Stop State-Sanctioned Suicide from Passing in the NYS Senate

Time is running out. With only a few weeks left in the New York State legislative session, the push to legalize physician-assisted suicide is intensifying. The Assembly has already passed the bill, and now it's gaining dangerous momentum in the Senate.

This legislation threatens the most vulnerable among us—the elderly, people with disabilities, and those facing serious illness—by opening the door to coercion, abuse, and a loss of respect for the sanctity of life. No safeguard can truly protect against the risks this bill poses.

If you haven’t yet spoken up, now is the time. Faithful citizenship calls us to advocate for laws that uphold human dignity and protect life at all stages. Every phone call, every email to your State Senator matters. Let your voice be heard—urge them to oppose assisted suicide legislation before it’s too late.

Join Us at the Capitol

As members of the New York Alliance Against Assisted Suicide, we will once again be peacefully demonstrating in Albany. We invite you to stand with us in opposition to assisted suicide on the following dates:

• Thursday, June 5
• Wednesday, June 11
   

On each of these days, we will gather at the Prime at the Plaza Café in the Empire State Plaza Concourse at 11:00 am and deploy to various locations within the Capitol complex. In addition to making our opposition visible by holding signs, we may also visit Senate offices and distribute literature. We will generally conclude our demonstrations at 3:00 pm or earlier.

We will have purple T-shirts for you to wear to demonstrate your opposition to assisted suicide when you join us for a demonstration. We will also provide signs. All we need is you!

NYS Budget Update: Key Wins and Concerns

After a 38-day delay, the New York State Legislature passed the 2025-26 State Budget in the late hours of May 8, with Governor Hochul signing it into law on May 9.

The $254 billion budget includes some positive steps forward for religious and independent schools, as well as important measures to support children and families. It also expands access to mental health services and increases funding for low-income and supportive housing—initiatives that will benefit many New Yorkers.

However, as is becoming all too familiar in the state, the budget includes significant financial support for abortion services, a development that remains deeply concerning for those who value the sanctity of life.

Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) Update

We are excited to report that the U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Educational Choice for Children’s Act (ECCA), bringing educational opportunities for families in all 50 states one step closer. Much of this progress is due to the thousands of emails sent to federal lawmakers by you and other members of the Catholic Action Network. The measure is now being considered by the U.S. Senate, where further work remains, and the Catholic Conference, under the leadership of Cardinal Timothy Dolan and his fellow bishops, continues to advocate for the ECCA to become a reality for New York’s families.

Capitol Compass Podcast

In episode 46, Gillian chats with Jessica Rodgers from the Patients' Rights Action Fund (PRAF). They discuss state-sanctioned suicide in the United States and the dangers of its legalization. 

Learn more about why we oppose state-sanctioned suicide: https://www.nyscatholic.org/resources/end-life/assisted-suicide

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or on our website, https://www.nyscatholic.org/capitol-compass-podcast/