This is a critical juncture for our nation. We must take action to protect the established, fundamental right of a woman to make her own choice and to determine her own course of action as regards her health. And New York, a state that has always been at the forefront of the fight for women's rights, must now be a leader in reproductive rights and an example for the rest of our country.

That is why I announced last week that I will introduce the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act, a bill that will solidify the protections of Roe v. Wade into New York state law. We must change our out-of-date state laws to reflect the realities of the 21st century and ensure the protections that today's New Yorkers hold as fundamental. This bill will ensure that New York's women have the same or stronger reproductive rights as those currently afforded them under Roe. Our bill will do the following:

• Affirmatively state that a woman has a fundamental right to control her own reproductive health
• Establish protections for the rights ensured by Roe: that a pregnant woman has the right to an abortion at any time when her life or health are in danger
• Ensure the continuation of public funding for reproductive health services
• Decriminalize abortion in New York
• Solidify in New York law the existing federal right to contraception and remove the statute that makes it a crime to provide non-prescription contraception to minors

Passing this bill will not be easy. Starting today, we must work together to make every New Yorker aware of what's at stake. Many legislators in Albany do not realize the importance of getting these protections established in New York law before our federal reproductive rights have a chance to be taken away. We must show them that these rights are fundamental to New Yorkers. This is a fight we cannot afford to lose--and I am confident that with your help, we will make sure that our reproductive rights are a solid part of New York law, no matter what happens in Washington.