Washington Institute
Day on the Hill 2009

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Join Now! Greater Dallas Section’s “Hannah’s Group” is for those who dare and desire to delve a bit further into the advocacy! This very special “study and action group” empowers members to be effective advocates. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a curious novice in the activist arena, Hannah’s Group is for you! Do what your convictions demand and become part of Hannah’s Group.

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Washington Institute, NCJW's premier national public policy conference, is held every three years in Washington DC. The event offers advocacy training, in-depth issue briefings, and meetings with members of Congress. In 2010, it was held March 21 - 24.

Washington Institute X has ended, and what an exciting time it was to be in Washington, DC. When the historic healthcare reform bill was signed into law by President Barak Obama, over 400 NCJW, Inc. members, including approximately forty from Texas, were "on the hill." Our National President, Nancy Ratzan, was present in the East Room of the White House for the official signing.

This 2010 advocacy conference was particularly exciting and inspiring. Eminent speakers included Eve Ensler, the author and performance artist responsible for “The Vagina Monologues". Lilly Ledbetter, the woman whose fight for equal pay for equal work that the men at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company received, also spoke. On appeal, her case went the Supreme Court, where she lost. However her tenacity ultimately led to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.

We advocated for four bills: (Click on the titles below to see the Talking Points.)

• Healthy Families Act - which would require up to seven paid sick days per year to all employees so they don’t have to choose between going to work and caring for themselves or a sick family member. It would also allow victims of domestic violence to use paid sick days to seek assistance.
• The Military Readiness Enhancement Act - to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, and thus bar the military from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation.
• The Paycheck Fairness Act – a companion bill to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that would strength and expand existing federal laws aimed at preventing wage discrimination.
• The Global Democracy Promotion Act - would permanently repeal the global gag rule that prevents the US from giving family planning aid to foreign NGOs (equivalent to nonprofits in the US) that provide abortion information, referrals, or services with non-US funds.

On Tuesday we divided into groups and went to our various congressional offices to present our positions on the issues, emphasizing personal experience whenever possible. The Dallas Section had visits with the offices of both our Senators and seven Representatives.

At the various lunches and dinners, awards were presented and two new initiatives were introduced. The Higher Ground: N CJW's Domestic Violence Campaign will help victims of domestic violence find financial stability for themselves and their children, and the NCJW Center for Social Change, an endowment that provides structure for donors to invest with NCJW while aligning themselves with the four pillars of social justice: advocacy, community service, education, and philanthropy.

Among the distinguished award recipients was our own Julie Lowenberg who received the Outstanding Advocate for Social Change Award. Julie was honored for her outstanding advocacy and community service.

All in all, the conference was intense, informative, influential, and exhilarating.

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Day on the Hill

BELIEF IN ACTION: NCJW DAY ON THE HILL

AUSTIN

FEBRUARY 16-17, 2009

On Monday, February 16, twenty-one members and supporters of the Greater Dallas Section journeyed to Austin to learn about issues of concern for NCJW. Included in the Dallas group were two sets of mother/daughters and a grandmother/mother/daughter group. We joined approximately fifty NCJW members from Houston, Austin, and San Antonio for an afternoon of informative speakers and an evening of inspired speakers. On Tuesday, Dallas members visited with twenty-one legislators or their aides.

This session, NCJW Texas State Public Affairs is watching several issues. These are:

• Early Childhood Education - Issues dealing with the importance of early childhood education. We will work to advance the well being of children and families by supporting quality, comprehensive childcare, early childhood programs, and school age programs, which are affordable and accessible for all. Specifically, will support full-day high-quality pre-kindergarten programs with an emphasis on local, integrated community-based partnerships; development of early childhood professionals; and maintain support for existing quality programs throughout Texas.

• Children's Health Issues - Issues dealing with children's health coverage. We support access to affordable children's health care coverage for all Texas children thus ensuring all children have the opportunity to be born healthy and to grow up as healthy as possible. This includes support for pregnant women and children with special needs.

• State Board of Education – Issues dealing with the State School Board, including limitations of power, curriculum, and text book standards. We have already seen how the SBOE is trying to include creationism in the science curriculum. We support the prevention and elimination of censorship of educational resources and the promotion of scientifically sound public information.

• Women's Health – Issues dealing with access to comprehensive health services. We will work for increased access to basic health care, preventing unintended pregnancies, and reducing the need for abortion. We also support a change to sex education laws in Texas to require all information be medically accurate, age-appropriate, and include complete information on the benefits and risks of contraception and condoms. We oppose legislation to decrease access to health care, including abortion services.

The afternoon briefings featured Anne Dunkleberg – Texas CHIP Coalition for healthy babies and children; Kara Johnson – Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition; Kathy Miller – Texas Freedom Network (SBOE); and Lesley Ramsey – Texas Association of Planned Parenthood Affiliates .

Monday evening, during a reception and dinner at the hotel, Belief in Action Awards were presented to Julie Lowenberg and Ellen Sable, immediate past Texas SPAs, for the incredible work they have done for NCJW in Texas. The Woman Who Dared Award was presented to Kathy Miller of the Texas Freedom Network. Kathy has lead many battles, including the current one that is promoting sound science in Texas Public Schools. The Honorable Mark Strama was awarded the Texas Trailblazer Award for his efforts in promoting the Prevention First bill in the 80 th Legislature and the Prevention Works bill in the current legislature. These bills promote access to comprehensive family planning services. After receiving his award, Representative Strama addressed the attendees.

Tuesday after a short briefing at the Capitol, the Texas delegation of sixty-six, visited their area legislators. Approximately sixty-five visits were made. The group as a whole met with Lisa Kaufman, House Speaker Joe Straus’ policy director.

At the end of the day, all agreed – it was an informative, inspiring two days. We hope you will join us in 2011 when we go again.

Position Papers

To see where we stand on the issues, please see our talking points. Click on the titles below.

Access to Women's Health Services/Medically Accurate Sex Ed

Children's Issues: Early Care and Education

Women and Children/Insurance and Health Care/CHIP

Texas State Board of Education

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