CPAC Presence – The Secular Policy Institute has a very prominently located booth at CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee) in DC February 25 to 28. All Republican Presidential hopeful will attend. This is the largest gathering of conservatives, tea party, libertarians and Republicans each year other than the Presidential Convention which will be in July 2016 in Cleveland.
SPI CEO Meets With Chinese Minister – On Thursday, February 12, 2015, Meridian International CenterÔÇÖs American-Chinese Cultural Initiative joined with the Embassy of the PeopleÔÇÖs Republic of China to host the Annual Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration at Meridian House.
The celebration, which serves as a bridge to foster deeper understanding between the U.S. and China, was attended by top diplomatic, government, corporate, and cultural leaders, including: Minister Wu Xi, Embassy of the PeopleÔÇÖs Republic of China and Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY).
Minister Wu Xi and SPI CEO Ms. Rogers discussed the mission and projects of the think tank and the need for more participation from China. Minister Wu Xi offered to assist in helping SPI secure Chinese Fellows. The Minister was especially interested in the SPI World Future Forum planned for the Fall and having Chinese representation. The principles are in discussions for follow ups.
This year marks the 36th anniversary of the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations. The Minister stated that “it is really remarkable how much we have achieved over the last 36 years.” This year is the year of the goat.
US Congress – The US House and Senate are in recess this week for President’s day break.
Sign On Opportunities – Reid/Pelosi Letter -Please find linked here a draft sign-on letter to Minority Leaders Reid and Pelosi calling on Congress to stop any legislative efforts to misuse religion as an excuse to harm others. The letter will be sent to the Hill after the recess, so sign-onÔÇÖs are due on Monday, 2/23 at COB to Alicia Gurrieri at NWLC (agurrieri@nwlc.org).
The SPI has signed and wanted to give its members the opportunity to be included.
It is imperative that Congress hears from the many and varied organizations ÔÇô representing many millions of people ÔÇô who object to religion being used as a pretext for discrimination. Our organizations may work on different issues, but we all stand for the principle that no one should be harmed by another person imposing their religious beliefs on them. Whatever the context ÔÇô whether it is parents refusing to vaccinate their children and spreading measles at amusement parks, or businesses that refuse to serve LGBTQ customers, or employers refusing to cover birth control for their employees — the common thread in all of these situations is that legal protections are being taken away because some people want to impose their religious beliefs on others.
HHS Regulation Comments on PREA – Please find here a set of short coalition comments to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in the Department of Health and Human Services on an interim final rule to implement the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) as it applies to facilities for unaccompanied children who arrive in the U.S. The rule includes requirements for medical and mental health care for children who have experienced sexual abuse, and references a policy that allows organizations to remain eligible for contracts or grants to deliver services, even if they refuse to provide or refer for certain services (such as reproductive health care) based on religious or moral objections. Our comments object to this policy.
To read the comment letter and sign on, please complete this form by Mon, 2/23 at 12pm EST at the latest. If you are writing your own comments, please also feel free to draw from this letter as a template.
Please email gusova@aclu.org with any questions. Thank you to our friends at ACLU for sharing this opportunity.
Edwina Rogers, CEO
Secular Policy Institute
401 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 640
Washington, DC 20004
Office 202 430 1888
Mobile 202 674 7800
edwina@secularpolicyinstitute.net
www.secularpolicyinstitute.net