Statement from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

"The current conservative Supreme Court is slowly but surely attempting to erode access to reproductive rights. And with Justice Kennedy's retirement announced yesterday, the Trump Administration has the opportunity to appoint an extreme conservative Justice to the Supreme Court. It has been the stated goal of this administration to appoint a Justice who will not only overturn Roe v. Wade, but will also roll back all advancements in reproductive health care, including access to contraception.

"As the Governor of New York, I pledge to do everything in my power to protect access to all reproductive health services.

"With ever-present threats to reproductive rights at the federal level, we must stand firm and unequivocal in our support of a woman's right to choose and codify that principle in our state laws. For years I have called on the legislature to protect the lives and health of women by advancing the Reproductive Health Act which would solidify the rights afforded by Roe v. Wade. This year, the Republican Senate once again refused to pass that critical legislation to enshrine reproductive health care into state law.

"Now more than ever, we must stand up and fight to protect access to reproductive rights. While Washington wages war on women, we must take action to defend those rights in New York."