 |  | I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe July 4th Holiday weekend! I know it may have felt different for many given recent SCOTUS decisions and the bi-partisan January 6th Hearings. A tradition I started for myself many years ago is every 4th of July, I read the Declaration of Independence, and for good measure, I also read our Constitution and Amendments. I encourage everyone to do this periodically.
The tragedy on June 27th in San Antonio where a semi-trailer was found with 50 bodies and 20 more people in critical condition weighs on my mind. Smuggling people is a crime. It is inhumane to place people in a non-ventilated trailer with no water. The people in that semi-trailer were looking for a better life, and their families in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras are anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones’ fate.
This type of tragedy has happened before and highlights once again the need for comprehensive Immigration Reform. The LWV of Texas stands in solidarity with our Immigration Reform partners:
The League of Women Voters of Texas sends our condolences to the families of the victims of this horrific crime, and we extend to their native countries our deepest sympathy.
On a positive note, Texas was well represented at the League’s 55th National Convention with 25 members attending either in-person or online. More than one thousand League delegates from all 50 states and the District of Columbia attended either online or in-person in Denver.
The Convention was marked by the devastating news from the Supreme Court overturning the constitutional right to abortion. (Read the press release here.) In her remarks to convention attendees, Dr. Turner promised, "We will use our anger to fight in the legislatures, in the courts, and in the streets." League members demonstrated with partners and allies at protests at Colorado State Capitol in Denver and across the country.
The entire Convention was inspiring, informative, productive, and energizing! LWVUS will share a recap soon, and LWVTX will work with local Leagues to embrace new learnings and changes.
| | Your Texas League in Action | LWVTX Delegates at LWVUS National Convention
The League of Women Voters of Texas was well represented at the LWVUS National Convention on June 23rd-26th in Denver, CO. We had 16 delegates who attended in person as well as 9 delegates who attended virtually for a total of 25 delegates. The local Texas Leagues represented included Hays County, Collin County, Tarrant County, Comal Area, Austin Area, Amarillo, and Dallas.
|  | Preventing Violence from Assault Rifles Webinar
LWVTX will be co-hosting a webinar about gun prevention "Preventing Violence from Assault Rifles" with the League of Latin American Citizens, (LULAC) and the Texas NAACP on July 13th, 2022 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. CST.
Panelists will include Art Acevedo, former Chief of Police for Austin, TX, Houston, TX, and Miami, FL, and Dr. Roy A. Guerrero, a pediatrician at Uvalde Memorial Hospital in Uvalde, TX. (Watch Dr. Guerrero's testimony to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform about gun violence here.) Additional speakers are still being confirmed. The moderator for the event will be University of Houston history professor Gene Preuss, PhD.
Register for the webinar here.
|  | Nothing More Patriotic than Voting!
LWVTX President, Joyce LeBombard was the guest speaker at the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon on June 1st and gave a presentation, "Nothing More Patriotic than Voting!" To view the presentation, click here. Thank you to the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce for the opportunity!
Read more about the event and view photos here.
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HB133 Postpartum Coverage Amendment - Federal Public Comment Opportunity
In the wake of last week’s decision in Dobbs v Mississippi, every opportunity to expand and protect healthcare for underserved communities in Texas is important. Texans for Children, an affiliate of the League of Women Voters, is asking Leagues and League members to offer public comment on HB 133, a bill from last session which extends Texas Medicaid postpartum coverage for moms from 60 days to 6 months after childbirth or involuntary miscarriage. Read more here.
Texas' waiver amendment request is open for public comment at the federal level until July 10, 2022. This is our chance to show the need for 12 months postpartum coverage, and we want to make sure the federal government understands there are numerous Texas stakeholders that think it's still possible.
Submit your comments here.
|  | | LWV South Central Texas
Photo credit: League of Women Voters of South Central Texas Facebook page. The League of Women Voters of South Central Texas completed the first clean up of their Adopt-a-Highway project on Monday, June 13th. They collected more than 12 bags of trash! Read more here.
|  | LWV Comal Area
Photo credit: Facebook page for the League of Women Voters of the Comal Area. At the New Braunfels Pride event, LWV Comal Area piloted a voter education project - a special Texas food election in which kids under 18 could submit a ballot for one of four Texas food candidates. The results were announced at the Juneteenth Celebration at Westside Community Center. Read more here.
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 | LWV Cy-Fair
Photo credit: LWV Cy-Fair Facebook page. LWV Cy-Fair registered voters at the LSC-CyFair forum "Guns in America - NRA, Common Sense Reform and Mental Health" on June 30th. Read more here. |  |
LWV Bay Area
Photo credit: Twitter account for the League of Women Voters of the Bay Area. LWV Bay Area registered voters at the Mims Community Center during a Juneteenth celebration on June 17th. Read more here.
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| Your Texas League in the News! |
LWVTX Responds to SCOTUS Overturning Roe v. Wade and Texas Trigger Law
“The League of Women Voters of Texas strongly supports women’s access to comprehensive reproductive health services, including safe, legal abortions. The Dobbs opinion is an affront to the dignity of women and their ability to make their own decisions regarding their bodies and their futures. This decision puts the health of millions of women in danger, and it creates a hardship on women who do not have the financial means to travel out of Texas for abortion services,” explained Joyce LeBombard, president of the League of Women Voters of Texas.
Read more here.
| LWVUS National Convention "Women Power Democracy" was a Success!
LWVUS hosted its biennial convention from June 23-26, 2022. Over a thousand delegates from all 50 states and DC joined either virtually or in person to attend a panel featuring female leaders in the voting rights movement (click here to watch), march in support of abortion justice at the Denver Capitol building, elect a 2022-2024 Board of Directors, and share our goals for the next two years.
Watch convention highlights here.
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League of Women Voters of Texas
1212 Guadalupe St. #107
Austin Texas, 78701
(512) 472-1100
lwvtexas@lwvtexas.org
lwvtexas.org
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