ISSUES
Senator Samra Brouk is dedicated to representing the diverse voices of Senate District 55. She understands the unique challenges and opportunities our community faces and is committed to bringing about meaningful change.
With a proven track record of advocating for education, mental health, maternal health, and economic development, Samra is the leader we need to build a stronger, more inclusive future.
Her deep roots in our community and unwavering dedication to public service make her the right representative to ensure that every resident of District 55 has a voice in Albany.
Together, we can create the change we need.
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE
Every person should have the right to make decisions about their own body. We need to protect and expand access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including contraception, and safe, legal abortion services. Samra is committed to ensuring that everyone has the resources and support they need to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
IN ACTION
Samra has voted to protect access to reproductive care and family planning services, including passage through the legislature of New York’s Equal Rights Amendment that would prohibit discrimination based on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes. It would also protect against government actions that would curtail a person’s reproductive autonomy or access to reproductive healthcare.
She has fought to protect reproductive rights and ensure access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including contraception and abortion services.
OUR ENVIRONMENT
From lake flooding, high winds, and excessive heat, our communities already experience the impacts of climate change. To protect our Western New York region, we need to transition to 100% clean, renewable energy, improve the energy efficiency of our homes and businesses, and upgrade our infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events. We must strengthen our state’s climate protections and green energy infrastructure to keep our families safe and healthy.
IN ACTION
Samra supports the work of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, one of the most ambitious climate laws in the country, setting aggressive targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
She successfully fought for increased funding for the Environmental Protection Fund, which supports conservation, clean water, and green infrastructure projects.
Samra champions renewable energy projects, including solar and wind initiatives, to reduce our carbon footprint and create green jobs.
MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health is as important as physical health. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Mental Health, Samra is focused on improving access to mental health services and reducing stigma. This includes integrating mental health care with primary care, expanding telehealth services, and ensuring culturally competent care. Mental health intersects with education, substance misuse, criminal justice, and healthcare, and addressing these connections is crucial for a healthier community.
IN ACTION
Samra secured millions in additional funding for mental health services, ensuring more residents have access to the care they need.
She introduced legislation to create and fund crisis intervention programs that provide immediate support and resources for individuals experiencing mental health crises.
Under Samra’s leadership, telehealth services have been expanded, making mental health care more accessible to those in rural and underserved areas.
HEALTHCARE
Our families deserve the security and peace of mind that comes with knowing their healthcare needs will be met. Nobody should lose their savings or take on debt just to afford a basic medical procedure.
We must ensure timely and quality care for every New Yorker, regardless of preexisting conditions or ability to pay. This includes full reproductive care for women, mental health care, and culturally responsive care for people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. As a member of the Senate Health Committee, Samra is working to ensure local hospitals and community health centers get the state resources they need to further improve community health.
IN ACTION
Samra introduced legislation, later passed in the Enacted Budget, that would allow children ages 0-6 to remain continuously enrolled in Medicaid or Child Health Plus to ensure young children get the care they need.
She championed increases in the Medicaid reimbursement rate for local hospitals, nursing homes, and long term care facilities to address hospital overcrowding and help seniors access the care they need to thrive.
Samra is an advocate for the New York Health Act, which aims to provide universal, single-payer healthcare for all New Yorkers.
Vibrant Seniors
Seniors in our community should be able to enjoy their retirement on their own terms. People should be able to age in place, if they so choose, and have ample opportunities for recreation and social activity. We need to ensure our seniors can get the health care they need when they need it by improving access to home and community-based care, telemedicine, elder abuse prevention services, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
IN ACTION
Samra has expanded programs that provide home care and community-based services, allowing seniors to age in place with dignity.
She has introduced and supported legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs, ensuring that seniors do not have to choose between medication and other essentials.
MATERNAL HEALTH
Every individual deserves a safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth experience. We must address the alarming disparities in maternal health outcomes, particularly for Black women and women of color. This includes expanding access to prenatal and postnatal care, supporting midwifery and doula services, and ensuring that all mothers receive respectful and culturally sensitive care.
IN ACTION
Samra introduced and championed legislation to expand affordable access to doula care, especially for low-income families and communities of color.
Under Samra’s leadership, legislation was passed to include doula services under Medicaid coverage, making it possible for more families to benefit from this essential support.
She has fought to protect reproductive rights and ensure access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including contraception and abortion services.
JOBS AND THE
UPSTATE ECONOMY
The future of our region depends on a thriving economy. Too often, economic development programs fail to provide the good-paying jobs they promise. We need a smarter approach to economic development that strengthens our economy, generates living wage jobs, expands access to child care, and benefits our entire community.
This is our opportunity to strengthen protections for working families, grow and support small businesses, retain top talent from our nationally renowned universities, and invest in infrastructure and clean energy development that attracts new businesses.
IN ACTION
Samra supports the work of the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, aiming to create thousands of green jobs while addressing climate change.
She voted to increase funding for Entrepreneurial Assistance Centers and the Minority and Women-Owned Business Development lending program.
Samra successfully advocated for significant investments in Upstate public transportation funding (STOA), AIM funding for local governments, and roads improvement funding, to attract new companies and better connect residents to existing local businesses.
OUR SCHOOLS
A good education is the surest path to a secure future. Our state must provide public schools with the resources they need to thrive. Decades of underfunding have kept too many young people from reaching their full potential and enjoying rewarding careers. Every child deserves an excellent education, no matter their zip code.
Our local schools and universities face tremendous financial and operational challenges. We must send a fighter who understands the value of education to Albany to get our fair share of funding for public schools and quality child care.
IN ACTION
Samra has been a vocal champion for increases in Foundation Aid to local schools and will closely monitor efforts to modernize the school funding formula.
She voted to increase funding for NY’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to help middle-class families afford college, and to increase operating aid for SUNY schools like Monroe Community College.
Samra played a key role in expanding access to affordable child care, helping working families balance their careers and family responsibilities.
IMMIGRATION JUSTICE
Immigrants are vital to our community and our economy. We need policies that protect their rights and provide pathways to citizenship and employment opportunities. Samra supports comprehensive immigration reform that keeps families together, ensures fair treatment of all immigrants, and provides opportunities for undocumented individuals to contribute to society. New York must be a place welcoming for all, regardless of immigration status.
IN ACTION
Samra supports investments in a broad base of statewide and local job training programs, public services, public education, public transportation, and public hospitals and health clinics that serve and protect the rights of immigrants to fair access, representation, and equity.
OUR DEMOCRACY
For a state government that works for all of us, we need a democracy that uplifts all of our voices. Big money has dominated the political process for too long. When working people don’t have a meaningful voice in the process, we end up with policies that don’t reflect our values. It’s time to bring our democracy back into balance. We must increase the power of small donors, lower contribution limits, and strengthen voting rights through voting-at-home measures, automatic voter registration, and same-day registration.
IN ACTION
Samra sponsored legislation to implement automatic voter registration, making it easier for all eligible New Yorkers to participate in the democratic process.
She has championed reforms to reduce the influence of big money in politics, including lowering contribution limits and increasing transparency in campaign finance.
Samra has worked tirelessly to expand voting access through measures such as early voting, mail-in voting, and same-day registration, ensuring that every voice is heard.
EVERYONE IN,
NO ONE LEFT OUT
Everyone deserves to feel safe and welcome in their community. We respect the rights of people to be who they are, live their lives with dignity, and have an equal voice in community decision-making. We will work to ensure policies are inclusive and that all people have the same rights, access, and protections.