In a close vote late yesterday, the Senate upheld President Clinton's veto of the so-called "partial birth" abortion ban by 9 votes, 7 of them from women Senators. Thanks for calls from WFF activists who responded to our HOTFLASH alerts. Every call was needed, since the Catholic Bishops got thousands of telegrams to Capitol Hill. The women in the Senate held together on this one - all voted to keep abortion legal except Shelia Frahm (R-KS) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). Thank Senators Boxer (D-CA), Feinstein (D-CA), Snowe (R-ME), Kassebaum (R-KS), Murray (D-WA), Moseley-Braun (D-IL), Mikulski (D-MD) at 202-224-3121. This vote clearly shows women in power make a difference. If anti-choice forces retain control of Congress, look for more abortion bans in the next Congress -- Ralph Reed of the Christian Coalition has promised it will happen.

Dr. Shannon W. Lucid, the U.S. astronaut who surpassed the 169-day record for a woman in space and has spent more time in space than any American (male or female), touched Earth last night. Send her a welcome home card at c/o NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771.

THANKS to WFF readers who responded to our alert (WFF 6/7/96) by asking your members of Congress to deny handguns to people convicted of domestic violence. The Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban has now passed the Senate and is awaiting action in conference committee, with good vibes for final passage. In 1994 there were 88,500 incidents of domestic violence where a gun was present. But opponents are trying to render the bill meaningless by substituting NRA-backed language saying if an offender is ignorant of the law, the law doesn't apply. Backing the bill is no longer enough - members of Congress must be urged to resist changes in wording and stick with the original Lautenberg - Torricelli language. Senate and House members can be reached at 202-224-3121. President Clinton supports this bill, and he must also be urged to insist on language that protects women and not batterers. White House comment lines: 202-456-1111; fax 202-456-2461; E-mail [email protected]

As ex-football-hero and wife beater O.J. Simpson goes on trial again this week, we remind you that since January, more than 50 college athletes in 13 states have been charged with assault, theft, trespassing, burglary, sexual assault and drunk driving. And that's in addition to crimes by professional sports players and high school athletes -- reaching high enough numbers that some sports pages now run "crime roundups." Two members of Congress are trying to sever the ties between sports and violence. Reps. Connie Morella (R-MD) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) have sponsored a resolution (H.Con.Res 199) calling for a national summit of sports, political, and community leaders to develop an action plan for developing a positive culture of sports that deters acts of violence, particularly domestic violence and sexual assault. Time is running out on this session of Congress, and it's high time sports figures become role models for stopping what Sports Illustrated has dubbed the "dirty secret" of college and professional atheletics. Urge Econ/Ed Cmte. Chair Goodling (R-PA), (202-225-4527; fax 225-9571) to send this Sense of Congress Resolution forward for a vote -- and tell your own Rep. (202-225-3121) to show some sense (some of them for the first time ever) and co-sponsor it.

CAN WE LIVE A WEEK WITHOUT VIOLENCE?

The National Young Women's Christian Association is betting we can, with its Second Annual Week Without Violence October 6-12. Their campaign to heighten awareness and generate political and economic support for alternatives to violence reaches out to communities. To learn how you can become part of a different anti-violence focus for each day of the week or get an organizer's kit, call 212-691-6262; fax 691-5585 or check it out at http://www.ywca.org

Join activists from 30 states and 50 foreign countries on Sept. 27-29 for the Gender Justice: Forging Economic Rights in the Global Economy conference addressing women's poverty and the role of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Activities include a "White House Rally for Gender Justice". Co-sponsored by 50 Years is Enough Network of 170 organizations, and the American University School for International Service, $35. 202-463-2265; E-mail: [email protected]

Thanks to WFF readers and other activists who called, wrote, and faxed in support of the bill to stop insurance companies from forcing "drive-thru deliveries" -- by pushing mothers and their newborns out of the hospital in as little as 8 hours. A bill to put this decision back in the hands of women and their doctors requiring insurers to allow a minimum stay of 48 hours for vaginal and 96 hours for Caesarean births passed the Senate as an amendment to the VA-HUD appropriations bill. But it was left out of the House version. This could go to conference committee as early as next week -- the House side must be persuaded to keep this provision in the final bill. Call House conferees Jerry Lewis (R-CA - no-not-the-Hollywood misogynist 202-225-5861; fax 202-225-6498) and Bob Livingston (R-LA) (202-225-3015; fax 202-225-0739) and urge them to put women's needs ahead of companies' balance sheets.

After killing a unanimous resolution to move the suffrage statue out of the capitol basement and into the rotunda using public money, Republican women promised that it could be moved if private funds were raised. Thanks to many dedicated activists, including WFF readers, the private funds are secure. Now it's time for the R's to put our foremothers where they belong. If the House doesn't vote on moving the statue this month, the effort will be back to square one in the new Congress. Word has it that a vote could be scheduled next week, if pressure is applied. Contact House Speaker Newt Gingrich (202-225-0600, fax 202-225-4656, E-mail) and urge him to schedule a vote. Contact Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT), (202-225-4476; fax 202-225-4488) to insist that women in Congress press for a vote. And ask your own rep (202-225-3121) to vote YES to the move.

The President's Interagency Council on Women invites you to join a national satellite conference on September 28 to review the UN Women's Conference -- One Year Later. Women from all over the U.S. will join together in community conferences to report on progress since Beijing, share what's working in communities, and develop a national action agenda to improve the lives of American women and their families. Check it out at 202-456-7350; fax 202-456-7357 or check the web at http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/Women/
IACW/html/IACWhome.html

With macho politicians from both parties trying to prove whose gun is bigger than Saddam Hussein's, you can bet the military budget is in for a big serving of pork. The Congress has already given the military an $11 billion unrequested add-on (on top of the $7 billion last year). Women's Action for New Directions (WAND) has called a National Day of Action September 9 to protest military budget add-ons. WAND points out that both parties have scapegoated the nation's poorest women as "welfare queens," while "Pentagon Kings" grow fatter and fatter. On Sept. 9, call (202-456-1111), fax (202-456-2461), and E-mail President Clinton ([email protected]) and urge a veto to the FY97 Military Appropriations Bill. To learn how you can get involved in the campaign, contact WAND at 202-543-8505; fax 202-875-6469, E-mail [email protected]

As appropriations are rushed through Congress this month so members can go home and campaign, Feminists for a Compassionate Society (512-447-6222; fax 512-447-8311) points out that each day's cruise missiles cost $53 million. At this rate ten days of bombing is the equivalent to the $530 million that was cut from Head Start Programming. One day's bombing is almost 14 times the cost of the Women's Educational Equity Act funding, still in great danger of being eliminated altogether. Urge Committee Chair Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) (202-224-4254; fax 202-224-1893; E-mail [email protected]) to make a tiny statement for girls' education as a national priority by retaining full WEEA funding ($3.9 million) as the final Labor/HHS spending bill goes to the floor this week. Calls are needed ASAP.

Throughout the month of September, the Women's Bureau at the U.S. Department of Labor is hosting regional summits to improve the lives of working women. Nineteen summits will be held focusing on options for solving problems such as fair pay, downsizing, child and elder care, workplace flexibility, workplace violence, the glass ceiling, and pension security. To learn about a summit in your area call Zina Pierre at 202-219-6611 X 157 or check it out at http://www.dol.gov