Each year, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) convenes our members and partners in Washington, DC to educate elected officials around the importance of an inclusive STEM workforce. While we are committed to this work every day, our annual Congressional Visits Day, which will take place on March 15-16, 2017, highlights our efforts.
Leading up to these days of action, we will regularly be sharing tips and ideas for how you can become more involved as an advocate for the rights of women and girls in STEM.
During our Congressional Visits Day, we provide training to our members and partners around effectively engaging legislators on issues of gender equity in the United States STEM workforce. These non-partisan efforts seek to promote U.S. competitiveness through both innovation and access to a high-quality talent pool.
Our sustained advocacy efforts have never been more important. Support SWE Now.
Regardless of who our elected officials are, SWE is committed to advancing the rights of women, especially those from underrepresented populations and economically disadvantaged areas, in the STEM profession. With the change of administration and a new balance of power in our nation’s capital, your involvement is critical to our long-term success.
Our goals for the 2017 Congressional Visits Day include:
- Provide congressional visits training to SWE members and partners.
- Advocate for the adequate investment in basic and applied research across the federal research agencies.
- Increase knowledge that women in the STEM workforce and access to STEM education for girls fuels the economy of the United States.
- Ensure that Title IX is appropriately applied across federal agencies and that non-compliance is addressed in a meaningful and expeditious manner.
- Embrace policies that help female engineers and STEM professionals to balance life and work, such as equal pay, sufficient maternity and paid family leave and adequate childcare resources.
Want to learn more about our advocacy efforts? Check out the links below:
- Washington Update: Looking Forward to 2017
- SWE Legislative Action Center
- Why Advocate: Championing Women and Minorities in STEM
- Recent letter to congressional leaders concerning FY17 STEM funding
