Statement from Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I – Olean) on the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act:

“Today’s passage of the anti-human trafficking legislation by the Assembly is a positive step for the health and safety of all New York’s women. For nearly two years my Senate Republican colleagues and I have been calling on the Assembly’s downstate leadership to follow our lead and put progress ahead of politics. By finally doing what’s right for New York’s women, the new Assembly Speaker has shown a willingness to work together to get results on the critical issues before our state.

“I applaud my Assembly colleagues, Assemblymen Goodell, Giglio and Nojay, who have each been outspoken in support of this legislation and the seven other aspects of the Senate’s Women’s Equality Agenda.

“The Senate has already taken the lead in passing legislation that ensures pay equity, prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace, removes barriers to remedying discrimination, prohibits family status discrimination, strengthens orders of protection, allows for electronic filing for orders of protection, and ends pregnancy discrimination. I encourage the Assembly to act quickly to pass the full slate of legislation, and continue putting politics aside for the betterment of all New Yorkers.”