THE WOMEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACT:

Long Island Women’s Agenda (LIWA) has been an organizational endorser of the Women’s Health and Wellness Act for the past several years. In 2001 the NYS Assembly passed the Women’s Health and Wellness bill (A.2006) for the 4^th year in a row with a vote of 133 - 8.  This year the Senate passed a different version of the bill (S.3) that dilutes access and availability of preventive screening measures so crucial to the health and wellness of women. While the goals of the Senate and Assembly bills are aligned to help women obtain early detection screenings and assist them in obtaining contraceptive coverage, the measures differ dramatically on TWO points: the Senate bill contains religious exemptions on contraceptive coverage. This exemption or “conscience clause” allows insurers and employers with religious objections to birth control to opt out of paying for contraceptives. The coverage can be denied even if the contraceptive prescription is required for a medical condition such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts. LIWA will continue to endorse the Assembly bill (A.2006).

On a national level, the stage is being set for a fight among policymakers over whether health plans that provide prescription drug coverage should be required to offer contraceptive drug coverage. In its fiscal 2002 budget blueprint, the Bush administration proposed to eliminate a Clinton administration requirement that health insurers who provide coverage to federal employees offer contraceptive coverage.  However, a group of Senators is seeking to expand the requirement to private-sector health plans. Legislation (S.104) offered by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) would amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to add language requiring group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide benefits for prescription drugs and devices also to provide benefits for prescription contraceptive drugs or devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration or their FDA-approved generic equivalents. Snowe said ensuring that women have access to contraceptive drugs and devices is “a matter of basic fairness.” The bill has 42 co-sponsors, including Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschie (D-S.D.) and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE COALITION

LIWA is a founding member of this Coalition which is working towards sponsoring legislation in New York to update the paid family and medical leave policies.  While similar legislation is pending in many states, our politicians are presently reviewing recent studies in this area (see www.parentsunite.org for a recent study by the National Parenting Association), as well as requesting an actuarial study on the costing of the bill.  Public hearings have been held throughout the state and will continue to be conducted. The National Partnership for Women and Families has released two publications, “Why Americans Need Family Leave Benefits” and “How They Can Get Them and Family Leave Benefits: A Menu of Policy Models for State and Local Policy Leaders.”  Copies can be obtained from www.nationalpartnership.org. LIWA will continue to monitor these studies and evaluate any proposed legislation for the realistic impact and benefit on families and businesses alike.

MELANIE STOKES POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION RESEARCH AND CARE ACT

This summer, Sonia Murdock, President of Postpartum Support International (“PSI”), and founder of the Postpartum Resource Center of NY, spoke at a press conference in Chicago announcing the proposal of a bill in Congress, Bill #2380, entitled the Melanie Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act, which has the goal of providing research on and services for individuals with postpartum depression and pyschosis.  The bill was introduced into Congress on June 28^th, 2001, by Bobby Rush of the First District in Chicago, Illinois.  PSI has stated in a recent position paper issued in support of this legislation that “80% of women around the world will experience changes in their mental health after giving birth, ranging from mild to severe with potentially serious repercussions for the psychological, social and physical health of mothers, children and families.  Isolation during pregnancy and the postpartum period intensifies the many challenges facing women as they make the transition to motherhood and puts them at greater risk for postpartum mood disorders.”  A copy of the full position paper can be obtained by contacting Sonia Murdock at postpartum@aol.com.

THE ACT TO LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND

The Act to Leave No Child Behind (S. 940 and H.R. 1990) is a comprehensive set of legislation that was introduced on May 23, 2001 by Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Representative George Miller of California.  The Act seeks to incorporate policies and programs proven to improve the lives of children and draws from legislation introduced separately by other legislators.  Highlights of the bill include, (i) A Healthy Start, which seeks to provide health coverage to the approximate 11 million children in America who are uninsured; (ii) A Head Start, which seeks to ensure full funding for child care and Head Start for three and four years olds, such that all children can benefit from these types of programs: (iii) A Fair Start, which seeks to ensure that working parents receive support to remain employed, and rise above poverty level (this would include tax relief to low income families who are presently omitted from many tax programs); and (iv) A Safe Start, which seeks to ensure that more children are raised in safe and nurturing environments and would extend support to families before there is a breakdown in the family structure.  (This would include drug, violence and gun prevention programs.). More information on this legislation can be obtained at www.cdfactioncouncil.org, or by calling Gigi Hinton, Press Secretary of the Children’s Defense Fund, at 202-662-3609.

LAURA BUSH’S CAMPAIGN TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION FOR YOUNG FAMILIES

The focal point of our First Lady’s tenure has become education for young families.  While no concrete legislation is presently pending, a Report from the Foundation for Child Development on the Role of States and Federal Government in Promoting Pre- kindergarten and Kindergarten, can be obtained from the following website, www.ffcd.org/mitchell.pdf.  This report provides results of some of the recent studies in this area.  Other useful publications include a publication by the National Center for Children in Poverty, entitled “Using Mental Health Strategies to Move the Early Childhood Agenda and Promote School Readiness.”

Editors Note:  The Long Island Women’s Agenda (LIWA) is a broad-based coalition of Long Island Women’s organizations and individual members, all dedicated to addressing issues that affect women adversely.  Dedicated to becoming the “Voice of Long Island Women,” LIWA educates and advocates through their action committees that include: Work and Family, Health, Environmental, Legislative, among others.  For more information about LIWA www.liwa.org. Or call 516 937-6113.