Georgia WAND honored eleven WiLL members for their solidarity in standing up for women’s rights at its Mother’s Day for Peace celebration.

Georgia WiLL members take the stage at Georgia WAND's Mother's Day for Peace event. Photo Courtesy of Georgia WAND, Copyright Dee Nalam.

WiLL member state Senator Lena Taylor (WI) spoke at Arkansas WAND’s Mother’s Day luncheon.

We also celebrated the founding of WAND and 20 years of WiLL at our annual Mother’s Day event in Boston!

WAND co-founder Sayre Sheldon and WiLL co-founder Naila Bolus at WAND's Mother's Day event.

Former Utah state representative Trisha Beck published an op-ed about her deeply personal reasons for supporting ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

WiLL Vice President, state Senator Sandy Pappas (MN) wrote about the importance of including women in the peace-building process in Afghanistan.

WiLL State Director Representative Phyllis Kahn (MN) argued that Pentagon spending cannot be allowed to continue to increase while the programs women and children count on are slashed.

If you’re interested in raising awareness about WiLL’s issues in the media,
please contact Maureen Campbell at 202-544-5055 ext. 2603 or mcampbell@wand.org

WiLL President, Georgia Senator Nan Orrock, presents the WiLL budget letter to Congressman John Lewis (GA-5)

At a gathering of supporters, Congressman John Lewis accepted a letter urging Congress to make reductions in wasteful military spending that was signed by more than half of the women state legislators in the Georgia General Assembly. With 32 signatures, the letter was presented by WiLL President Senator Nan Grogan Orrock, Representatives Stephanie Stuckey Benfield and Mary Margaret Oliver, and the Honorable Bettieanne Hart, former legislator and WAND board member.

In a rousing speech, Congressman Lewis declared his intention to advocate for a budget that meets the needs of his constituents, not one that prioritizes “guns, weapons, and wars.” Congressman Lewis vowed to continue working to restore a healthy economy and fund programs that will truly benefit his constituents.

The letter points out that military spending will comprise about 56 percent of the discretionary budget in the coming year, and that deeper cuts to other areas of the discretionary budget will do little to alleviate the federal deficit and cause catastrophic cuts to the social safety net. It also calls attention to the Pentagon’s lack of budgetary discipline and inability to conduct an audit.

“Congressman Lewis has been a leader on fiscal responsibility throughout his time in office,” said Senator Orrock. “He understands that a federal budget that invests in the programs and services that people truly need – healthcare, education, and the environment – is a budget that not only creates much-needed jobs, but helps our nation regain economic security.”

Orrock stated, “we share with Congressman Lewis the view that our nation’s budget is a reflection of our national values and makes a moral statement.  Bloated military spending that comes at the expense of education, job training, senior care, early childhood development, health and higher education is unacceptable. We salute the lifelong stand of Congressman Lewis on behalf of those who have been left out and left behind.  And we share his resolve to bring us together, not broaden the divide between the haves and the have-nots. Common sense budget policy achieves that goal.”

Senator Gloria Butler, WiLL State Director, added, “While it is vitally important to have a strong military presence for this country, we have so many other issues that need our attention, such as: funding for education, jobs for people that have been without work for many months, some for years, and in the state of Georgia, funding to fix our transportation gridlock. I strongly hope Congress will reconsider and reduce its military spending.”

Congressman John Lewis and WiLL President's Associate Adzi Vokhiwa

]]> http://www.willwand.org/2012/05/04/congressman-john-lewis-accepts-will-budget-letter-signed-by-more-than-half-of-women-state-legislators-in-georgia/feed/ 0 http://www.willwand.org/2012/04/10/congresswoman-mccollum-receives-letter-calling-out-wasteful-pentagon-spending-from-mn-women-state-legislators/ http://www.willwand.org/2012/04/10/congresswoman-mccollum-receives-letter-calling-out-wasteful-pentagon-spending-from-mn-women-state-legislators/#comments Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:36:44 +0000 Rachel http://www.willwand.org/?p=1412 More than half of the women state legislators in Minnesota request a reduction in military spending in a letter presented to Congresswoman McCollum.

Yesterday at her district office, Congresswoman McCollum received a letter from more than half of the women state legislators of Minnesota that calls for a reduction in military spending. The letter was presented by Minnesota state Senators Sandy Pappas and Mary Jo McGuire and state Representative Phyllis Kahn.

“It is not acceptable for House Republicans to pass a “millionaires manifesto” that showers millionaires and billionaires with tax breaks and other benefits, and protect billions in oil company subsidies and wasteful Pentagon spending, while abandoning the middle class and local communities,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “Washington should be a partner for opportunity an economic growth for our entire country by investing in education, basic research, modern infrastructure and clean energy.”

The letter points out that military spending will comprise about 56 percent of the discretionary budget in the coming year, and that deeper cuts to other areas of the discretionary budget will do little to alleviate the federal deficit and cause catastrophic cuts to the social safety net. It also calls attention to the Pentagon’s lack of budgetary discipline and inability to conduct an audit. The letter was an initiative of the Women Legislator’s Lobby (WiLL), a national network of women state legislators who work together to influence federal policy and budget priorities, for which State Senator Sandy Pappas serves as vice president.

“Congresswoman McCollum has been a great ally in shining a light on wasteful, unnecessary Pentagon spending, and we want her to keep up that fight this year,” said Pappas. “We should spend what we need to keep our nation safe and secure, and we must support our troops. But we cannot afford to keep wasting money on things like an outdated excessive nuclear arsenal and weapons systems the Pentagon does not want or need. Scarce dollars can be better spent investing in programs that keep us economically secure; things like education, infrastructure, and health care.”

WiLL is a program of Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND), a national non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women to act politically to reduce violence and militarism, and redirect excessive military resources toward unmet human and environmental needs. In delivering this letter, WAND hopes to encourage Congresswoman McCollum’s work to reduce extreme military spending through her efforts on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, which has jurisdiction over the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other relevant agencies.

Minnesota Senator Sandy Pappas, Vice President of WiLL

March marks Women’s History Month, a celebration of women’s achievements and a reminder of the work that still must be done to ensure basic security and rights for women. Nowhere is this contrast more significant than in Afghanistan, where a successful transition to a sustainable peace hinges on the inclusion and equality of women.

Afghan women have made gains these past 10 years. There are now 3.2 million Afghan girls enrolled in school since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001. Afghan women’s organizations lobbied diligently for a provision of gender equality in the Constitution and have won the right to vote in elections. Afghanistan has adopted a 25 percent parliamentary quota in the lower house of parliament, one of the highest in the world and, unlike the United States, Afghanistan has signed the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

But while providing opportunities for women to vote, work and attend schools in Afghanistan is paramount to equality, women can’t pursue these opportunities if they aren’t safe. Combat activities like night raids and drone strikes are not furthering Afghan women’s security. Instead, these activities are fueling military conflict that hinders the development of political solutions.

According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted in March 2011, 63 percent of Americans are opposed to continuing the war in Afghanistan. Washington also has joined the chorus calling for our troops to come home. On Feb. 1, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced that the United States will end its combat missions in Afghanistan by “mid- to the latter part of 2013.” In late February, 87 members of Congress sent a letter to President Obama praising this accelerated timetable. There is no question that we are leaving Afghanistan, but what will we leave behind?

As U.S. troops leave Afghanistan and we begin to think beyond war, our engagement with the country must not end. In a recent National Public Radio (NPR) interview, Fawzia Koofi -- who has been a deputy speaker of Afghanistan’s parliament and is now being talked about as a potential first woman president in Afghanistan -- said of the United States, “I know in your capitals, in your country and among your public, issues like women’s rights, human rights are not the main reason you are in Afghanistan, but this is one of the achievements you have invested blood and treasure for.” We should honor this sacrifice and we should invest wisely in economic and social programs that enhance security through demilitarization and promote women’s rights through inclusive peace processes. These investments will be far less costly than the decade of war that came before.

In December 2011, President Barack Obama released the first-ever U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, and signed an Executive Order directing the plan to be implemented. Together, the Executive Order and National Action Plan (NAP) chart a roadmap for how the United States will accelerate and institutionalize efforts across the government to advance women’s participation in preventing conflict and keeping peace. These documents represent a fundamental change in how the United States will approach its diplomatic, military and development-based support to women in areas of conflict like Afghanistan. It is a step in the right direction, but there is far more work to be done.

The meaningful representation of women in all peace negotiations and post-conflict recovery planning is critical. As a state legislator, I know how important it is for women to be at the table to build coalitions, speak up for unheard voices and decide how resources should be allocated. This is true of peace-building around the world, too. At the 10th anniversary of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in October of 2010, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “It’s not as though we are doing a favor for ourselves and them by including women in the work of peace. This is a necessary global security imperative. Including women in the work of peace advances our national security interests, promotes political stability, economic growth and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. … No peace that sacrifices women’s rights is a peace we can afford to support.”

Women’s History Month gives us reason for cautious celebration. Can we preserve the gains that Afghan women have made? We must support a peace-building transition strategy that emphasizes the roles and rights of women.

Pappas is a State Senator from Minnesota and co-founder of the Global Women’s Convening at the University of St. Catherine. She serves as the Vice President of the Women Legislator’s Lobby - a program of Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND).

Originally published in The Emporia Gazette

For more information about our work on the war in Afghanistan, including policy briefings and background resources, please visit this page.

As state legislators, we want what is best for our constituents, our communities and our states. It just makes good sense to invest federal dollars in sectors that will create productive jobs and help our economy grow for years to come. Please join us and your colleagues from across the country in signing this letter to Congress urging a federal budget that reflects these values. [...]

Click here to find out more and sign on to the WiLL budget letter!

State Rep. Mary Lou Marzian

Mary Lou Marzian of Louisville has been a faithful member of the Kentucky House of Representatives since 1994, representing district 34. She serves on the Standing Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs, Health & Welfare Committee, Judiciary, Labor & Industry Committee, and as Vice Chair of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Human Resources in the House. Representative Marzian is a registered nurse and member of the Kentucky Nurses Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Older Women’s League.

Rep. Marzian has long been a friend and advocate of WiLL, and worked dedicatedly with WiLL to ensure the ratification of the New START treaty. Rep. Marzian also co-sponsored a reception for WiLL during the 2010 NCSL Legislative Summit, and even baked brownies for the event! WiLL was thrilled to recognize Representative Marzian as a Pacesetter during the 2011 WiLL/WAND National Women’s Leadership Conference, “Women at the Table of Power.” Rep. Marzian is the perfect example of going above and beyond the call of duty and standing up for women and working families. We are thrilled to have her in our network!

Representative Seelig has been involved in politics and public service for more than decade at a policy-making and leadership level. She was a policy and research analyst for the Salt Lake City Council between 1995 and 2000, handling such sensitive and critical issues relating to crime control, budget compliance within the administrative office, community relations, and public meetings involving the City Council. She served as a policy and research analyst for Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson between 2000 and 2001, with primary responsibility for the Americans with Disabilities Act and for a broad range of policy issues that required thoughtful evaluation and review before being presented to the Mayor for action. She additionally served as the communication and legislative policy analyst for the Utah League of Cities and Towns, which acts as an advocate for issues vital to residential communities across the state.

Representative Seelig was elected in November of 2006 to serve in the Utah House of Representatives. She serves on the Executive Appropriations, Political Subdivisions, and Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice committees, as well as on the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee. In 2010 Representative Seelig was elected Minority Whip by the House Democratic Caucus.

She is currently finishing a Ph.D. in political science at the University of Utah. She has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Utah and a B.A. in English from the University of Louisville.

Friday, February 3, 2012

2:30PM EST

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis invites you to attend:

Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND) and Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL) Call

Please join U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, Department of Labor Chief Economist Dr. Adriana Kugler, and Women Legislators’ Lobby President State Senator Nan Orrock for a timely briefing for members of the Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL) and Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND). Highlights will include Department of Labor initiatives for women and working families, as well as the importance of unemployment insurance benefits for women across the nation.

As a state legislator, don’t miss this great opportunity to learn about important federal policy initiatives that are enormously helpful to your constituents. Please register here for this exciting teleconference today!

Call-In Number: 1-800-779-9045

Passcode (you give to operator): UI Call

To secure your spot on the call and ensure that we have enough lines for everyone who wishes to participate, please RSVP at: http://s.dol.gov/M0

This call is off the record and NOT for press purposes. We hope you are able to join.

Please contact A’shanti Gholar, Special Assistant to the Secretary in the Office of Public Engagement, at Gholar.Ashanti.F@dol.gov with any questions or concerns.

State legislators from New Hampshire present U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (5th from left) with the Torchbearer Award at the 2011 WiLL/WAND Conference

2011 Conference attendees with AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker (4th from left)

WiLL works to assure that more federal dollars are re-directed to our nation’s human and environmental needs and domestic preparedness. WiLL provides state legislators with valuable resources and services:

• WiLL shares timely materials with you to show how state programs are affected by federal policy and budget decisions. WiLL provides simple, effective ways for you to influence federal decisions that will impact your constituents.

• WiLL offers our highly-rated national conference, policy briefings, training on messaging and media strategies, and other professional development programs designed to help you become more effective.
• WiLL assists you in developing working relationships with your D.C. colleagues and gives you a voice in Washington.
• Our PAC provides assistance when you run for U.S. Congress!

Join WiLL today!

As state legislators, we have gained much from WiLL’s resources and expertise for two decades.  Fellow women legislators from across America endorse and support WiLL as well:

"It is always affirming to be with other women who have fought and won and lost similar battles in male-dominated legislatures.  I always learn something that I can use.”

- Delegate Barbara Fleischauer (WV)

“I am involved with WiLL because it is important that women state lawmakers have an impact on federal policy. Through WiLL/WAND, women state legislators have an opportunity to become even stronger by meeting, sharing ideas, and working to influence federal policy that impacts our states and constituencies.”

- State Representative Deborah Berry (IA)

“The Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL) provides an opportunity to learn about federal legislation, voice opinions on important issues and to network with women who care about the moving our country forward in a positive manner. In addition WiLL provides wonderful training opportunities for improving legislative skills. As a member of WiLL, one does have a seat at the table.”

- State Representative Kathy Hawken (ND)

2011 WiLL/WAND Conference Attendees

WiLL is a program of WAND (Women’s Action for New Directions), a progressive national women’s organization dedicated to promoting sound security policy. WAND’s mission is to empower women to act politically to reduce militarism and to redirect excessive military resources toward unmet human and environmental needs.

When women state legislators join WiLL, we strengthen our ability to make our voices heard. We become more informed and more effective. You can join WiLL with a $60 annual membership, $100 for two years, or apply for a membership scholarship.

More than one-third of all seated U.S. women legislators are members of WiLL. In the 112^th United States Congress, 43 of the women members came through our ranks and had our support for higher office.  We invite you to join WiLL today!  Best wishes for a great 2012 session and your successful re-election!