Candidate Questionnaire Responses
When in office, what will you do to reduce harm and ensure there is social and economic equity for Black Long Islanders? If you are an incumbent, what policies/initiatives/laws have you supported that do this?
In my role as State Senator, I have advocated and voted in support of policies which seek to provide equity for Black long islanders. Equity for communities which have been disproportionately underrepresented requires a multifaceted approach including strengthening voter protections and addressing the high mortality rate for Black women.
As such, I am proud to have supported several key legislative measures which strengthen voter protections and ensure election integrity. This includes creating electoral crimes of voter deception and suppression, banning foreign-influenced political spending, allowing refreshments at the polls, as well as creating a comprehensive election database for research and to provide assistance to political subdivisions as well as the public. As Black women are disproportionately impacted by high maternal mortality rates, I am honored to have played a key role in voting in support of a maternal health package, specifically aimed at tackling this issue. Such legislation initiatives include requiring maternal depression screenings to new moms, special enrollment period protections for pregnancy, the hospital transparency act for policy-based exclusions, permitting doulas in the operating room of maternal care facilities, guaranteeing access to a designated doula maternal health care and birthing standards workgroup, and requiring maternal mortality data in informational materials to the public.
Is there anything else you'd like us to know about your campaign?
As the sole Long Island member in the Senate Majority, I will continue to vote in support of policies which seek to protect and expand protections for underrepresented communities across Long Island.