New Congress, new challenges. (Hill Bulletin).

This 108th Congress confronts a host of issues including the sluggish economy, health care, reauthorization of the 1996 welfare reform and reproductive choice. Quick passage of domestic spending bills (including funding for election administration reform) for the fiscal year that began October 1, 2002 is vital.

ELECTION ADMINISTRATION REFORM

The Help American Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) was signed into law with an authorization of $3.86 billion in federal funding over the next three fiscal years. The money is authorized for grants to help states meet the new requirements and creation of a federal agency to oversee the process. But the money still needs to be appropriated, and expeditiously, too, if states are going to be able to accomplish their work in time for the 2004 and 2006 elections.

The lion's share of the authorized funding for fiscal year 2003, $2.16 billion, still waits to be appropriated. Implementation of new procedures and purchase of new equipment to meet the requirements mandated by HAVA cannot move forward until this funding is available. State and local jurisdictions already face grave fiscal problems. Strong and swift financial support at the federal level is thus vitally important

As we go to press, the League, in coalition with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and a host of other organizations, and groups representing state and local election officials, state and local governments and their representatives (the National Governors Association, the National Association of Secretaries of State, National Association of State Election Directors, National League of Cities, among others) are all urging President Bush and the 108th Congress to fully fund the implementation of HAVA by appropriating the necessary funds for fiscal years 2003 and 2004 in their first appropriations action.

What You Can Do:

Call, write or e-mail your Senators and Representatives and urge them to appropriate the funds for implementation of the Help America Vote Act immediately so that states can accomplish their work.

REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE

In the 108th Congress, issues relating to reproductive choice are expected to gain even more prominence than last year. As we go to press, opponents of choice are reported to be preparing for a major push to achieve new restrictions during this first session, and supporters of reproductive rights are preparing for a tough fight.

Early in this session, Congress is expected to take up legislation banning certain types of late-term abortions. Other reproductive choice issues can also be expected to come up again, including a bill that makes it a crime to evade parental notification laws by taking a minor across state lines for an abortion.

The League has a strong, longstanding commitment to the concept that public policy in a pluralistic society must affirm the right to privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices. The League will continue to monitor closely any activity on reproductive rights in this Congress and will be poised to take immediate appropriate action with respect to any legislation intended to reverse that public policy.

What You Can Do:

Call, write or e-mail your Senators and Representatives and urge them to oppose legislation that would limit the right to reproductive choice.

CEDAW 

The time is right for U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

As the most comprehensive international treaty promoting the advancement of women worldwide, CEDAW establishes a legal framework to which all governments must adhere in ensuring women equality in all aspects of life--politics, law, employment, education, health care, commerce and domestic relations. CEDAW sets forth criteria for determining discrimination against women and provides a forum for addressing and resolving women's rights issues.

CEDAW is relevant not just to the lives of women in other countries with poor human rights records. The Convention assures American women that our government believes in and will reinforce, their equality. Most U.S. laws extend rights to all, but do not affect the specific ways in which women's rights may be compromised. CEDAW will codify political, economic and social equality for all women, here and abroad.

The United Nations adopted CEDAW in 1979, and the Convention entered into force in 1981. Currently it has 169 state parties. The U.S. was actively involved in the drafting of CEDAW, and was a signatory to a document calling for ratification in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Eight years have passed and U.S. ratification is long overdue. It is time to complete the process.

What You Can Do:

Contact your Senators and urge them to support ratification of CEDAW.

VOTER LINKS

To reach your Senators and Representatives, go to www.lwv.org.

* Click on "Get Involved" on the right hand side of the home page.

* Click on "TAKE ACTION--Lobby Congress today!" on the right hand side of the page under "Interactive Center."

* Enter your zip code under "ELECTED OFFICIALS," and click on "GO."