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NEWS FROM BPW FLORIDA!
SAVE the DATE!!
BPW/FL 2012 State Conference
June 15 - June 17, 2012
Sharaton Riverwalk
Tampa, FL
BPW/FL Public Policy Legislative Call For Action 2010-2011
Because of the political climate and the economy, your BPW/FL Public Policy Chairs have developed a “Women are Watching Postcard Campaign”. We are asking that you join the campaign by contacting your Congressional representatives TODAY to stand up for women’s rights. Tell them WOMEN ARE WATCHING. We need you to contact your legislators now and as a follow up, mail the postcards we printed (please email President Banks – sabanks@earthlink.net - with the number of postcards you would like and the mailing instructions).
BPW/FL is an issues based organization. For our newer members attached is a copy of our Legislative Platform adopted by our members at our June 2010 State Conference. We must not lose sight of our fundamental rights. Now it is the time to build the future for women, not chip away at it.
In Washington, the House of Representatives is poised to pass the FULL YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT 2011 (H.R.1); therefore, we must contact our Senators that the $100 billion in funding cuts would fall unfairly on the backs of women, students and working families by cutting or terminating funding for several important programs. The proposed cuts would end: programs that help children succeed in school, help workers pursue job training, end funding for community health programs such as Title X which provides health care for low income women and families and would make draconian cuts in programs that help protect women against sex discrimination and pay discrimination. It is time to send the message that “YOU promised to create jobs and strengthen the economy…do not support legislation that undermines these goals and WE women are holding you to that election promise”.
Finally, we must tell congress to focus on jobs, not divisive social issues. HR 3, for example, would punish private employers who provide health care for their workers if their plans cover abortion services. Under this bill, abortion services would cover only those women who had been “forcibly raped “and only minors who have been victims of incest. Urge your representatives to vote NO on H.R.3.
TAKE A STAND TODAY…WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES. The message is clear: You promised jobs and a stronger economy.
Do not cut $100 billion from FY11 appropriations that would have a lasting, detrimental impact on Americans, particularly working families, women and children. Stop wasting time on divisive social issues impacting women’s health and reproductive rights. Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to provide pay equity for women.
At long last, let us have an Equal Rights Amendment passed –let us have three more states ratify the amendment and challenge the deadline.
CLICK HERE to download a copy of the BPW/FL 2010-2011 Legislative Platform.
Marie Rust, BPW/FL Public Policy Chair, National Focus
Andrea Johnson White, BPW/FL Public Policy Chari , State Focus
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