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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and all 31 members of the Senate Democratic Conference led by Andrea Stewart-Cousins called on Senate Republicans Monday to return to Albany to vote to codify Roe v. Wade into State law and show New Yorkers where they stand. Following Governor Cuomo's and Democratic Leader Stewart-Cousins's joint Op-Ed calling for a vote, the unified Senate Democratic Conference has pledged to provide 31 votes and only need one Republican to vote to codify Roe v. Wade into State law.

Cuomo says Senate Republicans have repeatedly blocked efforts to update New York's nearly 50-year old abortion laws to ensure that women in New York maintain their rights under Roe v. Wade despite any potential action by the Supreme Court. The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, creating a conservative majority on the Court, has heightened the risk of Roe v. Wade being overturned.

"Roe v. Wade is under attack in Washington and could be overturned. With 31 votes secured in the Senate, only 1 vote is needed to ensure that no matter what happens at the federal level, the protections offered by Roe v. Wade are secure in the State of New York. The Republicans in the State Senate owe it to their constituents to allow a vote and tell the people of this State where they stand when it comes to woman's reproductive health rights," Cuomo said. "Senate Republicans, where do you stand?"

On Wednesday Cuomo released a statement about new poll results saying, "According to a new Quinnipiac poll released this morning, 73% of New Yorkers overwhelmingly support the reproductive health rights afforded by Roe v. Wade. The poll is damning proof of what we already know: by refusing to codify Roe v. Wade into New York law, Republican State Senators are acting against the will of their constituents. The Senate Republicans have drunk the Trump Kool-Aid and are cowering to the conservatives in Washington and the conservative party here at home instead of acting in the interest of the people they represent."

"New Yorkers overwhelmingly support women's reproductive health care options and it is troubling that the Senate Republican Majority is so hostile to these rights that they won't even agree to codify Roe v. Wade." Stewart-Cousins said. "With the extremism coming out of Washington, New Yorkers, especially women, deserve to have their reproductive health rights protected. It is time to end the misinformation and the rhetoric - they either support Roe v. Wade or they don't."

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