New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today appointed Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, a longtime advocate for women’s rights, to chair the New York State Assembly Task Force on Women’s Issues.

Seawright is the prime sponsor in the Assembly of legislation for an Equal Rights Amendment to the State Constitution. Now entering her fourth term representing the Upper East Side, Yorkville and the Roosevelt Island, she has passed groundbreaking legislation such as laws that require health insurance policies to include 3-D mammography at no cost to the consumer.

Seawright also championed legislation which was signed by the Governor which encouraged greater representation of women on corporate boards. She authored a law to promote greater consumer financial literacy.

“I’m thrilled and honored to be chairing this task force,” Seawright said. “I am especially grateful to Speaker Heastie for this appointment and his longstanding leadership and support for women’s issues. And I pledge to work tirelessly to build upon the progress we have made as we face the challenges ahead.”

Seawright said she will “continue to be inspired to renew the movement for the federal Equal Rights Amendment to guarantee that our rights are anchored in our State and US Constitutions."

Seawright is also a member of the Bipartisan Pro-Choice, Jewish, Environmental, and Gun Reform Legislative Caucuses. Seawright is motivated to protect her constituents’ quality of life.