Open to all registered attendees. Welcome reception with secular leaders, including the Secular Student Alliance, American Humanist Association and others, including Edwina Rogers, of the Secular Coalition for America. Additional honored guests to be announced.     

8:30 AM

 Keynote Speaker Address, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

Continental breakfast provided.

Anti-science legislation is sweeping the nation. Bills that aim to insert so-called “Intelligent Design” theology into public school curricula have been proposed in more than a dozen states. Particularly dangerous, these bills attempt to undermine scientific research by creating a false sense of controversy around accepted scientific theories such as evolution by natural selection.  And the push against science doesn’t stop at evolution—it also affects areas such as sex education. Taxpayers are footing the bill for religious indoctrination not only through public schools, but via voucher programs and tuition tax credits. What can be done to protect science education in our schools at the federal level? What can concerned citizens do within the states? And what’s the best way to halt the continued public funding of religion and stop anti-science legislation?

Proposed Speakers Include: 

- Michael Gamel-McCormick, Education staff Senate HELP Comittee, CONFIRMED
- Barry Kosmin, Trinity College, CONFIRMED
- Dr. Minda Berbeco, Programs and Policy Director, National Center for Science Education, CONFIRMED
-Domestic Policy Council, White House, TBA
- Senior Staff, House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, TBA
Moderator: Kelly Damerow, Secular Coalition for America. 

Conscience clauses that protect pharmacists when they refuse women needed drugs. Public funding of charities that refuse trafficking victims access to information or referrals for contraception or abortion. Exemptions from health care mandates that allow employers to impose their religious beliefs and practices on their employees. Religious exemptions for parents who refuse medical treatment for children, resulting in death. Everywhere we look we see these situations protected under the guise of “religious liberty,” but true religious liberty doesn’t include imposing religious beliefs on others or privileging by the government. How we can battle the false definition of religious liberty in the court of public opinion? What can we do to protect access to health care and basic safety standards for all?

Proposed Speakers Include:

- Leslie Griffin, William S. Boyd Professor of Law at UNLV, CONFIRMED
- Senior Staff, Senate Health, Education and Pensions Committee, TBA
- Health and Human Services Official, TBA
- House Energy and Commerce, Senior Staff, TBA
- National Economic Council, the White House, TBA.

Senator Tom Harkin sits on the Senate Committee on Appropriations and is a long time suppoerter of church/state separation issues.

Seated meal provided to registered attendees.

From the U.S. military, to the Boy Scouts, to laws governing school bullying, housing and even adoption, one of the most effective ways to legally justify modern discrimination is religion—and it is a tactic that is gaining steam. There is blatant discrimination in laws that attempt to define marriage as “between one man and one woman.” But increasingly, lawmakers are including exemptions for “sincerely held religious beliefs” in many types of legislation—ranging from anti-bullying laws to adoption. In almost every case, these exemptions protect the very people doing the discriminating—and leave the victims unprotected. What can be done to stop discrimination on the basis of religious beliefs at the federal and local levels?

Proposed Speakers Include:
- Brad Jacklin, Program Manager for Public Policy at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, CONFIRMED
- House Judiciary Committee Senior Staff, invited; House Republican Policy Committee, Executive Director, TBA- Senate Judiciary Committee, Senior Staff, TBA
- Domestic Policy Council, White House,  TBA
- Barry Kosmin, Trinity College, Moderator, CONFIRMED.  

In 2008 religious organizations spent millions of dollars on “Prop 8”—a California constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. In 2011 the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (a 501(c)3) had an annual budget of $180 million, of which untold millions were used to lobby against marriage equality, and in support of government exemptions based on religion.  For most non-profits, the amount of money spent on political activity is closely monitored in order to maintain tax exempt status. But religious organizations enjoy financial disclosure exemptions, making it impossible to ensure the organization is not breaking the law with regards to political involvement. And the problem is getting worse— last year more than 1,500 churches openly bucked IRS laws that prevent “politicking from the pulpit” yet retained their tax-exempt status. Also at issue are other tax breaks given only to religious institutions and affiliates, such as parsonage exemptions and income tax exemptions for ministry. This year Congress is considering tax reform. Our panel will address what can be done to level the playing field. How can tax law be amended so that all non-profit organizations are treated equally and held to the same basic standards? What strategies can we employ as a movement to encourage lawmakers to put an end to unfair privileging to religious organizations over other secular non-profits?

Proposed Speakers Include:

- Steven Willis, University of Florida, background in tax exempt charities, CONFIRMED
- Senate Finance Committee, Senior Staff, invited
- House Ways and Means Committee, Senior Staff, TBA
- Joint Committee on Taxation, Senior Staff, TBA
- Department of Treasury, Office of Tax Policy, Senior Staff, TBA
- National Economic Council, the White House, TBA

Dinner on your own.

The Secular Coalition for America hosts its Major Donor reception  “Raise Your Glass”
at Art n Soul Restaurant in the Liaison Hotel. The most generous SCA supporters are invited to have cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres. Pledge cards and testimonials will be encouraged. An esteemed Guest from Congress will be in attendance. 

Contact Aisha Goss at aisha@secular.org for more information.

9:00-11:00 

Training session will focus on real-world transferable lobbying skills participants can implement immediately to lobby effectively at the federal level, and bring home with them to lobby effectively at the state level. Learn what lawmakers are looking for from lobbyists, and how to be persuasive and effective – starting from the basics. Session will include specifics on the entire process from scheduling the meeting, through the follow up and offer insight on persuasion tactics. Breakout sessions may include role playing.

* Continental breakfast provided.

10:00 AM- 5:00 PM

The Center for Inquiry is offering a discounted rate to Lobby Day attendees for their Symposium "Why Tolerate Religion?" Philosopher and legal scholar Brian Leiter argues in his new book that governments are wrong to single out religion and religious demands as deserving any special legal protection. The symposium will explore the issue with many well known speakers.