Standing with NY's Women

After briefly winning control of the New York State Senate in 2008, the Senate Dems led the way in enacting laws that benefit New York’s women. During the 2010 legislative session, the Senate Democrats passed almost fifty bills of particular importance to women and families—adopting a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges and enhancing the opportunities for women in New York.

But this is just the beginning. Women still face discrimination, both subtle and not-so-subtle, and have less economic security, on average, than men. Too many women have unmet health care needs, or are struggling to find affordable, high-quality childcare or elder care that supports their ability to work. And too many women, tragically, still endure violence in the home.

The Senate Democrats will continue to work for New York’s women during the 2011-2012 legislative cycle, making sure that issues affecting women are again a focus as the Senate works to meet the needs of all New Yorkers.

• Building Economic Security Powerful new laws championed by the Senate Democrats will increase state contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses in the coming year. The Senate Democrats recognize that economic security for women is crucial for both the well-being of individuals and families and for the economic health of the state, and are committed to ensuring that job creation programs work for both men and women.
• Supporting Women in the Workplace The Senate Democrats passed the nation’s first wage and hour protections for domestic workers—75 years after other workers first got those rights. The Senate Democrats are committed to supporting working women throughout the state as they fight for fair wages and workplace flexibility for women and men.
• Strengthening Support for Working Parents Building on this year’s passage of the Safer, More Affordable Child Care Act, the Senate Democrats are committed to continuing to make high-quality early childhood education and before-and-after school programs more accessible and more affordable for working parents.
• Improving Women’s Health The Senate Democrats strengthened New York women’s medical rights with tougher penalties for clinic violence, improved access to midwives, and explicit rights to breastfeed children. The Senate Democrats are committed to ensuring that all women have access to the full range of reproductive and maternal health care they need.
• Ending Violence Against Women The Senate Democrats stood with domestic violence survivors to pass a historic 20-bill package to increase safety by improving services and protections for survivors and toughening penalties for perpetrators. The Senate Democrats will continue to fight for programs that prevent violence through education, provide services to survivors as they rebuild their lives, and ensure that the criminal justice system is working effectively to end violence against women.