Cuomo’s Women’s Agenda Receives Support

NEW YORK – To galvanize grassroots support behind the passage of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s 2018 Women’s Agenda, the New York State Democratic Committee is launching a new campaign to build on New York’s legacy as the birthplace of the women’s rights movement and capture the momentum of the #MeToo movement by creating a national model to combat sexual harassment and protect choice.

The campaign will engage likely 2018 voters statewide, and comes as Washington Republicans have turned a blind eye to sexual harassment and are working to overturn decades of progress on women’s rights by obstructing federal action to protect women from sexual predators and domestic abusers. Additionally, in light of recent comments by Vice President Mike Pence about how President Donald Trump’s administration has made “great progress” limiting women’s access to legal reproductive health services, and that legal abortion rights could be overturned “in our time,” the campaign will also include a push to protect reproductive health services by codifying Roe V. Wade into state law.

Governor Cuomo said, “2017 was the year of reckoning – and 2018 will be the year for action against the culture of rampant sexism and misogyny. While President Trump and Washington Republicans support people like Roy Moore and Rob Porter, New York will lead the way with the strongest sexual harassment laws in the nation. New York is the birthplace of the women’s movement and fighting for equality and opportunity is in our DNA. We will use this moment to turn outrage into progress and build on New York’s legacy as national model for women’s rights.”

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said, “Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and Paul Ryan want to take women’s rights back in time. We have a message for them and all Republicans who stand in the way of progress or look the other way: #TimesUp. New York women led the fight for our right to vote – and in November, you better believe we’re exercising that right. 2018 will be the year New York leads the way forward toward the next century of progress and achievement for all women and girls.”

Christine C. Quinn, Vice Chair of the New York State Democratic Committee said, “Trump’s Republican Party is in the midst of an unprecedented act of war against women. Let me say this as clearly as possible: any Republican who turns their back on this moment and fails to stand up for the millions of women have taken to the streets or who have suffered from sexual harassment in silence, will be held to account on November 6th.”

The Governor’s 2018 Women’s Agenda contains more than 30 proposals to protect women’s rights and advance equality and opportunity for women and girls, including:

* Preventing Use of Taxpayer Dollars to Fund Individual Sexual Harassment Settlements

* Proposing Uniform Code of Sexual Harassment for All Branches of State and Local Government

* Prohibiting Confidentiality Agreements Relating to Sexual Assault or Harassment for All Branches of Government – State and Local — Unless Express Preference of the Victim

* Mandating Private Companies that do Business with the State Report Sexual Assault and Harassment Statistics to Prevent Secrecy

* Voiding Forced Arbitration Policies or Clauses in Employee Contracts that Prevent Sexual Harassment Cases from Consideration in Law Enforcement Investigation and Trials