Rockland Women & Families
As your Assemblywoman, my priority will always be to fight for what matters to our families. And from my post as chair of the Task Force on Women’s Issues, I have worked to promote solutions to concerns impacting the lives of Rockland women and families.
In the 2011 legislative session alone, I spearheaded a number of family-focused initiatives, including policies to ensure equal pay for women, a statewide study on quality day care for our children, expanded health insurance coverage for the screening of diseases, and increased awareness of sensitive topics affecting women at every age.
I spoke out for measures to enhance economic opportunities for Rockland families, and for women in particular. There’s no denying women will play a key role in advancing job creation and our economic recovery, and we must help them succeed.
As part of my ongoing efforts to best represent you, I would like to know what topics are most important to you. Your feedback is critical to helping me plan pertinent upcoming events in the district, and so I hope you consider giving me a call or sending an email (contact info below) and sharing your thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year,
Ellen C. Jaffee
NYS Assemblymember, 95th District
On October 11th Assemblywoman Jaffee gathered experts in women’s employment, including NYS Labor Commissioner Colleen Gardner, for an Assembly Round Table at Rockland Community College. The goal was to assess how the workforce development agencies, education system, and employers are meeting the needs of women who are unemployed, under-employed or seeking a job. Ms. Jaffee is concerned that women aren’t getting adequate training in order to qualify for higher paying jobs. “More than 1 million households in New York are headed by women, who are responsible for the economic security of their families,” said Jaffee, adding, “women provide a substantial share of the family income. It’s imperative we maximize our earning potential.”
Standing Up for Rockland Children and Families
In these difficult times, Assemblywoman Jaffee is focused on increasing economic opportunities for Rockland County families by:
Ensuring women earn equal pay for equal work by introducing tough legislation (A6448) that penalizes employers who pay women less than men for doing the same job with the same qualifications
Combating discrimination in job training programs, which often steer women to lower-paying jobs than men, by holding them accountable with hearings in order to reform a system that can shortchange women’s earning potential
Interested in training for a new job or going back to school? Find out how at:
http://www.sunyrockland.edu/continuing-education/
Thinking of starting a business or already have your own? Find resources that can help at:
Rockland Small Business Development Center (845) 356-6065
Rockland Economic Development Corporation (845) 735-7040
Safeguarding our roadways with a ban on texting that imposes tough new penalties for distracted driving, a frequent cause of unnecessary accidents and injuries on New York roads
Taking poisonous products off the shelves by introducing and passing landmark consumer safety legislation (A668) that bans mercury-laden goods from New York’s stores and keeps these toxins out of our children’s hands
Learn more about how to protect your child from bullying: http://stopbullying.gov/
Protecting Women’s Health
Assemblywoman Jaffee is an outspoken advocate for increased access to and quality of health care for Rockland women, working tirelessly to:
Fight back against breast cancer with legislation (A7774) that alerts women to the threat of dense breast tissue, a condition known to make it more difficult to detect breast cancer, by requiring mammography reports to notify women with dense breasts of their condition, as well as a description of the risks and suggesting a woman should consult her doctor; if given a doctor’s recommendation, this bill also requires insurance companies to cover supplemental screenings for women over 40 with dense breast tissue.
Find out if you qualify for a low- or no-cost mammogram by calling: 1-800-877-8077
Prevent substance abuse among women by sponsoring a bill (A1078) the Governor signed into law that will give medical professionals the tools to better identify and treat women struggling with undiagnosed drug and alcohol dependency.
A former teacher, Assemblywoman Jaffee knows the critical importance of quality education and child care in ensuring our kids have every opportunity to succeed. That’s why she is:
Bringing home funding to keep teachers in classrooms and class sizes small, securing additional state aid for local districts, to help preserve education in times of tight budgets
Making quality child care affordable with a bill (A5843) that will lower costs for working families to enroll children in day care, allowing parents to work and earn more for their families while also saving them money
Did your child’s school get an “A,” an “F,” or something in between? Find Out with NYS School Report Cards: https://reportcards.nysed.gov/