The New York Women’s Equality Coalition applauds the continued leadership by the New York State Assembly in passing the Paid Family Leave Act today. Passage of this important bill comes on the heels of the vote yesterday to pass an anti-trafficking legislation package. Taken together the Assembly has sent a strong message—they will continue the fight to advance the rights and protections necessary for strong and healthy New York families. 

The Paid Family Leave legislation passed by the Assembly today allows for up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for New York workers to care for new children or a seriously ill loved one by expanding the existing Temporary Disability Insurance program, an insurance program already familiar to businesses. The family leave expansion would be financed entirely by modest employee payroll contributions.

Today’s laudable action by the Assembly provides the real possibility that New Yorkers will not have to choose between the health and economic stability of their families when their loved ones need them the most. Bipartisan lawmakers in both chambers have signaled they understand the tough decisions affecting women and families across the state.

Recognizing that no individual should have to make a choice between their job and the health of their family, a group of 57 women lawmakers and leaders – including the Women’s Equality Coalition– recently signed an open letter to Governor Cuomo supporting action on paid family leave. 

The Women’s Equality Coalition continues to support any legislation that advances the rights of New York’s women and families and we look forward to continue working in partnership with our legislators during the 2015 Legislative Session to break down the barriers that perpetuate discrimination and advance the measures we find crucial in the fight for women’s rights, including:

• Securing reproductive rights to ensure that all women have the ability to set the course of their own lives when making personal health decisions.

• Implementing economic justice measures to ensure fair and equitable treatment in the workplace; and

• Adopting anti-discrimination laws to ensure that women have equal access to housing and employment.

The Women’s Equality Coalition is led by a Steering Committee with representatives from the American Association of University Women of New York State (AAUW-NYS), with 34 branches and 5,000 members statewide; the League of Women Voters with 60 local league chapters; Family Planning Advocates of New York which represents family planning providers statewide, including nine Planned Parenthood Affiliates,  the New York Civil Liberties Union with its 8 regional offices and over 50,000 members; the New York State YWCA with 21 regional Ys; the PowHer New York Equal Pay campaign with more than 60 partner organizations across the state; the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence;  NOW-NYS, with 24 chapters across the state representing over 40,000 women; Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York, the NYS Anti-Trafficking Network  with 140 member organizations including Sanctuary for Families; and A Better Balance, which provides legal services for hundreds of women across New York State.

Learn more at: nywomensequality.org

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