Ask your senators to support upcoming legislation to guarantee federal workers four weeks of paid parental leave for a new child, as a first step toward universal paid leave.

The Obama administration announced today that it is moving to rescind the controversial Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) refusal or "conscience" rule.

"This is a positive move by the Obama administration, and a demonstration of the president's commitment to women and reproductive health care," said NOW President Kim Gandy.

This dangerous HHS rule, adopted in the final hours of the Bush administration, allows health care workers to deny any medical service -- such as birth control or emergency contraception -- that they find objectionable.

The House version of the Paycheck Fairness Act was passed in January, and now it's time for Senate action. The House passed both the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, but the Senate considered and passed ONLY the Ledbetter legislation. In order to build up steam for this bill, we need to DOUBLE the number of Senate sponsors; currently, there are only 26 co-sponsors.

Register today for NOW's annual conference. This year is an election conference, and is also themed, "It's the Economy Sister! Feminist Strategies for Economic Security." The conference will be June 19-21 2009 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Felicidades a nuestra distinguida Secretaria Solis

"Today's vote by the U.S. Senate to confirm Hilda Solis as Secretary of Labor is a victory for all working women and families," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "As a champion of worker's rights and equality for women, Hilda Solis will return confidence to this cabinet agency that has for too long ignored our nation's labor force."

Several hundred women of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds and orientations gathered at the Feminism 2.0 conference to strategize about ways action-oriented feminist organizations and the burgeoning online feminist community could work together to achieve equality for women.

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her Below the Belt column, "Rihanna. Aasiya. Does it take a celebrity assault to get violence against women into the news? What about something as gory as cutting off the woman's head? Indeed the story of one woman's life or death can open up a discussion with people who may not think about the issue at all..."

Your state's senators are key to the confirmation of Hilda Solis, a friend of women's rights and workplace equality, as the new Secretary of Labor.

Despite the fact that advocacy groups like NOW have worked for two decades to halt the epidemic of gender-based violence and sexual assault, the numbers are still shocking. It is time to renew our national pledge, from the President and Congress on down to City Councils all across the nation to END violence against women and men, girls and boys. This effort must also be carried on in workplaces, schools, churches, locker rooms, the military, and in courtrooms, law enforcement, entertainment and the media. NOW pledges to continue our work to end this violence and we hope you will join us in our work.

NOW asked supporters to rate the importance of each issue from the Feminist Action Agenda for 2009 through an online survey. Many of you responded to this call, sending us clear messages about the concerns of women in the U.S. today.

Check out some new and fun ways to talk about body image and self esteem, including action ideas of all shapes and sizes in our new Love Your Body action packet!

"Whether you are rich or poor, famous or not, young or old--domestic violence does not discriminate," says NOW President Kim Gandy.

The recent arrest of R&B star Chris Brown, who reportedly assaulted and threatened singer Rihanna, preventing her participation in the Grammys, has brought the ever-present issue of violence against women into the public spotlight once again.

"Everyone is talking about this case because it involves two popular recording artists, but the sad reality is that domestic violence and dating violence happen every day, even among young teens, and the impact is both far-reaching and under-reported," said Gandy.

Illinois Representative Sara Feigenholtz has stepped into a crowded primary field to run for the open seat in the 5th District. Feigenholtz is a women's rights leader and her victory will add another progressive voice to the 111th Congress. As a new member of Congress, Feigenholtz will be committed to ensuring the passage and implementation of an economic recovery plan that will put people back to work in good jobs and help to improve our economy.

Human needs programs, women's jobs and family tax breaks could be dropped as partisan bickering and corporate greed hold sway.

With the withdrawal of Sen. Tom Daschle from consideration, the National Organization for Women urges President Barack Obama to nominate another strong and consistent advocate for universal health care to the position of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) has long focused on health care as a priority, and with her background as a social worker she is well positioned to take the helm of this agency that is so critical to women and families.