Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: 09/17/2018 Weekly Review
Tuesday, September 25th, 2018
Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: In the weekly reviews from the Women’s Public Policy Network, we look back on last week’s highlights from the WPPN, share updates on bills affecting women that are moving at the Statehouse, showcase weekly news clips, and provide calls to action on bills pending in the Legislature. Sign up for our emails to receive these updates in your inbox every week!
The deadline to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is approaching on September 30. It is imperative that Congress continue to extend and improve upon these protections and programs by passing the 2018 reauthorization of the VAWA before the impending deadline.
We sent a letter to members of the Ohio Congressional Delegation urging them to sign on as a co-sponsor of the legislation to ensure bipartisan support to move the bill along in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the letter, we stress the important role the VAWA plays for survivors, victims, and advocates:
“The Violence Against Women Act has been fundamental in preventing and responding to gender-based violence in key ways: addressing barriers to accessing safety and resources that survivors face, such as child care, transportation, and affordable housing; focusing resources and outreach to marginalized communities, which often face higher rates of gender-based violence; and improving interactions and responses with the criminal justice and court system for survivors.”
Congress must reaffirm their commitment to survivors and victims by passing the reauthorization of the VAWA before the deadline. Read the full letter to members of Congress here.
A new report from The National Partnership for Women & Families provides a state-by-state analysis of laws that help working family caregivers, recognizing the challenges faced by millions of working people without access to family-friendly workplace policies who are forced to choose between caring for a loved one or earning a paycheck.
According to the report, Raising Expectations, Ohio earned a C- when it comes to meaningful action to advance family friendly policies. Ohio’s working families deserve better; lawmakers must begin to prioritize policies that support caregivers, such as paid family and medical leave.
The American Food System Is Failing Women
DAME Magazine, September 5, 2018
DAME Magazine, September 5, 2018
Christine Blasey Ford Opens Negotiations on Testimony Next Week
The New York Times, September 20, 2018
Franklin County infant-mortality rate drops, but black babies nearly 3 times more likely to die
The Columbus Dispatch, September 21, 2018
Column: Look out Ohio: Lame ducks might be extra busyThe Columbus Dispatch, September 23, 2018
To the editor: Ford claims deserve investigation
The Toledo Blade, September 23, 2018
Kettering abortion provider appeals ruling that would force closure
Dayton Daily News, September 23, 2018
Opinion: Sen. Grassley should give Kavanaugh’s accuser the investigation he says #metoo victims deserve
PBS, September 22, 2018
Senate Democrats Investigate a New Allegation of Sexual Misconduct, From Brett Kavanaugh’s College Years
The New Yorker, September 23, 2018
The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio – Spark Report Coffee & Conversation: Equal Pay
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
8:00 am- 8:30 am: Coffee & light breakfast
8:30 am – 9:30 am: Presentation & Discussion
The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio offices
2323 W. 5th Avenue, Suite 230
Columbus, Ohio 43204
Cost: $10.00 per ticket, scholarships available
Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence – Annual SART Summit
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Delaware County Board of Development Disabilities
7991 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center, Oh 43035
YWCA Columbus – Activists and Agitators Event
Thursday, October 4, 2018
5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Greater Columbus Convention Center
400 N. High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
The Ohio Sex Education Summit – Presented by the Ohio Center for Sex Education at Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
The Fawcett Center at The Ohio State University
2400 Olentangy River Road
Columbus, Ohio 43210
3RD ANNUAL OHIO URBAN RESOURCES SYSTEM CONFERENCE
Let’s Get Back to Work
Wednesday October 24 – Friday, October 26, 2018
Renaissance Toledo Downtown
444 N. Summit Street
Toledo, OH 43604
NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio has tons of events over the next few months
Planned Parenthood has tons of events over the next few months
We are tracking the progress of any state bills affecting women in the Ohio Legislature for the 132nd General Assembly. The House and Senate were out last week; the House will be out again this upcoming week, but the Senate is in session. Here are updates for this upcoming week:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
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Senate Bill 251 (Schiavoni) – Private Images: Prohibit the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a first hearing on the bill for sponsor testimony. The Committee meets at 9:00 am in the North Hearing Room.
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Senate Bill 235 (Eklund) – Sex Offenders: Creates a procedure for certain tier II sex offenders convicted of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor to petition the court for reclassification or removal from the sex offender registry and permits that these records can be sealed in those cases.The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a second hearing on the bill for all testimony. The bill has been flagged for possible amendments. The Committee meets at 9:00 am in the North Hearing Room.
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Senate Session: The Senate will hold session at 11:00 am in the Senate Chamber. The bills on the schedule will be released during Senate Rules & Reference at 10:00 am that morning.
We will keep tracking any new updates and will be sharing timely legislative updates on women-centric legislation on Twitter using the #OHLeg hashtag. Follow us to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at the Statehouse.
RAISE YOUR VOICE TO SUPPORT THE VAWA
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is one of the nation’s primary tools in addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The bill is up for re-authorization this year, and is set to expire on September 30, 2018.
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee has introduced a VAWA reauthorization bill in the U.S. House (H.R. 6545), but Congress has failed to take action to advance the legislation The VAWA re-authorization bill provides critical protections for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking. But it needs your help to ensure passage before the September 30 deadline.
TAKE ACTION
Call your member of Congress NOW [Find your Representative here]:
If your Representative has not signed on as a co-sponsor of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 6545), urge them to do so immediately.
If your Representative has are already signed on as a co-sponsor to H.R. 6545, thank them for doing so.
Congress must reaffirm their commitment to survivors and victims by passing the reauthorization of the VAWA before the deadline. Read our full letter to members of Congress here.
