Bi-Partisan Coalition Introduces
International Violence Against Women Act
February 5, 2010
On Thursday a group of congressional representatives introduced an international version of VAWA. If passed, it would aim to curb the amount of violence against women and girls that occurs world-wide. According to Ritu Sharma, President of Women Thrive Worldwide (one of the non-profits that worked for introduction of the bill), I-VAWA would curb violence “through all relevant U.S. foreign policy efforts, including its international assistance programs. It would support local efforts in up to 20 countries, supporting emergency assistance like shelters, public awareness and health campaigns; education, training and economic empowerment programs for women, as well as legal reforms. It also makes the issue a diplomatic priority for the first time, asking the U.S. to respond within three months to horrific acts of violence against women and girls committed during conflict and war, for example, the rape and abuse of millions over the last several years in the Congo.”
The bi-partisan coalition introducing the bill included Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and John Kerry (D-MA) as well as Reps. Delahunt and Ted Poe (R-TX). Although an I-VAWA has been introduced in the past (by Vice President Biden in 2007), it has never been passed.
According to Amnesty International (one of the bill’s key drafters), “one out of every three women worldwide will be physically or sexually abused during her lifetime with rates reaching 70 percent in some countries.”
In Memoriam: Wanda Grayson
Our friend Wanda Grayson passed away this Tuesday, January 19th after a long illness. Wanda was well known in California as a founding member of Fresno NWPC, where she served as the Fresno Chapter's 3rd President. Most recently, she was a member of the NWPC President's Circle. Although she is gone, the memory of her and her complete passion to elect women to public office will remain always in our hearts.
Wanda's mission was to help elect women to public office. She expressed this passion throughout her life through her devotion to NWPC and electing women to public office which continued late into her life, despite her illness. If you were a pro-choice woman running for public office, then chances are that Wanda Grayson was supporting your campaign. Hillary Clinton was her greatest political passion.
Wanda, we love you and will always remember you.
Annise Parker Sworn
In
January 5,
2010
On Monday January 4th, Annise Parker was publicly sworn in as mayor of Houston after gaining 54% of the vote in a December 12th run-off. Her official swearing in occurred on the previous Saturday.
Parker is the city's second female mayor, and the first openly gay or lesbian mayor of a major U.S. city. Her partner, Kathy Hubbard, held their family bible while the oath of office was administered; Joel Osteen gave the opening prayer. The ceremony was open to the public and took place at the Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. That afternoon, she held her first city council meeting, and the evening ended with a free concert at Discovery Green. The latter event goes contrary to the norm of an invitation-only gala; Mayor Parker stated that she made this choice because she wanted "all of Houston to be able to participate."
Action Alert: Health Care Reform & Abortion
December 22,
2009
As our country gets closer and closer to passing historic health care reform, women's reproductive rights continue to be used as a bartering chip. And as the debate drags on, the methods that our representatives use to restrict our access to abortion gets more insidious:
November 7th - House passes the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which oversteps the Hyde Amendment by dictating that women cannot use federal money to choose a health care plan that covers abortion. This ruling has the effect of eliminating any abortion coverage, even in privately purchased plans. December 8th - Senate votes down the Nelson Amendment, a nearly identical version of Stupak-Pitts. December 19th - The "Nelson provision," a so-called compromise in which women may purchase a rider to cover the cost of abortion coverage, is added. This rider would need to be purchased separately from the insurance itself, and even have to be paid by a separate check! Not only does that confuse customers and place yet another barrier between women and the health care they need, but it makes more work for the insurance company (thus, again, discouraging any abortion coverage). Read more here.
Make your voice heard on this issue!
Don't hesitate - the bill is nearing its last stage as the final version is hammered out. Contact your representatives and let them know how important women's reproductive rights are to you; tell them that the Stupak-Pitts Amendment and Nelson Provision have no place in the final health care bill.
December 16, 2009
Today, Representative Debbie Wasserman Shultz's resolution stating that insurers should not deny coverage for women who seek routine mammograms passed the House of Representatives by 426-0. H. Res. 971 had 141 original co-sponsors. Created in response to recent breast cancer screening guidelines issued by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the resolution states that the guidelines should not be used by insurers to deny coverage for women who seek routine mammograms.
Rep. Wasserman Shultz stressed the importance of a demonstrated commitment to preventive services in the health care system, and added that it is imperative that American women not be excluded from such a standard.
NWPC is proud of Rep. Wasserman Shultz's leadership efforts on behalf of this serious disease that affects women.
Stupak-like "Nelson Amendment" Voted Down in Senate
December 9, 2009
Yesterday was a huge victory in NWPC's fight for continued access to our reproductive rights. Thank you to everyone who wrote, called, or lobbied their representatives to let them know about the importance of this issue.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Senate voted against the health care reform's Nelson Amendment (the Senate version of Stupak-Pitts) by a vote of 54-45. If passed, it would have banned the use of federal taxpayer money for abortions. Such an amendment would overstep current law (the Hyde Amendment, which disallows federal funding for abortions). It would prevent women buying health insurance with the aid of government subsidies from choosing a plan that included abortion coverage.
Additional news & information:
Click
here.