LAKE PLACID -- Assemblywoman Addie Russell (D-Theresa) is to be the keynote speaker at the New York State AAUW Convention in Lake Placid Saturday.

“As the Chair of the Assembly Task Force on Women’s Issues, my remarks will include the importance of the Women’s Equality Agenda that the New York State Legislature is expected to take up before the end of session this year.”

Recently, Russell introduced a resolution supporting pay equity for women, and helped pass legislation on the same subject. At the time she said, “In this day and age, any form of wage discrimination, especially gender discrimination, in the workplace is disgraceful. This legislation continues my long standing commitment to eliminating pay inequity. Specifically, the bills would make it easier to enforce equal pay laws and create state policy to determine and define comparable work.”

Russell will also speak about measures that have already passed that increase protection and assistance for victims of domestic violence.

Russell said, “One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. It is estimated that three women are murdered by their intimate partner each day in the United States. The legislation that has passed would help bring peace of mind and added protection to victims. Additionally these measures would crack down on instances of domestic violence, hopefully preventing the violence from ever happening in the first place.”

Russell, one of four Assembly members to represent parts of St. Lawrence County, is from the 116th “River” District, which includes all St. Lawrence County towns along the St. Lawrence River -- Massena, Louisville, Waddington, Lisbon, Oswegatchie, Morristown, and Hammond – plus Ogdensburg, Canton, Potsdam, Rossie, Macomb and DePeyster, and northern Jefferson County, not including Watertown.