On August 1, Lifetime Television rolls out the latest action in its ongoing Caring for Kids Campaign. "Sharing Your World: Adopt a Politician" encourages a national push for quality childcare by asking viewers to take monthly action through contact with a local, state, or national politician. Lifetime provides materials and suggestions for highlighting the need for childcare, and will even match you with a politician if you don't know how to find one. Send name, address, and phone to Lifetime TV: Caring for Kids, 309 W. 49th Street, New York, NY 10019. Or leave info at 800-522-0925. In cyberspace, log onto www.lifetimetv.com and a link to ethepeople.com will automatically connect you to a politician by zip code. The is a 5 month commitment by Lifetime in partnership with the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues and more than 150 national organizations, to be followed by voter education in 2000. We hope some tough Texans adopt Tom DeLay - making him prove he's for the family values he brags about.

That's the message to members of the House and Senate Subcommittees on Labor, Health, and Human Services now considering Labor/HHS appropriations bills. WANTO (The Women in Apprenticeship Occupations and Non-Traditional Occupations Act - PL. 102-530) provides money for training employers and unions for placing women in high-paying, non-traditional jobs. President Clinton has zero-funded WANTO in his FY 2000 budget request, but several members of Congress have included it in appropriations requests. Latest word is that both committees are positively inclined to include funding but they need encouragement. Urge funding for WANTO by faxing the subcommittee offices at 202-225-3509 (House) and 202-224-1360 (Senate).

PUT MORE GIRLS IN THE TECHNOLOGY PIPELINE

We don't have to wait another 30 years for a space commander (watch Col. Eileen Collins of the Air Force blast off at 12:30 A.M. Monday morning) if more girls go into the math/science/technology pipeline by taking these courses in school. The Educating America's Girls Act (S.1264), introduced in the Senate by Olympia Snowe (R-ME), would encourage schools to develop partnerships with industry and mentoring programs to encourage girls in these fields. The Educating America's Girls Act in the House (HR.2505) would increase the number of female teachers in math and science, and reauthorize the Women's Educational Equity Act. Reach your Senators and Reps at 202-224-3121 (or e-mail your Representative and Senator) to help more girls reach for the stars.

The highly contentious debate on the Patients Bill of Rights raged on this week on Capitol Hill, but women were knocked out of the game early. Despite calls from women nationwide, Republicans defeated initiatives by Democrats that would have let women choose ob/gyn doctors for primary care, and let doctors instead of HMOs decide how long women can stay hospitalized after mastectomies. After passing a number of HMO protection provisions, R's came back with half a loaf - "medical necessity" - on hospitalization for mastectomy recovery. President Clinton has threatened to veto any bill that does not contain strong consumer protections. Strengthen his resolve at 202-456-1414; fax 202-456-2461; e-mail [email protected]

Next week the Senate will take up the issue of managed care and health care reform bills. Debate on a Republican version begins July 12 with a final vote July 15. The Dems will be offering numerous amendments, including one giving women the right to choose an obstetrician/gynecologist as a primary physician and the right to receive treatment even if it is experimental (the basis for denial of many breast cancer claims). Urge your member of the Senate to "remember the ladies" with meaningful provisions for women in any health care proposal at 202-224-3121 (or by e-mail).

That question from his 9-year-old daughter pushed businessman Michael Kieschnick into action. He formed Dads and Daughters (DADs), a new nonprofit membership group for fathers and daughters. DADs provides tools for fathers to strenghten their relationships with their daughters, and fight media images that lead to low self-esteem and eating disorders. DADs is giving up to 2000 U.S. schools a free copy of the curriculum Healthy Body Image: Teaching Kids to Eat and Love Their Bodies Too! between now and New Years 2000. To join or learn more about the program call 1-888-82-4DADS or visit . www.dadsanddaughters.org