A letter signed by 223 prominent women in New York politics, labor, business and community organizations urged Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to take up a bill that would legalize commercial gestational surrogacy in the state.

The letter is part of the ongoing and concentrated effort, now in its second year, to have the measure come to a vote in the Democratic-controlled chamber.

"Under your leadership, New York State has become a beacon of progress for women and the LGBTQ community," the letter, to be released widely on Wednesday, says. "We must continue on this path of progress to ensure an environment that provides all New Yorkers with the opportunity to build a family. This can only occur by ending New York’s ban on surrogacy and replacing it with a law that would establish New York as the national leader in supporting all people who rely on assisted reproductive technology to fulfill their dreams of becoming parents and building families."

Backing the letter includes former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, comic Michelle Buteau, Girls Who Code founder and CEO Reshma Saujani, LGBT civil rights attorney Roberta Kaplan and prominent political consultant Jennifer Cunningham.

Supporters of the measure in Albany include Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has said it is again a priority for him in the upcoming state budget, due to pass by the end of March.

Opponents of the measure, however, contend vulnerable women could be taken advantage of under the law if it passes.