Inside Government is a Q&A series that gives New Yorkers a glimpse inside the role of the elected officials who represent them. This edition of Inside Government with PoliticsNY features New York State Senator José M. Serrano. Senator Serrano represents the 29th Senate District which covers neighborhoods in the Bronx and Manhattan, including Highbridge, Mott Haven, Port Morris, Hunts Point, Clason Point, Randall's Island, East Harlem/El Barrio, and Yorkville.
This year alone, I passed over 30 bills. It's hard to choose just one - whether it's S5320 expanding tuition assistance for students experiencing homelessness, S3121 protecting tenants from unfair rent fees, or S2126 uplifting underrepresented educators. With the Ignazio Giacalone Act, S1165A, we honor families of sanitation workers lost after 9/11. And with S8181, we protect first responders' health and dignity. Each bill reflects equity, fairness, and sacrifice - together, building a stronger, more just New York.
I'm proud to have passed my bill A2698 directing DOH to create an awareness campaign regarding the usage of hormone replacement therapy for treating menopause and perimenopause. Too many people, especially Black, working-class, and immigrant women, go without the care they need simply because they don't know what's available or because providers don't take their symptoms seriously. As a maternal health nurse, I believe every stage of reproductive life deserves real support. Menopause is no exception.
