FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Elizabeth Owens, owense@aauw.org 202.785.

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AAUW Urges Congress to Protect Women and Families in Budget, End Sequestration WASHINGTON The American Association of University Women (AAUW) released the following statement from Lisa Maatz, vice president of public policy and government relations, on the October 30 meeting of the House-Senate budget conference committee: Now that Congress has ended its self-made crisis of government shutdown, we must pursue responsible budgeting, including ending the indiscriminate and irrational cuts under sequestration. Congress has had months to find a solution to sequestration, and its time for members to come together to support budget policies that further the principles of fairness and fiscal responsibility and protect women and their families. The solution is not ruthless cuts to federal spending and deficits, which will weaken critical programs that benefit millions of Americans and our nations bottom line. Instead, we need a balanced approach that includes additional revenues. AAUW supports closing corporate tax loopholes while continuing current rates for the middle class. This policy will reduce the deficit without creating devastating cuts to programs that directly affect Americas poor and middle class people still recovering from the recession who are now suffering the additional sting of sequestration. If hard choices need to be made, AAUW strongly believes all budget areas, including defense spending, should be on the table. Unless Congress acts, the damaging effects of sequestration will continue throughout the next decade. Women and families cant afford that. Neither can kids who depend on after-school programs or domestic violence survivors. The list goes on and on. Congress needs to stop messing with peoples lives and find a fair solution.
### The American Association of University Women (AAUW) empowers women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Our nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and 800 college and university partners. Since AAUW's founding in 1881, our members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day educational, social, economic, and political. Learn more and join us at www.aauw.org.