Washington, DCÔÇöThis week, from Wednesday-Saturday (February 25th-28th), the Secular Policy Institute (SPI) will have a prominent booth at the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC). David Silverman, President of American AtheistsÔÇöa new member group of SPIÔÇöwill join the InstituteÔÇÖs own CEO Edwina Rogers, a 20-year public policy expert and former Economic Advisor to the POTUS. Silverman will be handing out brochures about his group, a large nonprofit organization advocating for secular rights and the prohibition of governmental religious endorsements.

Over 15,000 people are expected to attend the conservative conference, including all of the likely 2016 GOP Presidential candidates, and a good number of First Amendment enthusiasts. SPI will be explaining its initiatives, such as Congressional briefings and original studies, and gathering additional members. The tank is the only nontheist coalition that will be in attendance, but in and of itself, that coalition is currently comprised of more than 200 humanist and similar organizations.

The Secular Policy Institute serves as a proponent of scientific and rational principles in U.S. Congress, and in governments abroad. It houses more than 30 of the worldÔÇÖs most highly regarded thinkers, who until recently, were mostly free-agents of the secular cause. Among the well-known authors and speakers who are SPI Fellows are Stephen Pinker, Carolyn Porco, Richard Dawkins, Lawrence Krauss, Rebecca Goldstein, Taslima Nasrin, Daniel Dennett, Amatzia Baram, Sam Harris, and Elizabeth Loftus. Now, these Fellows work together to compile and disseminate the latest research in support of the separation of Church and State.

The CPAC is the largest meeting of Republicans, Tea Party members, and Libertarians each year, other than their Presidential Convention, which will be held in Cleveland next year. SPI plans on being present at both the GOP and Democratic Conventions, also.

ÔÇ£Those who work the gears of our government are becoming more and more ready to hear us,ÔÇØ Ms. Rogers indicated, ÔÇ£And this is good news not only for us as Americans, but for citizens of the world at large. We have, at last, been welcomed into the discussion, and legislators from both sides are truly considering what we have to say.ÔÇØ

SPI can be found at http://secularpolicyinstitute.net. On the site are global articles, surveys, academic papers, books, and secular group and event listings, as well as links to newsletters, to donate, or to get involved.

CONTACT: Madeline Schussel, SPI Policy Director, at madeline@secularpolicyinstitute.net, or Edwina Rogers at (202) 430-1888.