Sen. Leftwich to Discuss Legislation Impacting Women and Children at 2008 Oklahoma Women’s Summit

“Rising Up to Be the Best” is the theme of the 2008 Oklahoma Women’s Summit. The annual event provides a forum for business, community and state leaders to discuss issues impacting women in Oklahoma with a goal of stimulating changes in policy and creating initiatives to help women throughout the state. The summit is co-sponsored by Gov. Brad Henry and the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women and will be held at the State Capitol on Friday, April 25.

State Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, is making a presentation as part of the Women in Leadership section of the summit.

“As the former chair of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women, I am proud to participate in the 2008 Women’s Summit,” Leftwich said. “I’ll be discussing Senate Bills that have been considered this session with the potential to affect women, children and families in Oklahoma.”

Other presentations will include health issues affecting the quality of life of women and children in Oklahoma, with Wanda Jones, Director of the Office on Women’s Health and Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well a section on incarcerated women, which will include an actual drug court hearing, featuring Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater with the Honorable Carol Hubbard presiding.

“Laws and policies that hold women back ultimately hold our entire state back. It is hard to believe that as recently as the 1970’s, women in Oklahoma couldn’t even get credit unless their father or husband co-signed. Fortunately, thanks to legislative action, businesses finally realized such discrimination was costing them customers, and profits,” Leftwich said. “But there is more work to be done. I hope everyone interested in moving our state forward will plan to attend the 2008 Oklahoma Women’s Summit.”

Others who will address the summit include Governor Brad Henry, Congresswoman Mary Fallin, Oklahoma County Court Clerk Patricia Presley, Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women Chair Chris Morriss and Vice Chair Mary Walker, Rep. Pam Peterson and Rep. Lee Denney.

For more information on registration for the summit, go to www.opm.state.ok.us and click on the link for the Oklahoma Commission on Status of Women, or OCSW@opm.ok.gov. You can also call 405-522-6897 to learn more.