Our 2021 legislative Priorities Wrap-Up, click here.
Read moreUpdate from WDC’s Task Force on Racial Equity in Public Safety (REPS).
On August 12, REPS Task Force Chair, Lisa Henderson, and member, Beth Tomasello, met via Zoom with Councilmember-At-Large Will Jawando and his Chief of Staff, Cecily Thorne. Councilmember Jawando reviewed the provisions of County Council Bill 27-20E (which he sponsored) to discuss how the provisions addressed the #8CANTWAIT use-of-force policing reforms which the REPS Task Force has endorsed as first steps in reinventing County policing. Councilmember Jawando also discussed future legislation needed to address transparency, training, and accountability in County policing, including the need for comprehensive data collection on racial disparities in policing. The County only collects information on traffic stops; however, that data clearly show a great disparity in the number of stops directed at Black men and men of color.
At the recommendation of the REPS Task Force, WDC signed on to two letters sponsored by statewide advocacy groups. The first letter
Read moreUpdate On WDC’s Actions to Repeal Our Confederate State Song
WDC’s advocacy in reaching out to our legislators and asking them to act to repeal our Confederate State Song, "Maryland, My Maryland", is having results. Thank you to all of our members who contacted their elected representatives.
On July 14, the Montgomery Democratic Party passed a Resolution that strongly supports the efforts to repeal "Maryland, My Maryland" as our State Song and urges the Maryland General Assembly to repeal this song in the 2021 legislative session.
2020 Legislative Accomplishments
WDC Members Attend Our 2020 Annapolis Day
During the 2020 Maryland State Legislative session, the Senate introduced 1,081 bills and theHouse introduced 1,663 bills for consideration. Of that total, 636 bills were passed by the legislature. Unfortunately, due to the economic fallout from the pandemic, Governor Hogan aggressively vetoed legislation requiring significant levels of new or increased spending. WDC advocated for 19 unique bills, including 18 House bills (most of which were cross-filed with
Senate bills) and one Senate bill that was not cross-filed. Many of these bills were sponsored or co-sponsored by our Montgomery County Senators or Delegates. Ten bills that WDC supported were passed by the state legislature and presented to the Governor. The Governor vetoed 3 of the 10 bills, leaving 7 fully enacted. WDC also supported the bill priorities of its partner, the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW).
WDC Annapolis Day Rocks the Maryland General Assembly
An energetic team led by Advocacy Chair Leslie Milano hosted a lively, activity-packed Annapolis Day for WDC members and state legislators on February 26 at the House Office Building in Annapolis. The day began with a pre-event (optional) visit to the weekly Women’s Caucus meeting, where newly elected House Speaker Adrienne Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson stopped by to greet WDC members, sharing their support for several WDC priority bills and applauding our legislative activism.
WDC President Diana Conway launched the official program, with a welcome to members and guests and a quick outline of the day’s events. Advocacy Committee issue captains then briefed …
Read more2019 WDC Legislative Accomplishments
During the 2019 Maryland State legislative session, WDC submitted testimony on twenty-six bills related to WDC’s priorities. Many of these bills were sponsored or co-sponsored by our Montgomery County Senators or Delegates. Fourteen bills were passed by the State legislature and enacted into law. As of this writing, three bills have been signed by the Governor. One bill was vetoed by the Governor and overridden by the legislature. The Governor must veto a bill passed by the legislature by May 28 or the bill becomes law. WDC also supported the bill priorities of WDC’s partner, the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW). WDC monitored the status of four bills but did not submit testimony. To view the current status of all legislation introduced in the 2019 session, click here for House bills and here for Senate bills.
Read moreAdvocacy Committee Report | February 2019
The 2019 State Legislative session began January 9 and will end April 8. During this time our State legislators will consider several thousand bills. WDC sent letters to Senate President Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch asking them to support legislation that addresses WDC’s priorities. WDC’s Advocacy Committee will identify bills that are directly relevant to women and their families and address each of our six priority issue areas (Affordable Housing, Aging, Children and Youth, Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Health, and Working Families). WDC will submit testimony requesting a favorable vote for these bills. Be sure to sign up for WDC’s Advocacy Alert Team (link) to receive notice of WDC’s testimony and help WDC advocate for passage of these bills.
Read moreAdvocacy Committee Report | December 2018
MONTGOMERY COUNTY STATE DELEGATION PRIORITIES HEARING
On November 14, WDC Board President Fran Rothstein presented testimony on WDC’s 2019 State legislative priorities to our Montgomery County State Delegation at the Delegation’s 2019 priorities hearing. This hearing is an opportunity for our elected State Delegates and Senators to hear from their constituents before the 2019 State legislative session convenes on January 9. Read WDC’s written testimony here. WDC’s Advocacy Committee will identify specific bills that address these priorities and advocate for their passage.
MLAW FALL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
On November 17, WDC Board President Fran Rothstein and members of the Advocacy Committee attended the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women’s (MLAW) Fall Legislative Conference, “Thinking Globally, Acting Locally…What Rights are at Stake at the Federal Level and What Maryland Can do to Protect Them” at Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore. State legislators and advocacy groups presented legislative proposals for consideration by MLAW for inclusion in its 2019 legislative agenda. Fifteen bills were presented, including the “Adoption and Parentage Equity Act” that was presented by WDC President Fran Rothstein. MLAW members will have an opportunity to vote on these legislative proposals. MLAW members will prioritize those legislative proposals, and MLAW will select the top five or six to comprise the organization’s 2019 Legislative Agenda.
Click here to join MLAW.
HELP STILL WANTED – WDC ADVOCACY COMMITTEE!!
Are you interested in getting more involved with our WDC Advocacy efforts? Do you have some time to research and take the lead on specific legislation? Our Committee has a number of vacancies. Our advocacy work is limited by the number of our members. Please Contact Advocacy Committee Chair Ginger Macomber at ginger.macomber@gmail.com if you are interested in helping with any of the following:
Aging Issues Committee Chair
Affordable Housing Issues Committee Co-chair and Committee Members
Criminal Justice and Public Safety Issues Committee Members
Working Families Issues Committee Members
Advocacy Committee Report | October 2018
The WDC Advocacy committee is making plans for the 2019 Legislative session. Help is wanted in these issue areas: Aging, Affordable Housing, Criminal Justice and Public Safety, and Working families. Don’t miss registering for the MLAW Fall conference!
Read moreAdvocacy Committee Report | May 2018
May Advocacy Committee Report -Legislative Session Wrap Up
Read moreAdvocacy Committee Report | March 2018
March 2018 Advocacy Committee report.
Read moreAdvocacy Committee Report | February 2018
WDC Advocacy Committe Report February 2018.
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