Governor Signs Reproductive Health Act

Late on Tuesday night, Governor Cuomo signed into law the Reproductive Health Act in a ceremony that included Sarah Weddington, the attorney who argued the Roe v. Wade case in the Supreme Court. This is the first year the measure has passed in the Senate. The bill was passed, in a coordinated effort between the Senate and Assembly, on the 46th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Lawmakers say the measure is needed because the balance of power on the Supreme Court has shifted on the issue. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 38-24 with all republican members and two democrats voting no, while the Assembly passed the bill by a vote of 92-47.

The Governor said:

“In the face of a federal government intent on rolling back Roe v. Wade and women’s reproductive rights, I promised that we would pass this critical legislation within the first 30 days of the new session – and we got it done. Today we are taking a giant step forward in the hard-fought battle to ensure a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her own personal health, including the ability to access an abortion. With the signing of this bill, we are sending a clear message that whatever happens in Washington, women in New York will always have the fundamental right to control their own body.”