Raia Joined by Members of Assembly Calling For Woman’s Equality Agenda

From the Office of Assemblyman Raia

Assemblyman Andrew Raia at a press conferenc in Albany, called for the passage of critical women’s equality legislation. Raia joined the members of his conference to voice support for the legislation that has already passed the state Senate, and has received support from Gov. Cuomo. This legislation, co-sponsored by Raia, would require workplace fairness for pregnant women, elevate equal pay for equal work into law, increase the penalty for workplace sexual harassment, and numerous other things.

“We need laws as strong as the women of New York. Letting politics get in the way of women’s lives is just disgraceful,” said Raia. “There was a point in US history where the fight for women’s equality was so focused, so sweeping, it appeared inevitable. But in recent years, that drive for gender equality in the eyes of the law has diminished by needless political fights. Speaker Silver and the Assembly Majority have turned this into an ongoing political side-show.”

With the Senate having passed the bills for a second year in a row, it is now up to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to bring the bills up for a vote in the Assembly chamber. Raia is one of a number of legislators on both sides of the aisle who have called on Silver to bring the bills up individually for a vote, rather than put all the legislation into one controversial package. Unfortunately, for the past few years, the New York City controlled Assembly leadership has held this legislation hostage for purely political reasons.