We are not aware of a single women’s justice organization that projects easy times for women’s issues in the 108th Session of Congress. We expect that all aspects of women and family-justice gains that have been won over the years will see attempted retrenchment. This would include not only the attacks on the broad agenda of reproductive rights, but it is also expected there will be attempts to unravel Title IX funding for women’s sports; affirmative action in employment; and pay equity, to name just a few. Those issues that escape attack will perhaps just not be taken seriously.

To the surprise of many people, Congress is now faced with calls to enforce marriage agreements between a man and a woman if social services are being sought. This is a societal push that is gaining more momentum within the context of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) reauthorization spending bills. These proposals have not yet recognized the possibility that some families have a single head-of- household, because of domestic violence or the presence of drug use by the absent spouse or partner.

In the meantime, the number of women and children who find themselves facing poverty has increased in this sluggish economy. We need to work toward what we used to refer to as the safety net for poor families.

Women’s health issues will also face an uphill battle as we advocate for International Family Planning money in the foreign assistance budget, and the recognition that prevention of AIDS needs more than just training toward sexual abstinence.

The United Nations Convention to End Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is still awaiting ratification by the U.S. Senate. There was a lot of constituency activity on this issue during the waning days of the 107th Congress. With all the changes in Senate leadership, it is unclear if it will ever see the light of day in the Judiciary Committee. It still remains unclear to many of us what President Bush would do if it came to his desk for signature.

However, since Mr. Bush is representative of the same political party that is in control of both the House and the Senate, it stands to reason that his desires would have more weight in the 108th Congress than they did in the 107th. If President Bush were to give CEDAW a push, it may move. A sustained push by advocates could make this happen over the next few years. One hundred seventy-one nations have already ratified this agreement.

Calls for gun control are a faint memory following the need to feel more secure after the terrorist attacks in September of 2001. The 1995 Million-Mom March, which called for more gun control laws, now seems a distant memory. Advocates for justice issues regarding Women and Families will have a lot of action to look forward to in this upcoming legislative session.

By Elenora Gidding Ivory