Action to Combat Human Trafficking -- A Big Step Forward for Women’s Equality

My colleagues and I in the New York State Senate kicked off the 2015 Session by approving our Women's Equality Agenda -- a vitally important series of bills designed to ensure greater equality and opportunities for women throughout our state.

I am pleased to inform you that the State Assembly has just taken a major step forward in joining our fight.

By bringing the long-stalled, anti-human trafficking legislation to the floor of the State Assembly as a stand-alone bill -- as my colleagues have been calling on the Assembly to do for the better part of two years now -- the Assembly has finally done the right thing.  In doing so, the Assembly has signaled the importance of putting progress ahead of politics, and shown that this Legislature can work together to get a result on issues important to the women of this state.

As we continue to move through this legislative session, I urge the Assembly to continue passing the remaining bills in our package, including measures to ensure pay equity, and to prohibit sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

I am sincerely hopeful that this long overdue action by the Assembly is a sign of more progress to come. It's time for additional legislation that will bring hope and opportunity to millions of women across New York State.

I will be sure to keep you posted as we work to get all of these measures enacted into law.

Faithfully yours,

Robert G. Ortt

Senator, 62^nd District