American Association of University Women - Laurel
Public Policy
AAUW is strictly non-partisan, but it does have an attitude. The public policy issues are set with member feedback, including an every member survey. Here is a collection of information that may be of interest.
National Issues
For more than a century, AAUW has influenced legislative debate on critical issues such as education, Social Security, sex discrimination, civil rights, reproductive choice, affirmative action, Title IX, welfare reform, vocational education, pay equity, family and medical leave, and health care reform.
The AAUW Voter Education Campaign is part of the Women's Network for Change committed to mobilizing voters on issues affecting women. This network issues Get the Facts alerts. These alerts, which are issued once every other week by FAX and email, highlight how congressional proposals affect women.
For more information mail votered@mail.aauw.org or call (800)608-5286.
Voter Education Campaign
Washington, D.C., July 16, 1998 A new national poll released today by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) shows a vast majority of women across political party lines believe the federal government should play a strong national role in public education. The poll kicks off AAUW's voter education campaign and activities nationwide that will include issue forums, candidate debates, and voter guides.
Conducted by Lake, Snell, Perry & Associates for AAUW, the poll surveyed 600 registered women voters ages 18 and older. While all women are worried about the state of public schools nationally, they are hopeful that the federal government can make schools safer, improve the quality of education by implementing standards for teachers and students and reducing class size, and ensure equal access and opportunities for all students.
"When it comes to our children, women know that it's not whether, but when we pay. If we don't invest now, we'll pay a heavy price later as we see our children and society suffer because of our short-sightedness and reliance on quick fix approaches to public education," said Janice Weinman, executive director of AAUW. "This poll reveals a reality gap between what members of Congress are doing to public education in America and what women voters want them to do."
While Congress is trying to block-grant all funds for a large number of elementary and secondary education programs, the AAUW poll shows that women want public money only to support public schools (72 percent of Democrats, 65 percent of Independents, and 58 percent of Republicans). Congress is threatening to reduce the role of the federal government in public education, yet women want just the opposite 68 percent of women polled think the federal government is not spending enough on education. Women were very clear about their priorities for schools:
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National programs to make schools safe (86 percent of women polled);
- National standards for teachers to ensure a quality education for
our children (89 percent);
- National standards to make sure children learn the basics, like
math and reading, to better prepare them for the future (84 percent); and
- Federal programs to give boys and girls the same opportunities in school (90 percent).
Women strongly support a quality public education and are willing to take that commitment to the voting booth come November, according to Weinman. Eighty percent of women say they are more likely to vote for a member of Congress who supports a national investment in education. Seventy-two percent would vote against a member of Congress that supported eliminating the Department of Education and cutting federal funding for schools.
The poll which kicks off the AAUW voter education campaign, reveals the critical importance of education to women voters. AAUW's get-out-the-vote, nonpartisan campaign is designed to educate women on the important issues affecting their lives. Through its massive volunteer grassroots network of 160,000 members and 1,600 branches, AAUW will inform women how Congress voted on education and other critical issues, such as reproductive rights and affirmative action.
"In recent elections we have seen what a powerful force women can be," said Sandy Bernard, president of AAUW. "In 1996, AAUW reached nearly one million women voters through the voter education campaign. This year, we will continue this drive to get even more women to the polls. There's a lot at stake for women in 1998."
As part of AAUW's grassroots voter education campaign, thousands of women receive bi-monthly updates on important congressional actions, to share with co-workers and post in their communities. Women also can get information and become involved in the campaign through an 800 number (800/608-5286) or through the new Two-Minute Activist feature on AAUW's website, which allows women to link directly to their members of Congress. Later this fall, local AAUW branches will release voter guides highlighting how individual members of Congress voted on critical issues.http://capwiz.com/aauw/home/
"We know the power of one vote," Bernard added. "Women can make a difference by electing a Congress that will stand up for public education, stand up for women and their families. For more than a century AAUW has been advocating for education and equity for women and girls, providing women with facts and information they can trust."
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Maryland Public Policy
Maryland AAUW has adopted a Public Policy Program for 1999 - 2001. For additional information, contact:
Ruth Manchester
- AAUW Maryland Public Policy Vice President
- 105 Lexington Drive
- Silver Spring, Maryland 20901
- (301) 593-5699
- email: Ruth G. Manchester
- Maryland AAUW is a member of the Legislative Agenda for Maryland Women (LAMW), a grassroots effort to improve state laws through collaboration and coalition, Once again, during the 2000 General Assembly, it demonstrated the power of collective advocacy on behalf of Maryland Women and their families.
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Prince George's County Public Policy
The Laurel Branch of AAUW is a strong advocate for full and adequate funding of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System. Visit the Friends of the Laurel Library.
The Laurel Branch of AAUW is a member of the Womens Action Coaltion of Prince George's County.
International Connections
Think globally, act locally.
Members of AAUW are members of the International Federation of University Women (IFUW), an international nongovernmental organization of more than 180,000 women university graduates from 67 national federations and associations whose mission is to: to improve the status of women and girls; to further the development of education; to protect human rights; and to promote peace.
Contribute to the Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund for University Women, a charitable and educational fund which supports projects worldwide focusing on women's educational activities; leadership training; community development; and the advancement of understanding and cooperation among women.
Contribute to Micro-Credit in Africa, a charitable organization established by AAUW-Laurel member Haoua Diatta. Mrs. Diatta, wife of the Niger Ambassador to the United States, founded this organization to further the lifes of women and girls in Niger. She hopes to expand to other African countries.
Other Sources of Voter Information:
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Project Vote Smart is a national non-partisan, non-profit effort researches, which tracks and provides to the public independent factual information on over 13,000 candidates and elected officials. Voting records, campaign issue positions, performance evaluations by special interests, campaign contributions, backgrounds, previous experience, and contact information are available, over a toll-free Voter's Research Hotline, manuals and other publications, and the Vote Smart Web site.
- League of Women Voters. The
League of Women Voters is a multi-issue organization whose mission is
to encourage the informed and active participation of citizens in
government and to influence public policy through education and advocacy.
- Almanac of Policy Issues. Neutral backgrounders on many controversial issues (death penalty, campaign finance reform, abortion, etc.), including links to news, articles, directories, and associations on either side of the issue.
last update 4/17/03