Good morning and welcome to today's New York City Council hearing on women's agenda and equity.

At this time, we're asking everyone to settle all electronic devices and at no point in time approach this day.

If you wish to testify today's hearing and haven't thrown the appearance card, please use touching at the back for assistant.

Chair, you may begin good

morning, everyone.

I'm Councilmember Amanda FedEas, Chair of the Committee on Women and Gender Equity.

Welcome to today's oversight hearing examining the restructure of the mayor's office to end domestic and gender-based violence under the Office of Community Safety.

I'd like to acknowledge the council members that are present, Council members Aldebol and Santos Suoso who have joined us this morning.

I want to begin by acknowledging the moment we are

in.

Just this week, New Yorkers and women have once again been confronted with the painful realities of sexual violence through the allegations surrounding former Cornell University students and the decision by the Tompkins County District Attorney to reopen the criminal investigation into the 2024 assault and rapes.

This case has raised renewed public questions about consent, institutional responsibility, and how systems respond when women report violence and whether our laws and institutions are adequately equipped to protect survivors.

While that case is outside the jurisdiction of New York City, it is a reminder that gender-based violence does not exist in isolation.

It exists in our homes, on our campuses, in our workplaces, in our communities, and within the systems that are supposed to protect us.

And as a city, we are in a pivotal moment.

We have an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure that preventing and responding to gender-based violence remains a central priority for our government, and that survivors can access meaningful support and that our systems are coordinated, accountable, and equipped to respond to the realities women and gender expansive people face.

The

mayor's office to end domestic and gender-based violence, or NGB, has created was created to tackle domestic and gender-based violence as a systemic problem and recognize it as an important issue impacting people across New York City.

Since its establishment, NGBV has been a leader in efforts across the city to assess and respond to domestic and gender-based violence.

These efforts include chairing domestic violence fatality review committee, co-leading the mayor's domestic violence task force in collaboration with the mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, and operating the city's five family justice centers, just to name a few.

So today, as we examine the proposed restructuring of NGBV under the Office of Community Safety, I want us to focus on a fundamental question.

How do we ensure that this restructuring strengthens, not diminishes, the city's ability to prevent gender-based violence, support survivors, and hold our systems accountable.

The committee will also consider the following legislation.

Intro 1079, sponsored by myself in relation to reporting on a hotline for survivors of gender-based violence.

The

bill would require NGBV to report anonymous high-level information about calls received by NGBB's Hotline for Survivors of Domestic and Gender-Based Violence.

We will also hear resolution 441, also sponsored by me, declaring November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in honor of the Medibal sisters.

Additionally, we will hear intro 295, sponsored by Councilmember Farrell Lewis in relation to establishing a screening program for endometriosis and polyendrocan metabolic ovarian syndrome.

I'll now read a statement from Councilmember Lewis.

Thank

you, Chair Fardias, for your leadership on and for moving introduction 295 forward today.

Intro 295 would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to establish a menstrual health program providing screening, screening referrals, and education

and

support for endometriosis and polyendrocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome or PMOS.

It would also expand the city's sexual and reproductive health outreach to include these conditions.

The need is significant.

Federal data from the CDC shows that among women ages 20 to 49, 6.2% has been diagnosed with endometriosis and 8.7% with PCOS in 2022 and 2023.

Among women diagnosed with either condition, rates of current fertility problems were substantially higher than among women without these diagnoses.

Here in New York City, our own Department of Health recognizes that both conditions can cause significant symptoms, including painful or irregular periods, infertility, fatigue, and other health complications.

Yet too many women continue to face gaps in awareness, diagnosis, and access to appropriate care.

That is why the amendment to recognize PMOS is so important.

In 2026, the medical community adopted polyoendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome as the new name for the condition previously known as PCOS.

The change reflects a broader understanding that this is a complex endocrine and metabolic condition that affects much more than just the ovaries.

For too long, women's health needs have been shut out of conversations, research, education, and public health systems that determine whether people receive care.

We have an opportunity to change that by making accurate information and pathways to care part of our city's public health infrastructure.

I

urge my colleagues to support Introduction 295A, and I look forward to continuing the work to ensure that every New Yorker has access to the information, screening, referrals, and support they need to take control of their health.

Thank you.

I thank Councilmember Lewis for sending in that statement and support of her bill.

Finally, the committee will hear resolution 637, sponsored by Councilmember Kayla San Suoso and me, calling on the New York State Legislature to pass and the governor to sign legislation requiring insurers to cover all lactation consultation and counseling services without restrictions and reimburse providers accordingly.

I'd like to invite Councilmember Sanzu Swoso from to make some remarks about this resolution.

Thank you, Chair.

There is overwhelming evidence that breastfeeding provides a multitude of health benefits to babies and their caregivers.

Difficulties early on often force people to discount breastfeeding, many times without seeking professional advice or support.

Research suggests that many of the disparities are further rooted in systemic racism, which further perpetuates health disparities later in life.

The U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services has reaffirmed that international board-certified lactation consultants and other professionals are equipped to help parents navigate their challenges with breastfeeding.

This greatly improves the chance that families will reach their infant feeding goals.

Given the clear health benefits to children and child caregivers, there is no reason that lactation consult consultation should not be covered by health insurance companies in the state of New York.

This resolution calls on the governor and state legislature to draft and pass legislation that will ensure all New Yorkers have access to these critical services without having to pay out of pocket.