At a press conference in Albany today, Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C,I-Deerpark) called for the Assembly to pass critical women’s equality legislation. After the Senate passed a series of bills, Brabenec joined his colleagues in voicing support for the legislation that would, among other things, require workplace fairness for pregnant women, elevate equal pay for equal work into law, and increase the penalty for workplace sexual harassment.

“My mom raised me and my brother by herself after my dad passed away, and it’s for her and my daughter that I’m fighting for this legislation,” said Brabenec. “The mothers, daughters, wives, and the millions of women across New York State deserve equality.”

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. Brabenec is one of a number of legislators on both sides of the aisle who have called on Silver to bring the bills up for a vote. Unfortunately, for the past few years, the New York City-controlled Assembly leadership has been holding this legislation hostage.

“It’s time to stop playing politics with women’s equality in New York,” Brabenec continued. “I’m urging Speaker Silver to give the women of New York State the protections under the law that they deserve—bring this legislation to the floor!”

Brabenec is a co-sponsor of nine pieces of women’s equality legislation that encompass different aspects of achieving the Women’s Equality Agenda, including anti-sex trafficking, anti-discrimination measures and workplace guarantees for pregnant women.