Contact: Judith Vaughan-Prather: 301-279-8301

For Immediate Release: January 25, 2002

Lawmakers to Address Issues Impacting Women;
U.S. Labor Department's Women's Bureau Director
To Present Keynote Address

Extending Family and Medical Leave job protections to workers in mid-sized businesses in Maryland is one of many key legislative issues to be discussed at the 22nd annual Women's Legislative Briefing to be held on February 10, from 12:30 to 5:45 p.m., at the National 4-H Conference Center, 7100 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase.

Other legislative initiatives to be discussed include continuing child support through the age of 19 and expanding the jurisdiction of district court commissioners to issue protective orders to domestic violence victims on the weekend and evenings when the courts are closed.

Shinae Chun, director of the Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor, the only Federal Agency charged with advocating on behalf of women in the workforce, will be the featured keynote speaker. Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan will present welcoming remarks.

Upcoming legislative initiatives of particular interest to women will be addressed in workshops covering women's safety and health, economic self-sufficiency, the legislative and budget process, and international women's issues. Congresswoman Connie Morella, Senators Ida Ruben, Nancy Jacobs, and Jennie Forehand; and Delegates Kumar Barve, Joanne Benson, Jean Cryor, Sharon Grosfeld, Sue Hecht, and Cheryl Kagan will lead workshops on these issues.

A special leadership caucus for chairs of women's organizations will also be held, and the event will conclude with a reception where guests can meet with county and state elected officials and network with advocates and representatives of other women's and community organizations.

Hosted by the Montgomery County Commission for Women, the Women's Legislative Briefing is co-sponsored by more than 70 organizations, including commissions for women from 11 Maryland counties.

Online registration is available at www.co.mo.md.us/cfw until February 8. On-site registration will be held from 12:30 to 1 p.m. on the day of the event.

For more information call 301-279-8301; TDD, 301-279-1034.