Assemblywoman Addie Russell (D-Theresa) voted in the Assembly Wednesday in support of a standalone measure designed to codify in New York State law reproductive health care rights guaranteed under federal law.

Russell represents the “River District,” the 116th, which includes all St. Lawrence County towns along the St. Lawrence River plus the towns of Canton, Potsdam, Rossie, Macomb, and DePeyster, and part of Jefferson County.

The bill, which was passed in the Assembly in an unofficial vote of 94-49, will be sent to the state Senate for action there.

An opponent of the bill, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms Executive Director Rev. Jason J. McGuire, said he believes "this bad bill is headed nowhere in the New York State Senate."

Russell said the bill brings state law up to federal standards that have been in place since Roe v. Wade in 1973, to ensure a woman's right to make her own personal and private healthcare decisions.

"I'm proud to stand with my colleagues in the Assembly to ensure New York's women will continue to be protected under state law," Russell said.