NFWL Current Projects
Ensuring Access to Alternative, Integrative and Complementary Healthcare
NFWL's National Policy Committee on Healthcare & Empowerment has been pleased to have key members participating in a Task Force created by the White House to participate in the dialogue and add a unique perspective to the healthcare debate and identify cost-saving solutions that will mean something to their constituents. Through strategic partnerships with organizations such as the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and the Cancer Treatment Centers of America the Committee has been working to bring attention to the issues of wellness and integrative healthcare.
Teen Dating Violence Prevention
NFWL's National Policy Committees on Crime, Justice, Terrorism, & Substance Abuse and Education & Training passed a Resolution on teen dating abuse specifically encouraging women legislators in every state to introduce and adopt legislation that requires each public school district to implement a policy against teen dating violence and abuse, and incorporate information on the issue into health education curricula in middle and/or high schools. In partnership with Liz Claiborne Inc.'s "Love Is Not Abuse" campaign and "MADE" Coalition of parent advocates, NFWL has organized legislative hearings and press conferences in several states throughout the legislative session and is currently working to schedule a Congressional Hearing.
Community Initiative on Education
NFWL's National Policy Committee on Education & Training has partnered with Office Depot Foundation to provide backpacks filled with school supplies to disadvantaged and at-risk elementary school students. NFWL member legislators have been invited to hand out hundreds of these backpacks in their states. NFWL has secured more than 18,000 backpacks to distribute during the month of August. The overall goal of this project is to provide backpacks and school supplies to children who need them the most as they start the new school year, all while generating positive media attention and raising awareness about the importance of ensuring that school children are properly equipped with the supplies they need to be successful.
Development of a Technology Caucus
NFWL's National Policy Committee on Business & Economic Development Committee has called for the creation of a Technology Caucus at the upcoming 2009 NFWL Annual Conference. The Caucus will focus on access to broadband technology and will address the ways in which technological advancements can improve and integrate into solutions on health information technology, the creation of green jobs, social networking and constituent services, financial literacy and e-learning.
International Programs
NFWL's International Affairs Policy Committee organizes official trips to send state legislators and Members of Congress oversees for cultural, political and economic exchanges focused on trade, economic development and women's political participation. The purpose of the NFWL International Committee is to facilitate global understanding between countries by providing political leadership training for women and creating business and trade opportunities.
Census 2010
NFWL is making strides to develop a partnership with the Census Bureau to assist with the Census 2010 communications campaign. Elected women are uniquely positioned to reach out to their communities and are better able to convey the message that it is imperative for everyone across the country to submit their completed Census forms. NFWL seeks to lend credibility, trust and authority to the nationwide communications strategy in an effort to bolster the success of the Census in 2010.
Ensuring access to a balanced portfolio of energy, natural resource & agriculture choices
NFWL's Energy, Natural Resource & Agriculture Policy Committee has passed several resolutions on energy as well as on biotechnology. The energy resolutions pointed out the importance of having an established national energy policy, the importance of having a balanced portfolio of energy choices which should include nuclear in the non-renewable category as well as renewable energy choices. The committee has heard from the Idaho National Lab, the National Renewable Energy Lab, Monsanto, the Western Governors' Association, The Western Business Roundtable, the U.S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Energy Institute, ADAGE Company, American Petroleum Institute, the Federal Lab Consortium, the National Hydropower Assoc., Pacificorp Energy, Washington Group International and many othersregarding the importance of states helping to develop sound laws and regulations for an energy policy to be effective. The committee is partnering with states and Native American Reservations to determine the priority issues of energy, natural resources and agriculture, that they are facing.
Staff Contact:
Jennifer Rosen
Director, Policy & Communications
Email: Jennifer_Rosen@womenlegislators.org