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In light of the extreme vote by the United States House of Representatives this week, it is more important than ever that we continue our work in Albany to safeguard the rights of women of this State. We have been long time advocates and supporters of all 10 points of the Women’s Equality Act. We want to ensure equal protection under the law for all women.

The threat to women’s rights is coming at us from Washington, DC but it stops right here. We will not surrender to those who want to deny a woman’s right to control her health. The New York State Assembly accepted other points of view when the omnibus bill was negotiated – compromising on some of the 10 issues we’ve held dear for years, and passed time and time again – but we’re not willing to compromise our principles and abandon a woman’s most basic right to choose. We cannot allow the Senate to dictate what constitutes women’s equality.

The New York State Senate is blocking a fair up or down vote on the entire Women’s Equality Act and they want someone to blame when there’s no one to blame but themselves. It’s unimaginable that anyone could betray the women of this State by not demanding full equality and all 10 points of the Women’s Equality Act.