Public Policy priorities underscore AAUW’s mission of advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.
We support:
• A strong system of public education that promotes gender fairness, equity, and diversity
• Economic self-sufficiency for all women
• Equality, individual rights, and social justice for all women
Political Action
Although AAUW is nonpartisan, it is political and supports public policy legislation. The Public Policy Committee follows relevant bills while the Oregon legislature is in session, contacting legislators with support or disapproval. Updates on the current legislative action are available and State legislative priorities are available on the State website. Click below for more information.
All Politics Are Local
Our Public Policy Team believes that all politics are local. That’s why we have long been involved in issues affecting our local community. To learn more about the many ways we have made a difference, CLICK HERE.
Public Policy Committee
Chair: Lisa Verner and Regina Ayars
Members: Fran Adams, Sunny Anderson, Regina Ayars, Marge Dwyer, Catherine Greenspan, Lesley Kaufman, Gretchen King, Catherine Lutes, Mary Renaud, Leslie Reeve, Sherri Sobel,
Mary Wooding.
2023 Branch Public Policy Activities
October 2023 – SUCCESS! MORE WOMEN IN CITY GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP.
Sabrina Cotta Deputy City Manager
Dana Smith City Recorder Pro Tem
Molly Taylor Human Resources Director
Mariane Berry Finance Director
Leslie Eldridge Interim Parks Director
Carmel Zahran Assistant City Attorney
Dorinda Cottle Communications Director
Thanks to efforts of AAUW Ashland members for sending a letter to Joe Lessard, Ashland City Manager, asking to consider hiring more women in city government leadership. The city hired a recruiting firm that demonstrated its ability to find qualified women and other diversity-based candidates.
April 2023 – ASHLAND SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES FORUM
January 2023 – NEWLY-ELECTED ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
On January 8, 2023, three city council members — Tonya Graham, Eric Hansen, and Bob Kaplan — participated in a panel discussion. These councilors and their fellow council members spend countless hours preparing for and attending council meetings and study sessions, and listen to staff reports and citizen testimony in order to make the decisions that affect our daily lives.
Click here to view the meeting.
Bills supported by AAUW of OR in 2023 State Legislative Session
Support/Submit testimony
SB 519 – Juvenile expungement
HB2800 – Age discrimination
SB 599 – Requires homeowners to allow child care by tenants
HB 3029 – Incentives for childcare providers
First tier bills/Bills watching
HB 3032 – Homeshare program offers tax credit to homeowners who rent out rooms
HB 2731 – Coffee Creek Detention Center pilot program
HB 3005 – Funding for early childhood infrastructure
HB 3027 – Navigators for employers to offer child care
HB 2657 – Miscarriages/abortions considered “serious illness”
TBD – Rayfield reproductive healthcare bill
Second tier bills/Backups in case bills above don’t move
SB 424 – Requires schools to issue transcripts when students owe money
SB 550 – STEM
HB 2535 – Doula at Coffee Creek Detention Center
HB 2726 -Pilot program to coordinate resources for pregnant people and families with children under age 5 in Jackson/Josephine Counties
BE A TWO-MINUTE ACTIVIST!
Did you know you can send emails and texts to your legislators to fight for many of the issues that are supported by AAUW? You provide the voice, AAUW will provide the megaphone. AAUW gives you the tools you need to call or send messages to your members of Congress, contact your state legislators about pressing issues, and more.
It Only Takes Two Minutes!
Join AAUW in urging Congress to improve and expand legislation protecting our civil rights, economic security, and access to education.
To find out more, please visit the website. https://www.aauw.org/act/two-minute-activist/