National Foundation for Women Legislators: The Power of Women in Politics

Their name is definitely not a household word justare important roles of women legislators, asthey are
yet, but the National Foundationfor Womenthe perfect conduit for information and reassurance."
Legislators may be the most powerful organizationBecause women leaders think strategically, forge
you've never heardof. "The greatest rising force incoalitions, are problem solvers,and are not afraid to
American politics is not the influence of lobbyists oracompromise, they have the informed, goal-oriented
single political party. It is women," says Robin Read,leadershipskills that are essential in times of crisis. For
President and CEO ofthis reason, the NFWL recentlypartnered with the
NFWL ( "Women hold 1,686 seats in stateNational Association of Counties in the Call to
legislatures,eight governorships, 15 lieutenantACTION (Assign,
governorships, and 81 congressional seats."Communicate, Train, Initiate, Oversee, Network),
These powerful women also comprise thewhich encourages elected officialsat all levels of
membership base of the NFWL, a non-partisangovernment to take pre-emptive action and
non-profit organization that provides sitting womencommunicate before acrisis occurs.
legislators withstrategic resources to hone theirThis pre-emptive action involves assigning an official in
leadership and governing skills. "We presentlocal,each state and municipalityto work with local
state, and federal policymakers who happen to beorganizations and corporations to coordinate
women withinformation they can use to introducedonations, therebycreating an environment that
legislation about topics of concern to allfosters corporate responsibility; setting up
Americans," says Read.anexchange of cell phone numbers among business
For example, NFWL legislators were invited to takeleaders, agency officials, andelected leaders that will
part in the 2004 Nationalonly be used during a crisis; training government staff
Training Conference on Human Trafficking. Key teamandvolunteers to assist emergency personnel;
leaders from the NFWLinitiating the creation of an Emergency
Crime, Justice, Terrorism & Substance AbuseTask Force for crisis coordination; overseeing
Committee attended the conferenceand discussedresources for emergencymanagement and
the issue with President George W. Bush, the U.S.preparedness; and regularly networking with officials
Attorneyto ensurethat emergency preparedness plans are
General, and Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Theseup-to-date.
legislators have since beeninstrumental in introducingThanks to the NFWL, legislators are taking the
legislation against human trafficking in Florida, Texas,initiative to pursue legislation on awide range of issues
Missouri, Washington, South Carolina, and Kansas,( A delegation of
among others.NFWL legislators visited Taiwanese elected officials
Read cites the threat of terrorist attacks and naturaland business leaders in
disasters like HurricaneDecember 2005, leading to the introduction of several
Katrina as two instances where women policymakersstate resolutions calling foropening a dialogue
are uniquely positioned tofoster communication andbetween the U.S. Trade Representative and
forge coalitions. "Studies conducted by the Center onTaiwanese officialswho are interested in pursuing a
American Women in Politics at Rutgers show thatFree Trade Agreement with the U.S. After Mary
women elected officials aremore connected to theirWilson, formerly of "The Supremes," spoke at the
communities than their male counterparts," says2005 NFWL annual conferenceabout the negative
Read.impact of imposter entertainers posing as legitimate
Likewise, studies show that their constituentsmusicgroups, Representative Karen Yarbrough of
perceive women legislators as beingmore trustworthyIllinois introduced the Truth in Music billthis spring, and
and credible than men. "Communicatingmany other states are following suit.
up-to-the-minuteinformation and reassuring the public