It has been a year since my law, A.8537, took effect and made New York the FIRST state in the county to require insurance companies to pay for either breast reconstructive surgery or aesthetic flat closure after a mastectomy. I did this to give women a choice! I want women to thrive, not just survive cancer. In the past year doctors have changed their conversation with patients to include this vital information, insurance booklets have been updated to include this covered procedure, and pamphlets and literature have been amended to provide details on a woman's choice. We didn’t just change the law; we changed the conversation over women's health. This law gave women autonomy over their chests, and while we have just concluded Women’s History Month, I think that women and our fundamental rights are something we should always celebrate!

As your State Legislator, I am actively working on ways to empower women. Whether it be by ensuring that all feminine hygiene products continue to be tax exempt, guaranteeing insurance coverage for breast cancer screenings, safeguarding women’s reproductive health, or shepherding the passage of a bill to require insurance coverage of prenatal vitamins when prescribed by a doctor. Our State is moving forward in making sure issues impacting women are heard, addressed and changed – and that’s something all of us should want.In addition, as the State budget process is underway, I am working on amending our current law from the 1980’s to provide women with protection and coverage in the event of a stillbirth. As it stands, technically, in the event a woman suffers from a stillbirth (which according to the Centers for Disease Control is defined as the loss of a pregnancy at 20 weeks and later), Paid Family Leave is not applicable because there was no live birth. For example, a woman who suffers from a stillbirth on a Tuesday would be expected to return to work on Wednesday - and believe it or not, that has happened right here in our own community. It is estimated there were over 1,200 stillbirths in New York in 2021. That’s why I have introduced legislation, A.9568, and am working to have this change enacted as soon as possible to automatically convert approved Paid Family Leave to Temporary Disability Insurance in the event of a stillbirth. This will give women, and their families, the time they need to grieve and begin their recovery in private.

I am proud to do this work shoulder to shoulder with the 72 Assemblywoman in the State Assembly and am reminded of the history that was made right here in New York. In 1848 a group of women signed the Declaration of Sentiments and asserted that “all men and women are created equal.”Years later, that sentiment took effect as women in New York won the right to vote in 1917, a whole two years before the 19th Amendment was ratified. This made New York the first State on the East Coast to grant women this suffrage. We have a rich and full heritage in our State, and I’m proud to promote and advance that in every way possible.

While Women’s History Month has ended, I believe we must elevate the women in our own community. As many of you know, I annually award several women throughout our community with the coveted “Women of Distinction” Award. This award seeks to highlight the remarkable contributions by women who work or reside within the 23rd Assembly District. Since first elected I have presented this honor to women who have been nominated by their partners, friends, co-workers and neighbors. I am happy to once again open the application period and welcome nominations for women who devote themselves to their community and exemplify the best of the New York spirit.

For those interested in nominating a woman for the Women of Distinction Award, please contact my office by phone at 718-945-9550 or by email at amatos@nyassembly.gov. It is a pleasure to serve you and I look forward to representing you for many more years to come.