“The Women’s Political Caucus of NJ, Latina Civic PAC, PAM’s List, leaders from a coalition of Black Women, and the Democratic Task Force of the Bipartisan Coalition for Women’s Appointments applaud the passage and signing of A5950/S4004. This legislation will establish two databases that will document the gender and race of elected officials from the municipal level up and all those appointed to state boards and commissions. If this data can be updated on an annual basis the political parties, legislators, the Governor and the general public can have a full picture of who is serving in government at every level. With that knowledge our hope is that decisions about who gets appointed and who runs can be made with an eye to ensuring that more women and residents from historically underrepresented communities have equal opportunities to serve in positions of power and influence. The Coalition of Women’s Organization collaborated with former Senator Loretta Weinberg, Senator Nellie Pou, Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, the NJ Legislative Latino Caucus and the NJ Legislative Black Caucus to draft the legislation and fund the effort.”