislation continues my long standing commitment to eliminating pay inequity.  Specifically, the bills would make it easier to enforce equal pay laws and create state policy to determine and define comparable work.

Assemblywoman Russell will also discuss measures that increase protection and assistance for victims of domestic violence that have already passed.  Assemblywoman Russell said, “One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.  It is estimated that three women are murdered by their intimate partner each day in the United States.  The legislation that has passed would help bring peace of mind and added protection to victims.  Additionally these measures would crack down on instances of domestic violence, hopefully preventing the violence from ever happening in the first place.”

Assemblywoman Russell takes action to increase protections for domestic violence victims

Taking a stand against instances of domestic violence in New York State, Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) announced that she helped pass several measures to increase protections and assistance for victims of domestic violence. One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. It is estimated that three women are murdered by their intimate partner each day in the United States.[1]

            “The legislation that passed would help bring peace of mind and added protection to victims,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “Additionally, these measures would crack down on instances of domestic violence, hopefully preventing the violence from ever happening in the first place.” 

Assemblywoman Russell helped pass a package of legislation that would:

·        provide notice on orders of protection affirming that the protected party cannot be held to violate the order nor be arrested for violating the order (A.6547-A);

·        prohibit housing discrimination against victims of domestic violence by forbidding landlords and property sellers from denying an individual the right to purchase, rent, lease or inhabit housing (A.5387);

·        prohibit employment discrimination against domestic violence victims (A.898);

·        require hospitals to establish policies and procedures regarding domestic violence, establish ongoing training programs on domestic violence for staff and designate a hospital staff member to coordinate services to victims (A.2562);

·        require orders of protection issued in family court to be interpreted into the native language of the individuals involved (A.1084); and

·        expose individuals or parties who fail to obey or enforce an order of protection to joint liability for all non-economic damages sought by a claimant after a fact-finding by a judge or jury (A.899).

Each year, roughly 450,000 incidents of domestic violence are reported in the state.[2] In 2011, New York State courts issued a total of 301,021 orders of protection, of which 218,872 were required to be recorded in the United Court System’s Domestic Violence Registry.[3]

            “It is vital that we work to ensure that victims of domestic violence have a strong support network and resources available to help them begin rebuilding some semblance of a normal life,” Assemblywoman Russell concluded.

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[1] www.dvrc-or.org/domestic/violence/resources/C61/

[2] www.opdv.state.ny.us/help/fss/theproblem.html#facts

[3] www.opdv.state.ny.us/statistics/nydata/2011/nys2011data.pdf

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Assemblywoman Russell announces easing of burdensome regulations to help farmers

            In a move that is aimed at boosting dairy production and helping the North Country agricultural industry, Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) applauded the recent announcement by the Department of Environmental Conservation to allow family farms in New York State to grow from 199 cows to 299 cows before certain costly standards apply. More than 800 farms statewide will benefit as they will be able to expand their dairy farms now without facing additional costs, noted Assemblywoman Russell.

            “Not only is this news great for North Country farmers, it will also provide a significant boost to our local economy,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “Dairy farmers will be able to responsibly expand their farms to better meet the demand of our state’s rapidly expanding dairy industry. This will create much-needed jobs throughout the supply chain.”

            This announcement comes when new reports show that New York surpassed California as the nation’s largest yogurt producer, generating 692 million pounds of yogurt last year. In the past five years, New York’s yogurt plants nearly tripled their production.

            Prior to the DEC’s announcement, the additional requirements for operations with more than 199 cows were often cost prohibitive. Relaxing these regulations is a reasonable way to help remove a burdensome financial barrier that once hindered farmers’ expansion, opening more doors to growth and prosperity, Assemblywoman Russell added.

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Assemblywoman Russell votes for pay equity legislation

      In order to ensure that all North Country residents earn equal pay for equal work, Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa), Chair of the Task Force on Women’s Issues, announced that she supported several pieces of legislation that would end wage discrimination in New York State.

             “In this day and age, any form of wage discrimination in the workplace is disgraceful,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “This legislative package continues my long-standing commitment to eliminating pay inequity.”

            Specifically, the Assembly legislation would make it easier to enforce equal pay laws and create state policy to determine and define “comparable work.” Additionally, the legislation would:

-enact the New York State Fair Pay Act to address and enforce pay equity, including broadening equal pay protections to include equivalent jobs,  making it unlawful for an employer to discriminate between employees on the basis of gender, race or national origin, and ensuring that traditional female and minority jobs are not undervalued (A.5958);

-establish state policy that local political subdivisions ensure equal pay for work of comparable value regardless of sex, race or national origin (A.1729);

-implement a state policy that compensates employees in state service equally for work of comparable value by eliminating wage inequality for workers due to sex, race or national origin (A.753); and

-design and publish a report evaluating wage disparities of public employees related to job titles, segregated by the gender, race and/or national origin of employees (A.881).

“During a time when many families are struggling to support their household, we must make sure that everyone is properly compensated for the work they perform,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “North Country families work hard for their paychecks, and turning a blind eye to this problem would be a disservice to them. No one should earn less because of their gender.”

Women in New York make 84 cents for every dollar men earn, creating a substantial yearly pay gap of roughly $8,275 between men and women working full time in New York State.(1)  Further, minority women fare even worse, with African-American women being paid 64 cents and Latina women being paid just 55 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men nationally.(2)

As a group, these full-time working women are paid nearly $23 billion less every year because of the wage gap. If a woman in New York was paid equal pay for equal work, she could afford 63 more weeks of groceries; four more months of mortgage and utilities payments; eight more months of rent; or 2,116 additional gallons of gas each year.(3)

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Footnotes
1. www.nationalpartnership.org/site/DocServer/Wage_Gap_ny.pdf

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.