FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JULY 29, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 17
González-Rojas expands reproductive health education with new bill
BY JULIA MORO
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
On July 16, Governor Andrew
Cuomo signed legislation sponsored
Cuomo signs Queens senator’s absentee voting reform into law
BY JULIA MORO
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Governor Andrew Cuomo on
July 16 signed legislation sponsored
by a Queens senator that
would make voting by absentee
ballot easier.
State Senator Michael Gianaris
sponsored the bill in order to
ensure more absentee ballots are
valid and counted.
“At a time when voting rights are
under attack in other states, New
York is doing the right thing by
making it easier to vote, not harder,”
Gianaris said.
“I am grateful the legislature
passed my bill with Assembly
member Bichotte Hermelyn to
ensure more valid votes are
counted and am pleased it is
being signed into law today,”
Gianaris said.
Gianaris’ legislation temporarily
eliminates the need to
request an absentee ballot by a
signed application. It will also
deem absentee ballots with a postmark
up to and including the deadline
countable.
Federal write-in absentee ballots, military
ballots, special presidential ballots
and special federal ballots received
after Election Day have to contain a
postmark, cancellation mark or witness
dated Election Day or earlier.
State Senator Joseph Addabbo also
supported the bill, saying it would
ensure absentee ballots be counted
more consistently with other votes on
Election Day.
“I supported this bill to increase
the accessibility for registered voters
to cast their vote, while still protecting
the integrity of the voting process,”
Addabbo said. “This bill takes a positive
step towards ensuring all valid
votes are counted.”
During the 2020 elections, absentee
ballots were largely questioned by former
President Donald Trump, claiming
the process was often fraudulent, but
none of those claims were substantiated
with any evidence. The former president
voted by mail himself in a Florida
primary last year, despite casting doubt
on the process, according to NPR.
According to a Pew Research Center
p ol l , voting by mail is popular —
and has become more common
since the COVID-19
pandemic began — with
70 percent of Americans
favoring the practice.
Courtesy of Gianaris’ offi ce
by Assembly member Jessica
González-Rojas allowing the New
York State Department of Health
to educate and provide treatment
options regarding preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia is caused by high
blood pressure aft er the 20th week
of pregnancy. If it goes untreated
or undetected, it can lead to organ
damage, strokes, seizures, premature
birth and death. However, in
many cases, preeclampsia is preventable
or can be detected early.
Th e recently signed legislation
was inspired by Lian Gravelle, a
constituent of the district represented
by Senator Jeremy Cooney,
who also sponsored the bill.
Gravelle passed away six months
aft er giving birth to twin boys from
preeclampsia complications.
“Lian educated new mothers
about dangerous maternal health
conditions, such as preeclampsia,”
Cooney said. “Although we tragically
lost Gravelle, her spirit is
embodied in this lifesaving legislation.”
Th e law will provide thorough
education to patients and training
for healthcare providers of maternal
health services.
“I spent my career in reproductive
health care and this is something
that is going to save lives,”
González-Rojas said.
González-Rojas said that this
legislation perfectly aligns with her
goals as an elected offi cial looking
to prioritize women’s health and
reproductive rights. Prior to running
for offi ce, she ran a nonprofi t
called the National Latina Institute
for Reproductive Health, working
to make health care accessible.
“I see the implications when people
don’t have information about
maternal reproductive healthcare,
there are consequences,” González-
Rojas said. “Th ere are oft en social
determinants of health based on
immigration status, insurance status
or the language you speak.
My goal is to break those barriers
and pass legislation that’s going
to ensure our communities have
access to the healthcare they need.”
Th e bill was widely supported,
with 35 sponsors made up of both
Republican and Democratic state
senators and assembly members.
Once the bill was signed into law,
González-Rojas called Gravelle’s
husband.
“It was very emotional. I’m very
grateful for him lending her name
to this bill,” González-Rojas said.
“We carry this in her honor.” Jessica González-Rojas. (Angélica Acevedo/QNS)
/WWW.QNS.COM
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