Category: News
News
by SC United for Justice and Equality on Mar 3, 2021
Today, during the South Carolina Special Laws subcommittee hearing on H3477, a bill that would prohibit transgender youth in middle and high school from participating in student athletics, powerful testimony was heard from supporters of transgender equality from all walks of life. Parents, medical providers, advocates, and transgender students directly impacted spoke virtually against the
Health and Education, News, Partner
Feb 19, 2021
Proposed legislation would jeopardize the mental, social, and physical health of transgender youth in South Carolina and open state to lawsuits. Columbia, SC- Today the South Carolina legislature announced that a hearing will be held next week on H3477, legislation that would prohibit transgender youth in middle and high school from participating in student athletics.
Advocate Stories, News, Policy Updates
Jan 27, 2021
Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony to this committee. My name is Ann Warner and I am the CEO of the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN). WREN is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with a mission to build a movement to advance the health, economic well-being, and rights of South Carolina’s women,
News
by WREN Staff on Jan 15, 2021
COLUMBIA, SC- Through four hours of a subcommittee hearing, a multiracial, multigenerational coalition of advocates presented testimony before the Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee in opposition of the 6-week abortion ban. More than 100 people signed up to testify today, and the vast majority spoke in opposition to the bill. They included physicians, patients, faith leaders, attorneys,
News
Jan 13, 2021
What is the State of the State? This is an annual address given by the Governor to report on the economic health of the state and recognize events and individuals from the previous year. The State of the State serves both a political and administrative purpose. It is tradition for the Governor to address the
Health and Education, News, Policy Updates
Jan 8, 2021
On Wednesday, February 3, 2021, at 2:30pm or 30 minutes upon adjournment of the House, whichever is later, the SC House Constitutional Laws Subcommittee will meet to hear testimony on S.1, a 6-week abortion ban. South Carolina, we’ve seen this before, now it’s time to take action. Members of the public will have the opportunity
COVID-19, Economic Opportunity, News, Policy Updates
by WREN Staff on Jan 5, 2021
As of January 1st, while still in the middle of a public health emergency, Congress decided that emergency paid leave is no longer mandatory in the United States. 87 million workers have lost their guaranteed emergency leave amidst the worsening public health crisis and continued school closures. Rather than extending the requirement for employers to
News, Policy Updates
by WREN Staff on Dec 16, 2020
COLUMBIA, SC – Today, Representative Beth Bernstein will prefile a bill to provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave to state employees. Bernstein’s bill will join Senator Darrell Jackson’s S.11 in explicitly providing paid family leave for state employees for the birth or adoption of a child. WREN applauds Senator Jackson and Representative Bernstein for
News, Partner, Research
by Conservation Voters of SC on Dec 15, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 12, 2020 POLL: South Carolina Voters Struggling with Utility Bills and Want Help One in three South Carolinians have had difficulty paying bills during the pandemic. Nine in 10 support waiving late fees for missed utility bills, preventing utility shutoffs. COLUMBIA, SC – A new poll released today finds that since the
News, Policy Updates
by WREN Staff on Dec 14, 2020
COLUMBIA, SC – The Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network applauds Representative Wendy Brawley for prefiling legislation that would bring pay equity to South Carolina. South Carolina has one of the largest gender and racial pay gaps in the nation and is one of only four states in the nation that does not have laws that explicitly