New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright's appointment to the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

The committee plays a pivotal role in the annual New York State budget process. The committee also examines all department budgets, appropriation requests, appropriation bills and holds public fiscal hearings conducted jointly with the Senate Finance Committee.

"I am privileged to serve and grateful to Speaker Heastie for his trust," said Seawright. "New York State faces fiscal challenges not seen in more than a generation. The task ahead will not be easy as we work to defeat the COVID- 19 virus and its fallout.”

The Assembly Member is starting her fourth term representing the Upper East Side, Yorkville, and Roosevelt Island.

In addition to the Ways and Means Committee, Assembly Member Seawright will also be serving as a member of the Banking Committee, Codes Committee, Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions Committee, Education Committee, and the Judiciary Committee.

A longtime advocate for women's rights, Seawright was named the Chair of the New York State Assembly Task Force on Women's Issues. Seawright is the prime sponsor in the Assembly of legislation for an Equal Rights Amendment to the State Constitution.

She has passed groundbreaking legislation such as laws that require health insurance policies to include 3-D mammography at no cost to the consumer.

Seawright also championed legislation signed by the Governor, which encouraged greater representation of women on corporate boards. She authored a law to promote greater consumer financial literacy.