About Texas Women's Legislative Days

The purpose of the Texas Women’s Legislative Days is to educate and encourage women to become informed about and actively involved in the legislative process. The event has been held in Austin since the 1985 legislative session.  During these two decades, Women's Legislative Days have helped thousands of Texas women find their voices in legislative politics. Over the years more than 7,000 women have attended to learn about the state-level issues that affect women and what they can do to impact legislative decision-making. Featured speakers in the past have included Ann Richards, Bob Bullock and Molly Ivins. 

Sherry's participation notes

This year's workshop took place on January 28 and 29 and included topics such as Global Warming and Improving Public Education.  I participated in three outstanding workshops. 

• The "Global Warming" workshop, presented by Luke Matzger and Tom Smith, covered the problems with starting new coal plants in Texas. 
• The workshop on "Religious Extremists' Attack on Science" by Kathy Miller from the Texas Freedom Network, drove home the importance of keeping the pressure on to assure separation of church and state. 
• Finally, the "Advocacy & Lobbying" workshop prepared us for meeting with Texas legislators.  

On Tues., Jan. 30 a number of us met with both the State Affairs Committee and the Education Committee at the Capitol.  The staffers we met with were knowledgeable and informative.  We heard details about the legislative process and voiced concerns facing public schools.  We had an opportunity to voice our opposition to school vouchers.

I encourage WIE members to attend Women's Legislative Days when it is next held in 2009, at the start of that year's legislative session.