Looking Forward: WRJ in the New Year
Carolyn Kunin is Director of Programming and Advocacy for Women of Reform Judaism.
As the deepening crisis looms over our economy, Women of Reform Judaism considers an emergency stimulus package, to respond to the urgent needs of impoverished Americans while boosting the economy, a first priority for the new administration and the 111th Congress. As reported by the Coalition on Human Needs, this should include increased funding for nutrition and home energy assistance, child care and Head Start, and state-run health care programs, such as Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Creation of new jobs directed towards rebuilding and greening the infrastructure and helping families to stay in their homes should be an integral part of the emergency stimulus package.
Almost exponentially rising health care costs with over 45 million uninsured Americans makes the need for health care reform to cover all Americans an urgent priority, which we urge the 111th Congress and the new administration to begin addressing immediately. WRJ also considers increased funding for comprehensive sexuality education an additional priority, which may be relatively cost neutral because of the need to defund abstinence-only programs, which do not work.
WRJ considers rapid passage and signing of the following bills an important priority:
Happily, most of the legislative priorities discussed above are among the policies discussed on the President-elect Barack Obama transition Web site, Change.gov. WRJ looks forward to speaking up for our priorities with the new administration and Congress.
- Healthy Families Act (H.R.1902, S.932, and S.1085) provides workers with paid sick leave; Fair Pay Restoration Act (S. 1843) which, like its House-passed companion bill, eliminates the statute of limitations on seeking redress for pay discrimination;
- Freedom of Choice Act (S. 2020) would write Roe v. Wade into law, guaranteeing women the right to choose;
- International Violence Against Women Act, or IVAWA, (S.2279, HR.5927) deals with preventing abuse, which tragic in itself also hinders girls and women from regularly attending school or working outside of the home; and
- Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive Act (HR-2965) would alleviate poverty by increasing economic opportunities for women and families around the world.
Happily, most of the legislative priorities discussed above are among the policies discussed on the President-elect Barack Obama transition Web site, Change.gov. WRJ looks forward to speaking up for our priorities with the new administration and Congress.