By Eagle Newswire
The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women (OCSW) named Rep. Regina Goodwin as the 2019 Guardian Award recipient.
“The Commission is honored to recognize Rep. Goodwin’s legislative work to update laws that literally shackled women,” said OCSW Chair Maria Trapp-Braly. “Goodwin’s remarkable efforts on the passage of House Bill 3393 was signed into law that banned the practice of shackling pregnant women in labor while in custody of the Department of corrections. The new law directed the use of the least restrictive restraints on pregnant inmates.”
Each year, the OCSW presents the Guardian Award to an elected official who has made significant governmental contributions to guarding, protecting and preserving the rights of women and families.
“Being named as the 2019 Guardian Award recipient is an honor,” said Goodwin. “It is a privilege to serve and champion legislation that improves the rights of all Oklahoma women and children.”
Elected in 2015 to represent House District 73 in Tulsa, Rep. Goodwin has authored bills in an effort to affect greater social justice. In the Legislature, she has collaborated in initiating an education, apprenticeship and job pilot program with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and authored the Oklahoma Caregiver Act, H.B. 2257, broadening resources for caregivers and H.B. 2253, clarifying the voting rights for persons with felony convictions, both have been signed into law. Additionally, she authored H.B. 2256, the Historic Greenwood License plate bill.
The Commission acts as an advisory group on equity issues, monitors pending legislation, and serves as a clearinghouse for research on women and gender bias issues
The Guardian Award is given to a legislator who has championed legislation for women’s issues.
History
Pres. John F. Kennedy signed Executive Order 10980 on December 14, 1961. The order provided for the organization of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, and he appointed former first lady and U.S. delegate to the United Nations Eleanor Roosevelt as chair of the committee.
The President’s Commission issued a report in 1963 that among other items encouraged states to organize similar commissions.
In January 1964, Gov. Henry Bellmon created Oklahoma’s first Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women. Oklahoma’s Commission received legislative approval in 1994.
