Speaker Heastie Statement on Supreme Court Ruling to Allow Employers to Deny Contraceptive Coverage for Women

The Assembly Majority knows that women’s reproductive health care and family planning decisions should be made by women and their health care providers – not their employers. Today’s Supreme Court decision delivers an unconscionable blow to women across the nation by allowing employers to deny women coverage for contraceptives because of their personal objections.

Here in New York, the Assembly Majority has fought for years to protect women’s reproductive rights because we know that when women have control of their family planning decisions, outcomes improve for everyone. Last year, we passed the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act to ensure that women have access to contraceptive coverage, regardless of where they work or their employer’s personal beliefs.

New York has long been a champion for women’s reproductive rights, and the Assembly Majority has continued to build on that legacy. In 2019, we passed a package of legislation to protect access to women’s health care that included the Reproductive Health Act, the Boss Bill as well as the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act. We know every woman should have full autonomy over her body and reproductive decisions.

While the federal government continues it assault on women’s reproductive health care, my colleagues and I will continue to be tireless defenders of women’s health care in New York.