Press Release: Shut Down the Shutdown

100 Women State Legislators Gather in DC to Call on Congress to

“Shut Down the Shutdown”

Government shutdown would hurt elderly, children and veteran constituents

For Immediate Release: Date: September 30, 2013

Contact: Jessie Calkins, Communications Officer

Phone: (781) 643-6740

Email: jcalkins@wand.org

WASHINGTON, DC-- With a government shutdown imminent, one hundred women legislators and one hundred women community leaders from more than 35 states gathered Monday morning steps from the C

apitol to call on Congress to work together to end the brinksmanship and get back to business doing the work of the people. The group is part of Women's Action for New Directions (WAND) and its program, the Women Legislators' Lobby (WiLL), a national nonpartisan network of women state legislators, who work together to influence federal policy and budget priorities.

"57 percent of our nation's discretionary budget goes to Pentagon spending," said Georgia State Sen. Nan Grogan Orrock, President of WiLL. "If we stopped continuously throwing money at Cold War-era weapons and trying to build new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters that have yet to work, we could rebuild our roads, invest in our educational system and provide adequate services for our returning veterans - all without jeopardizing our economy and credit rating like Congress is doing today."

The lawmakers came to the nation’s capital to educate themselves about federal budget priorities in order to be more effective advocates for their constituents needs. A long-planned Day at the Capitol on Tuesday has unexpectedly been upturned as few can speculate whether the Capitol will be open at all.

”WAND's focus is to work with Congress. These women are here specifically to go to the Hill and talk about their community's needs,”said WAND Executive Director Susan Shaer. “We did not expect a political tantrum. We are very disappointed that because of this shutdown we will not be able to communicate our community's needs -- and that is categorically unacceptable.”

From more than 35 states across the country, it was striking how similar the lawmakers found their constituent concerns. Phone calls and emails poured in from people who are elderly and disabled, fearful of losing their Social Security on top of the threat of food stamp cuts and housing subsidy cuts that are just beginning to roll out. Veterans returning from their service are calling concerned about losing their VA benefits while our servicemen and women deployed around the world are wondering whether they will receive their paycheck. The lawmakers expressed strong concern about what a shutdown would do to the people already hurt from Sequestration.

“Two years ago, Minnesota had a government shutdown, and it caused very real harm to our children, our elderly and our disabled who rely on fundamental government services. A  federal shutdown would mirror that harm on a much, much larger scale. We need to shutdown the shutdown,” said Minneapolis Senate President and WiLL Vice President Sandy Pappas.

Press Availability

State Legislators from across the country will be available through Noon on Tuesday for interviews as the story unfolds. There is a private room available for recording. Please contact Maine State Representative Diane Russell at (207) 272-9182 (call/text) or dianerussell207@gmail.com to schedule time to meet.

About Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND)

WAND is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women to act politically to reduce violence and militarism, and redirect excessive military resources toward unmet human and environmental needs. WAND was founded in 1982, and consists of a 501-C3 WAND Education Fund, a 501-C4 WAND Inc. Action Center for members and chapters, WAND Political Action Committee, and the Women Legislator's Lobby (WiLL) program. WAND is a recognized United Nations NGO. For more information, please visit www.wand.org.

About the Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL)

WiLL is a national, nonpartisan network of over 700 women state legislators who work together to influence federal policy and budget priorities.   For more information, please visit www.willwand.org.

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Previously....

Press Advisory from 9.29.13

100 Women State Legislators Gather in DC to Call on Congress to
End Political Showdown and Get to Work

Government shutdown would hurt elderly, children and veteran constituents

For Immediate Release: Date: September 29, 2013
Contact: Jessie Calkins, Communications Officer
Phone: (781) 643-6740
Email: jcalkins@wand.org

WASHINGTON, DC -­­ With a government shutdown imminent, one hundred women legislators and one hundred women community leaders from more than 35 states will gather Monday morning at 10 a.m. at the Liaison Hotel steps from the Capitol to call on Congress to work together to end the brinksmanship and get back to business doing the work of the people. The group is part of Women's Action for New Directions (WAND) and its program Women Legislators' Lobby (WiLL), a national nonpartisan network of women state legislators, who work together to influence federal policy and budget priorities.

"57 percent of our nation's discretionary budget goes to Pentagon spending," said Georgia State Sen. Nan Grogan Orrock, President of WiLL. "If we stopped continuously throwing money at Cold War­era weapons and trying to build new F­35 Joint Strike Fighters that have yet to work, we could rebuild our roads, invest in our educational system and provide adequate services for our returning veterans ­ all without jeopardizing our economy and credit rating like Congress is doing today."
WHAT: Press Conference

WHO: Women State Legislators from across the United States

SPEAKERS: Susan Shaer, WAND Executive Director

Georgia State Senator Nan Orrock, WiLL President

Minneapolis Senate President Sandy Pappas, WiLL Vice President

Ohio State Senator Charleta Tavares

Colorado Representative Angela Williams

WHERE: Liaison Hotel Capitol Hill
415 New Jersey Avenue NW

WHEN: Monday, September 30, 2013

10:00 a.m.

About Women’s Action for New Directions

WAND is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women to act politically to reduce violence and militarism, and redirect excessive military resources toward unmet human and environmental needs. WAND was founded in 1982, and consists of a 501-C3 WAND Education Fund, a 501-C4 WAND Inc. Action Center for members and chapters, WAND Political Action Committee, and the Women Legislator's Lobby (WiLL) program. WAND is a recognized United Nations NGO. For more information, please visit www.wand.org.

About the Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL)
WiLL is a national, nonpartisan network of over 700 women state legislators who work together to influence federal policy and budget priorities. For more information, please visit www.willwand.org.

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