RECOVERY FOR ALL OF US: MAYOR DE BLASIO AND TASKFORCE ON RACIAL INCLUSION AND EQUITY ANNOUNCE JUNETEENTH ECONOMIC JUSTICE PLAN

 

The NYC Juneteenth Economic Justice Plan builds generational wealth and confronts the persistently growing racial wealth gap in America

 Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity (TRIE) today announced the NYC Juneteenth Economic Justice Plan: Building Generational Wealth.  The NYC Juneteenth Economic Justice Plan seeks to build generational wealth and confront the persistently growing racial wealth gap in America. 

“Juneteenth marked the end of slavery, but not the end of systemic, structural racism in America,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “To begin to repair harms of the past, New York City is investing in the future and building generational wealth.”

 

“Juneteenth celebrates what was—and continues to be—a worldwide struggle against oppression,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives J. Phillip Thompson. “Our ancestors believed education would be the key to Black liberation, and that is why it is so right to invest in education today in honor of Juneteenth. It is an investment in making NYC a true symbol of freedom.”

 

“Juneteenth serves as a lesson in perseverance for all Americans. While we have made much progress, the legacy of slavery still impacts our society and is much of the reason why we still see significant gaps in wealth and opportunity for African Americans,” said Sideya Sherman, Executive Director of the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity. “With today’s announcement, we are honoring Juneteenth by investing in our young people at each end of the educational spectrum. Through CUNY scholarships and 529 savings accounts, we’re ensuring that they have the financial support and assets they need to get ahead.”

 

“Juneteenth is a time to recommit ourselves to equality and the work of creating a more just New York City for all, especially our students,” said Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter. “Investing in the educational journey of our youngest learners is an apt way to mark this Juneteenth and I’m grateful to all who have come together to make this possible.”

 

"Marking Juneteenth by making meaningful investments to advance equity is appropriate and important, and our office is proud that Kids Rise and ACE, two initiatives we have funded and helped champion, are going to scale," said Matt Klein, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity.  "These initiatives are rooted in evidence and will help make our city a fairer place, where more New Yorkers are able to fulfill their full potential."

 

The NYC Juneteenth Economic Justice Plan includes:

 

Universal NYC Baby Bonds: Expand NYC Kids Rise to every public school child

New York City will directly confront the racial generational racial wealth gap by expanding savings plans to every single public school kindergarten student next school year. This initiative will both open accounts and put a minimum of $100 into every account.

 

In 2016, Mayor de Blasio launched a baby bonds 529 college savings pilot in Queens School District 30 in partnership with the non-profit, NYC Kids Rise (NYCKR). Children in this district now have over $6 million to go toward their college and career training.

 

Building on success of the pilot, the Juneteenth Economic Justice Plan expands NYCKR through public-private partnerships to all school districts, providing universal 529 savings accounts to every public-school child, starting in Kindergarten this upcoming school year. The City will invest $15 million annually through 2025. Every public dollar is estimated to leverage 20-25 times in philanthropy, family savings, community scholarships, and investment returns by the time a child graduates from high school.

 

CUNY Scholarship Fund: Over 2,800 four-year CUNY scholarships for Black and low-income students

New York City will promote the education and career success of Black and low-income students by providing over 2,800 four-year CUNY ACE model scholarships valued at $4,000 per year. This $45 million investment will help cover gaps in financial aid, books, transportation, and advising for eligible students.

 

The program will serve 1,000 students at Medgar Evers College and 1,800 low-income students in the Taskforce neighborhoods hit hardest by COVID, NYCHA housing developments, and other low-income zip codes.

 

The Brooklyn Recovery Corps at Medgar Evers College: Paid internships, work experience and career prep for over 200 students a year

Medgar Evers College will launch the Brooklyn Recovery Corps to provide over 200 students annually with the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing economic recovery of Brooklyn, focusing on experiences that integrate science, business, public health, or the green economy.

 

The $900,000 annual investments ($4.5 million over 5 years) will student fellows will gain technical skills, academic credit or paid internships, work experience, career preparation support and engagement with the community, and STEM-focused career placement opportunities.

 

The Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity brings an equity-based approach to COVID-19 response and recovery efforts in the city's hardest-hit communities. Services and supports are tailored to meet the unique challenges of New Yorkers in communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. More specifically, the Taskforce has made a series of announcements to build generational wealth including:

 

• Employee Ownership - pathway for employees to succeed their employers
• New M/WBE requirements, mentoring and matching services
• Equitable Ownership - requiring at least 25% M/WBE and/or non-profit ownership in Affordable Housing projects
• NYC Acquisition Fund – $210M loan fund for M/WBEs and non-profit developers

"On this eve of Juneteenth, we thank Mayor de Blasio for this timely investment in CUNY and Medgar Evers College that will expand access to top-quality postsecondary education to African American and other New Yorkers most disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. What has made CUNY an essential New York City institution is the opportunity it has afforded to generations of low-income, underserved and immigrant communities to succeed and climb the socio-economic ladder. We are grateful for this affirmation of CUNY as an engine for social mobility, academic excellence, affordability and social justice, as well as a vital and catalyzing partner in the recovery of our city and state," said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez.

BRIDGES FOR THE PEOPLE: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES CONSTRUCTION OF BROOKLYN BRIDGE PROTECTED BIKE LANES BEGINS NEXT WEEK

 

Starting at 9pm on Monday, June 21^st, motorists are advised of major changes reaching the bridge; the addition of protected bike lanes will relieve longtime congestion on the Brooklyn Bridge promenade—the first reconfiguration of the iconic bridge since trolley tracks were permanently removed in 1950

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that, starting next Monday, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) will implement major bicycle and pedestrian accessibility improvements on the Brooklyn Bridge. As part of the project, the innermost Manhattan-bound vehicular lane on the Brooklyn Bridge will be removed and transformed into a two-way protected bike lane.  Promised in the Mayor’s State of the City address in January to address the surge in cycling during the pandemic, the addition of protected bike lanes this year will be the first major reconfiguration of the landmarked bridge since 1950, when trolley tracks were permanently removed.

 

Motorists who normally access the Brooklyn Bridge from downtown Brooklyn are advised that they may have to adjust their commuting patterns both during and after construction.   Beginning Monday evening, the right turn from westbound Tillary Street onto the Brooklyn Bridge will no longer be permitted.  Combined with delays expected for the planned rehabilitation in the months ahead along the triple-cantilever section of the BQE, drivers are advised to seek alternate routes to Lower Manhattan, including using the Manhattan Bridge, the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel or by opting for cycling or mass transit.  Construction of the new two-way protected bike path is expected to be completed by early fall. 

 

“Bridges for the People is a beautiful reimagining of New York City’s most iconic bridge,” said Mayor de Blasio.  “Before the Brooklyn Bridge was last reconfigured in 1950, it carried 400,000 New Yorkers every day—but completely replacing trolleys with car lanes reduced the number of daily bridge users by more than half.  By adding new protected bike lanes on the bridge, we will finally begin to re-balance that equation, supporting more sustainable transportation for decades to come.”

 

“As more New Yorkers take up biking, safe bike lanes have become even more critical to our city’s recovery” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. “Adding a bike lane to the iconic Brooklyn Bridge will help ease bike traffic for tourists and commuters alike, while increasing safety for everyone.”

 

“The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the nation’s most beloved structures, will this year celebrate its 138^th birthday,” said DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman.  “Over that long history, the bridge has changed with the times – as horse-drawn carriages were replaced with trolleys, which were then retired with the advent of car lanes.  In the coming months, we are going to transform this bridge we all love once again – this time with new bicycle lanes that invest in the bridge’s more sustainable future.  We ask New Yorkers for their patience during construction, and encourage drivers to use other crossings into Manhattan.  And of course, we look forward to the first bike ride this fall.”

 

The Brooklyn Bridge protected bike lane project was initially announced in January as part of the State of the City address, and builds on Mayor de Blasio's ambitious commitment to install a record 30 miles of protected bike lanes citywide in 2021. The creation of protected bike lanes on the roadway not only offers a safer and more seamless route along the bridge for cyclists, it will expand the dedicated space on the bridge’s promenade for pedestrians, who have numbered more than 10,000 on some days in recent years.

 

During construction, vehicular access to the bridge from downtown Brooklyn via Adams Street and Sands Street will still be permitted, and the promenade will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists. “No Turning” signs will be installed to remind motorists of the roadway changes. Diversions are expected to move traffic in Downtown Brooklyn to both bridges along Gold Street, Nassau Street and the Flatbush Avenue Extension. 

 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Now we know what Mayor de Blasio's legacy will be 'I tried to get rid of cars coming into Manhattan but failed'. 

199 Days Left and Counting

 

Time is running out, less than 200 days left for me as your mayor. what else can I do to leave my mark on New York City? I know, let me fire Police Commissioner Shea, and blame him for the rise in crime. It is going to get worse now that the governor has said we hit the 70% level. I just hope there is a city to give to the next mayor, whomever he or she may be.

Roberto Clemente State Park South Playground Reopens

The Riverbank site features new playground equipment, modern climbing structures, and adult fitness stations

 The State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks), Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, New York City Council Member Vanessa Gibson, Assemblywoman dernandez and Omni New York LLC, owner of the adjacent Riverpark Towers, together announced the long-awaited reopening of the Roberto Clemente South Playground at Roberto Clemente State Park helped cut the ribbon to open the park.

“Roberto Clemente State Park is a true treasure of The Bronx and a real amenity for the residents of the surrounding community,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “Throughout the pandemic, we saw how essential it was for Bronx residents to have access to parks and outdoor spaces and I am thrilled to see this park reopen better than ever. I am always happy to support this park and its continued renovation. Since taking office in 2009, I have provided this park with $2.5 million in capital funding, including $1 million for the renovation of the south playground. It is important that we invest in parks and public spaces for our borough, and I have been proud to partner with Commissioner Kulleseid, Council Member Gibson and Omni New York on the continued revitalization of this wonderful community space.”

“It has been an honor during my tenure in the New York City Council to support efforts to invest, restore and revitalize Roberto Clemente State Park for the residents of the West Bronx,” said Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson. “I am thrilled that this summer our families will be able to take full advantage of the new playground equipment, adult fitness stations, community garden, enhanced athletic fields, and other amenities offered as part of the $1.35 million renovation of the park. COVID-19 has highlighted the need for open green spaces and I am incredibly grateful that Roberto Clemente State Park will offer that to New Yorkers across the borough. I want to thank Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Omni New York LLC and all the advocates that pushed for these investments to rebuild our park, and I look forward to our continued partnership.” She presented a check for $500,000.00 to finish the work on the playground.

Assemblywoman Latoya Joiner also spoke about the playground. The South Playground, originally built in 1973 as an adventure playground, has been closed for nearly 20 years due to unsafe conditions. The renovated playground features new playground equipment, playground safety surfacing, modern climbing structures, adult fitness stations, shade trees and a community garden area. The playground is situated along the park's main esplanade close to the Riverpark Towers, and its improvement will enhance the connection between the park and its largest residential neighbor.

The playground reflects the same aesthetic utilized along the newly reconstructed and adjoining esplanade – and will enhance the patron experience along the entire western edge of the park. The $1.35 million project was funded through a $1 million grant from Bronx Borough president Ruben Diaz, $500,000 from Council Member Vanessa Gibson and the final $100,000 from Omni New York LLC.

Councilwoman Vanesa Gibson and Althea Stevens candidate to replace Gibson try the new Adult fitness equipment The revitalization of the South Playground builds on the $100 million transformation of Roberto Clemente State Park that began under Governor Cuomo in 2011. Other improvements across the park include replacement of the bulkhead, rehabilitation of the main esplanade, renovation of the aquatic center, new and enhanced athletic fields, installation of a floating dock for waterfront access, revitalized basketball courts, and reconstruction of the north shoreline revetment.

AOC, MOULTON, GILLIBRAND, TEAMSTERS & CLIMATE ADVOCATES RALLY FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL IN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE

 

On Wednesday morning outside Union Station, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Seth Moulton led a coalition of labor and climate leaders in calling for increasing federal funding for high-speed rail in the upcoming infrastructure package. President Biden’s American Jobs Plan includes $124 billion more for cars than rail and transit combined - despite the fact that high-speed rail creates more jobs per billion dollars invested than highway and transit projects. Just $80 billion is included in the package for all rail investments.  More information on the benefits of high speed rail is available here. Video of today’s event is available here. 

“Rail is climate infrastructure,” said Representative Ocasio-Cortez. “For every buck that we're going to put into a car and a bridge, we want to put a buck into a rail. We want equity. That's what we're here to demand. And we need your help, so go to fundhighspeedrail.org and tell your Member or Senator to support high-speed rail.”

“With the American Jobs Plan we have a choice: fix the last generation’s potholes, or invest in the next generation’s future. Investing in high-speed rail gives Americans more options for how they travel and the freedom to go further, faster on a schedule that works for them. The rest of the world is racing to build high-speed rail, because they know it is a smart investment. Building it in America will open opportunities for the rising generation to work in cities where jobs are growing and still get back for dinner in places they can afford to buy homes, all across the country. We can do this for less than we’d spend on expanding 1950’s-era highways or building more airport gates,” Representative Seth Moulton said. “This isn’t radical, it is just a radical shift from the vast subsidies Congress provides planes—which fuel climate change and are constantly delayed by weather—and roads—which will only produce more traffic—to a truly free market for transportation. Americans will chose carbon-free, high-speed rail if we invest in it now.” 

"I could not be prouder to fight for high-speed rail, for economic justice and environmental justice, and for creating jobs and ensuring clean air and clean water. We're the strongest, greatest economy in the world when it comes to entrepreneurialism and when it comes to innovation, and we should never be ceding that leadership anywhere in the world," said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. "High-speed rail will enable us to share the culture, the richness, and the opportunities from every corner of our state. I promise you, kids in The Bronx also deserve to go to camp in the Adirondacks, and kids in the Adirondacks also deserve to get big jobs in New York City.  This is our once-in-a-generation opportunity to do the right thing, to make the right investments--not just for our children, but our children's children, and our children's grandchildren."

A high-speed rail network will create millions of good, green, union jobs, and decarbonize the transportation sector by shifting millions of trips into an electrically powered mode of transport while reducing demand for cars, trucks, and short-haul flights. It will also slash toxic air pollution in frontline communities, reduce the need for further highway expansions into those communities, create new affordable housing opportunities,  and revitalize small towns and rural areas across the country that have been left behind. China’s high-speed rail system reduced regional disparities by an average of 25 percent.  The Cascadia project in the Pacific Northwest (Portland-Seattle-Vancouver) is also projected to add $355 billion in regional economic growth, for a 10:1 return-on-investment.

“The Teamsters Rail Conference supports high speed rail implementation that provides the same or better levels of federal protections and benefits rail workers in passenger and freight rail service currently have. The federal protections covering safety, collective bargaining, sickness and health benefits and railroad retirement are critical to guaranteeing that high speed rail is not just a first rate way to travel, but also employs the world class, highly skilled and unionized workforce that make that possible. The Teamsters Rail Conference consisting of The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees have a long history of helping rail workers attain those federal safeguards and will continue to do so for high speed rail employees who operate trains and work on the the rails.These essential workers will be moving passengers on new cutting edge equipment traveling at high speeds,” said Vincent Verna, Vice President & National Legislative Representative of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. 

State Senator Gustavo Rivera on the End of the 2021-2022 Legislative Session

 

“This legislative session we passed an array of historic measures that I am confident will be critical in helping New Yorkers navigate an unprecedented recovery and build a more equitable state. Victories like a first-in-the-nation Excluded Workers’ Fund, the implementation of a new set of safe staffing standards in hospitals and nursing homes, the legalization of marijuana centered on restorative justice, and a powerful legislation to establish an Opioid Settlement Fund, would be inspiring on their own. I am proud to have fought and successfully passed 24 of my bills through both houses of the legislature, eight of which have already been signed into law. 

These measures, along with others championed by my colleagues, address a large swath of the most pressing issues facing our communities and will have a real impact on New Yorkers’ lives, offering opportunities to thrive as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. 

Highlights of Senator Rivera’s Legislative Accomplishments: 

Improved patient safety and enhanced quality care for every New Yorker by setting standards for safe staffing in both hospitals and nursing homes (S.1168A, S.6346).

Established an Opioid Settlement Fund to ensure that settlements the State receives from lawsuits against opioid manufacturers are allocated to prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery services related to substance use disorders and co-occurring mental illnesses. (S.7194).

 Expanded lead testing and remediation of drinking water in schools (S.2122A) and lowered the lead action level to 5 parts per billion.

Created a pathway for midwifery birth centers to be approved to operate, helping address the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis (S.1414A). 

Secured over $3.7 million in direct funding for the 33rd Senate District for capital projects and operational expenses to support our infrastructure and local organizations, including parks, schools, small businesses, senior centers, community centers, violence interrupters, free legal service providers, and community health centers.

Decriminalized the possession and removed the cap on the sale of syringes to help New Yorkers dealing with substance use instead of criminalizing them (S.2523).

Replaced all references in state law of the word inmate with incarcerated individuals, a change in terminology that recognizes humanity (S.3332).

Required hospitals to conduct a health equity assessment before seeking approval for construction, merger, closure or substantial reduction in changes to health services (S.1451). 

Set safety standards to appropriately discharge or transfer a New Yorker from a nursing home (S.3058: Signed into law).

Set new requirements for nursing home operators and owners before being entrusted with the care of individuals in an effort to increase transparency and oversight of these facilities (S.4893A: Signed into law).

Senate Majority’s Legislative Accomplishments

Overview of this session’s most critical legislative measures, which were championed by the Senate Majority: 

The legalization of marijuana with a focus on restorative justice (S.854A Krueger)

Ended solitary confinement in our jails and prisons. (S.2836 Salazar) 

Package of bills aimed at keeping our communities safe and ending gun violence by addressing the Iron Pipeline (S13A Hoylman; S14A Hoylman; S5000B Kavanagh; S7152 Brooks; S7196 Myrie; S1251 Gianaris)

The Housing Our Neighbors with Dignity Act (HONDA) to transform distressed hotels and other commercial buildings into affordable housing (S5257 Gianaris)

Regulated pharmacy benefit managers to make prescription drugs more affordable (S3762 Breslin)

The Less is More Act which reforms the parole system by eliminating incarceration for most minor violations (S1144A Benjamin)

“While there is no doubt that this year’s legislative session has been incredibly productive and I celebrate each one of our achieved victories wholeheartedly, it is undeniable that we still have a lot of work left to do to create a more just and equitable state for all New Yorkers, whether we are talking about the New York Health Act or Fair and Timely Parole Act. The work continues,” added Senator Rivera.

Manhattan Doctor Sentenced To Nearly 5 Years In Prison For Accepting Bribes And Kickbacks In Exchange For Prescribing Fentanyl Drug

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JEFFREY GOLDSTEIN, a doctor who practiced in New York, New York, was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 57 months in prison for conspiring to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, in connection with a scheme to prescribe Subsys, a potent fentanyl-based spray, in exchange for bribes and kickbacks from Subsys’s manufacturer, Insys Therapeutics.  GOLDSTEIN previously pled guilty, on August 16, 2019, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry B. Pitman, and was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “Jeffrey Goldstein, an Upper East Side Manhattan doctor, prescribed Subsys, a powerful fentanyl opioid, in return for nearly $200,000 in bribes from the drug’s manufacturer, Insys Therapeutics.  Goldstein put his own patients at risk in order to satisfy his own greed, and will now spend time in federal prison for recklessly prescribing this highly addictive and powerful opioid.  This sentence sends a loud and clear signal to the medical community that if you take bribes in return for prescribing, you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and risk significant prison time.”           

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment against GOLDSTEIN and filings in related proceedings: 

The Insys Speakers Bureau 

Subsys, which is manufactured by Insys, is a powerful painkiller approximately 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.  The FDA approved Subsys only for the management of breakthrough pain in cancer patients.  Prescriptions of Subsys typically cost thousands of dollars each month, and Medicare and Medicaid, as well as commercial insurers, reimbursed prescriptions written by GOLDSTEIN.

In or about August 2012, Insys launched a “Speakers Bureau,” a roster of doctors who would conduct programs (“Speaker Programs”) purportedly aimed at educating other practitioners about Subsys.  In reality, Insys used its Speakers Bureau to induce the doctors who served as speakers to prescribe large volumes of Subsys by paying them Speaker Program fees.  Speakers were supposed to conduct an educational slide presentation for other health care practitioners at each Speaker Program.  In reality, many of the Speaker Programs were predominantly social affairs where no educational presentation about Subsys occurred.  Attendance sign-in sheets for the Speaker Programs were frequently forged by adding the names and signatures of health care practitioners who had not actually been present.

Goldstein’s Participation in the Scheme

GOLDSTEIN was a doctor of osteopathic medicine who owned a private medical office on the Upper East Side.  GOLDSTEIN received approximately $196,000 in Speaker Program fees from Insys in exchange for prescribing large volumes of Subsys.  After GOLDSTEIN began prescribing a competitor painkiller, Insys pressured him to stop doing so and switch patients back to Subsys, which GOLDSTEIN did.

GOLDSTEIN also received other items of value from Insys in order to induce him to prescribe.  For example, Insys employees took GOLDSTEIN and Todd Schlifstein, who co-owned a private medical office with GOLDSTEIN, to a Manhattan strip club where Insys spent approximately $4,100 on a private room, alcoholic drinks, and “lap dances” for GOLDSTEIN and Schlifstein.  GOLDSTEIN also arranged for Insys to pay for the annual holiday party for his private medical office.

In 2014, GOLDSTEIN was approximately the fifth-highest-paid Insys Speaker nationally.  He was the sixth-highest prescriber of Subsys in the last quarter of 2014, accounting for approximately $809,275 in overall net sales of Subsys in that quarter.

In addition to the prison sentence, GOLDSTEIN, 51, of New Rochelle, New York, was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $196,600.

GOLDSTEIN was one of five Manhattan doctors convicted for participating in the Subsys bribery conspiracy.  Todd Schlifstein was convicted upon a guilty plea and sentenced by Judge Wood on October 28, 2019, principally to a term of two years in prison.  Alexandru Burducea was convicted upon a guilty plea and sentenced by Judge Wood on January 27, 2020, principally to a term of 57 months in prison.  Dialecti Voudouris was convicted upon a guilty plea and sentenced by Judge Wood on March 5, 2020, principally to time served.  Gordon Freedman was convicted following a jury trial in December 2019 and is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Wood on July 8, 2021.

Ms. Strauss praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and thanked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, for its participation in the investigation.

Attorney General James Leads Coalition in Fighting to Defend Women’s Health and Reproductive Freedom

 

AG James Submits Congressional Testimony in Support of Women’s Health Protection Act

 New York Attorney General Letitia James continued her leadership in the fight to safeguard the health care and reproductive rights of patients across New York and the rest of the nation. Leading a coalition of 16 attorneys general from across the nation, Attorney General James submitted testimony into the congressional record, urging passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), which would protect a woman's constitutional right to access an abortion by prohibiting unnecessary restrictions — passed at the state level — that undermine the availability and safety of health care services.

“As states continue to pass constricting laws that seek to unconstitutionally restrict women’s reproductive rights, we are urging Congress to take federal action and codify every woman’s right to access an abortion into law,” said Attorney General James. “Roe v. Wade may have been fought nearly 50 years ago, but the war on women’s reproductive freedoms continues today. It’s time for our federal leaders to finally stand up for women’s health nationwide and take legislative action to prevent these unconstitutional infringements. This is about protecting women’s health, protecting their bodies, and protecting their choices.”

“The United States has never been closer to losing the fundamental right to access abortion than right now,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO, Center for Reproductive Rights. “State legislatures have passed so many restrictions that abortion is already out of reach for many people. The WHPA is the answer to these politically motivated, unconstitutional restrictions. We are so grateful to New York Attorney General Letitia James and to the many other state attorneys general who have joined her in calling for the passage of this crucial legislation. The time for Congress to act is now.”

Attorney General James leads the coalition in arguing that while legislators in many states may claim that the laws they are enacting are being passed to promote women’s health, the reality is that these laws are simply designed to restrict access to abortion services and, most often, lead to worse health outcomes for women. These include laws requiring physicians to have admitting privileges at hospitals and setting arbitrary requirements at women’s health clinics for the size of procedure rooms and corridors. The proliferation of these restrictions has negatively impacted women’s health — disproportionately affecting low-income communities and communities of color, while simultaneously creating a lack of national consistency that strains states’ health care systems. Most importantly, any law that imposes an undue burden on a woman’s right to choose to terminate a pregnancy is unconstitutional.

The Women’s Health Protection Act targets these onerous state laws that have been adopted in a concerted strategy to restrict access to abortion across the nation. In Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Texas law that required abortion providers to maintain admitting privileges at a local hospital failed to advance women’s health and posed an undue burden on women seeking an abortion. Additionally, last year, Attorney General James led a coalition of 22 attorneys general in helping win another victory in June Medical Services v. Gee, in which the Supreme Court held that a similar law in Louisiana was unconstitutional.

As more states try to pass new laws that restrict women’s reproductive freedoms with medically unnecessary restrictions, new court challenges continue to be filed — a process that can often take years. That’s why Attorney General James and the coalition are today urging Congress to pass the WHPA to ensure that such restrictions are not imposed in the first place.

The consequences of these laws are already evident across the country. Research from 2017 found that 38 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 44 live in counties without a single abortion clinic. Additionally, as of June 2019, six states have only one abortion clinic remaining. As providers close due to the impact of medically unnecessary restrictions, women are likely to be forced to travel farther and make greater sacrifices to obtain access to care. Unfortunately, however, these burdens often fall disproportionately on lower-income women who cannot afford to travel, take time off from work, or find childcare while they visit their nearest provider.

The coalition goes on to assert that laws aimed specifically at restricting abortion providers have proved, time and time again, to lead to worse health outcomes for women, including:

• Increased maternal mortality rates,
• Delayed abortions, as well as increased health risks and costs for women who find themselves too far from an abortion provider,
• The undertaking of dangerous “black market” or self-induced abortions by some women, and
• A four-times higher risk of developing potentially life-threatening health conditions for women who are forced to carry a pregnancy to term, as well as a substantially greater likelihood of experiencing physical violence from abusive partners or family members.

The widely known negative effects of laws targeting abortion providers undermines any argument that such laws are intended to promote women’s health.

The coalition finally argues that without the WHPA, a lack of consistency in access to abortion services will lead to unnecessary strain on the states’ health care systems. Many women will cross state lines, if they have the means to do so, when abortions are unavailable in the states where they live. In the wake of recent abortion restrictions, some states have experienced a substantial influx of out-of-state patients seeking abortions as a result of reduced access in their home states, as has happened in the past. In fact, in the nearly three years between New York state’s liberalization of its abortion laws in 1970 and 1973 — when the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade ruled that the right to choose was constitutionally protected — close to 350,000 women came to New York from other states where abortions were entirely or largely unavailable. Medically unnecessary restrictions targeting abortion providers create a disservice to women’s health and safety and pose challenges for states that aim to provide a full range of reproductive health services.

Today’s action is just the latest in a long list of measures Attorney General James has taken to protect patients’ reproductive freedom since taking office. Earlier this month, Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general helped score a major victory in the case Reproductive Health Services v. Parson, after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a preliminary injunction enjoining a Missouri law that, among other things, banned abortions after as early as eight weeks into pregnancy. In January 2020, Attorney General James and the coalition filed an amicus brief in the case, challenging the constitutionality of several, recently-enacted abortion bans in the state of Missouri.