1* Minimum Wage Legislation

1* Minimum Wage Legislation

2* Healthy Heart Makeover Grassroots Program

3* 2006 Advocacy Awards

5* AFL-CIO Ask a WorkingWoman Survey

6* Save the Date: 2007 Policy and Action Conference

HEADLINES: Weekly news articles on issues impacting workingwomen.

1*Last week, the House approved a bill (H.R. 5970) that would increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 over three years, but the bill also included an estate tax repeal. The legislation would increase -- to $5 million for individuals and $10 million for couples by 2015 -- the amount of inheritance exempt from the estate tax, and would index the amount to inflation after 2015. The bill also would extend several tax credits through 2007, including: an above-the-line $4,000 deduction for tuition and related expenses, which would replace the Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits; an above-the-line $250 deduction for teachers for classroom supplies; the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) for employers that hire workers facing barriers to employment; the Welfare-to-Work (WTW) Tax Credit for employers hiring individuals who have received public assistance (after 2006, the WOTC and WTW credits would be combined); and the Archer Medical Savings Accounts, which allow individuals to make tax-deductible contributions for health care expenses. The Senate is expected to vote on the same legislation this week.

2*During national conference, attendees participated in a breakfast sponsored by the American Heart Association and their Go Red for Women initiative entitled the “Healthy Heart Makeover”. The breakfast was not only to get attendees thinking about heart disease, but to launch a grassroots initiative developed by Go Red for Women and BPW. This new grassroots program entitled the “Healthy Heart Makeover” was designed so that BPW members can learn how to have, and encourage, a healthy heart for all women through their personal, professional and political lives.

BPW is encouraging all members to dedicate one Local Organization meeting to a “Healthy Heart Makeover” program this year. By doing this you can help educate other BPW members and women in your community about the different ways you can take care of your heart. The program gives you ideas on how to present and inform your Local Organization about heart disease and the resources available through Go Red For Women.

All of the work has been done for you. Breakfast attendees were each given a one page sheet which contains the program details and a CD that contains a PowerPoint presentation that can be shown at your meeting about the how to have a “Healthy Heart Makeover”. If you would like a copy of this grassroots program and free CD please contact Elisabeth Gehl at egehl@bpwusa.org. BPW encourages you to bring this CD back to your Local Organization and designate a member to present it at one of your meetings.

BPW has a unique opportunity to play a large role in increasing women’s awareness of heart disease. We hope that your Local Organization will take advantage of the “Healthy Heart Makeover” program, and that all of you will get involved with the movement to address heart disease.

Please go to BPW/USA’s website for more information about this new grassroots program.

3*Congratulations to the 2005-2006 Legislative Award Winners! They include:

Mariwyn Heath ERA Award: Jennifer McLeod, National Coordinator, ERA Campaign Network

Excellence in Advocacy Award: First Place, BPW/River City, Kentucky

Giraffe Award: First Place, BPW/Louisiana; Second Place, BPW/Texas

Megaphone Award:
Division One Winner (for State Federation Membership Population under 500): BPW/Utah
Division Two Winner (for State Federation Membership Population 501-749): BPW/Missouri
Division Three Winner (for State Federation Membership Population Over 750): BPW/Ohio

4*For the 2006 election, BPW/PAC has endorsed 23 candidates and incumbents running for the Senate and House. These candidates consist of a strong bi-partisan group of women and men who are running viable campaigns, and strongly support BPW/USA’s National Legislative Platform. BPW/PAC encourages BPW members to learn about these candidates and their policy stance. BPW/PAC will be endorsing more candidates before the election in November.

To view a complete listing of BPW/PAC endorsed candidates click here.

At this year’s National Conference BPW/PAC raised an incredible $8,600! That’s the most BPW/PAC has raised at a National Conference in the past five years. Thank you to all members for your continued financial support of BPW/PAC. BPW/PAC would not exist without your help. BPW/PAC donors make it possible for BPW to help shape the face of Capitol Hill, which is vital to the success of our legislative priorities.

5*The annual AFL-CIO “Ask A Working Women Survey” is now on the AFL-CIO website. This survey is a chance for workingwomen to be heard. Responses will be given to every U.S. representative and senator as well as state and local officials around the country on Labor Day. To access the survey go to: http://www.aflcio.org/issues/jobseconomy/women/wwsurvey2006.cfm

6*Save the Date: The 2007 Policy and Action Conference will take place Thursday, February 8th through Saturday, February 10th in Washington, DC.

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BPW/USA’s Legislative Hotline is a service for BPW members and is updated each week. If you have any questions or would like additional information about BPW/USA’s policy initiatives please call BPW/USA's Director of Public Policy, Elisabeth Gehl, at 202-777-8962 or email at egehl@bpwusa.org.