• List of All Updates
• Look up legislation on Thomas
• Sign up for the NOW Action Alert list

Attendees to the summit participated in intensive backgrounding sessions on Social Security, Child Care, Patients’ Bill of Rights, Pay Equity, Hate Crimes legislation and other issues before moving on to Capitol Hill to meet with their members of Congress. At a breakfast on the second day, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) spoke to the group about his Fair Pay bill, followed by Rep. Sue Kelly (R-NY), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women’s Issues, who spoke about the need for pressing a women’s agenda in Congress and was echoed by her democratic counterpart, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). 

A press conference followed the breakfast, with leaders of about a dozen major women’s organizations speaking about women’s legislation that is pending before Congress. NOW Executive Vice President Kim Gandy spoke at the event, wondering whether -- in light of the fact that Congress has yet to act on so many important women’s bills -- they were even listening to women’s voices. (Her remarks can be found on the NOW website at http://www.now.org )

The summit was sponsored by the National Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO), a coalition of more than 100 national organizations who will meet soon to discuss the possibility of future summits in the nation’s capital. Some groups would like to see the summit become an annual event and grow to attract thousands of activists to D.C. to push for women’s equality.

The NOW Foundation took advantage of the occasion to conduct its own Leadership and Media Training, with Issue Briefing on Women’s Health,  prior to the summit, with about 45 NOW activists in attendance. Subjects such as Medicare reform, Patients’ Bill of Rights and other women’s health legislation, tobacco use and body image were covered and a skills-building session on how make good use of the media involved participants in brainstorming strategy and practicing on-camera interviews.

Many young women and women of color participated, demonstrating the strength and diversity of the women’s equality movement. Younger feminists were especially energized by the talk Gloria Steinem gave at an evening social gathering in honor of her imminent 65th birthday.  At that time, it was also announced that Ms. Steinem, with a group of partners, would resume ownership and editorial control of Ms. Magazine. Look for it on the ews stands soon!

Action Needed:

House and Senate Democrats ardently opposed the budget resolutions (H. Con. Res. 68/S. Con. Res. 20), criticizing many aspects, but both measures were approved in a vote cast primarily along party lines. The budget resolution sets the framework for federal pending and guides the 13 appropriations subcommittees as they review and authorize specific agency budgets for the coming fiscal year.

Part of the Republican budget strategy was advanced in a separate proposal, offered by Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-MI), that would place all expected budget surpluses (a projected $4.4 trillion over the next 10 years, mainly from Social Security contributions) in a ‘lock- box,’ supposedly not to be touched except for Social Security and to reduce the national debt. But analysts at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) say that the lock-box structured according to legislation being readied by Republican leadership, so that the Social Security surpluses can be used to finance risky individual retirement accounts. Also, these critics say, under this scenario, very little of the surplus will be left to trim the national debt.

Placing all budget surplus funds out of reach will mean that there will likely be no new social spending on such programs as combating violence against women, providing more low income housing and homeless services, expanding health care coverage and child care services  and other valued public policy goals for the many years. Another serious drawback of the Republican proposal is the absence of any funding allocation to shore up the ailing Medicare program, destined to run short of monies by 2010. 

Even more grim is the projected impact that $770 billion in tax cuts under the proposal would have on the federal budget; in combination with the significant costs of moving to a to privatized Social Security system, these actions would guarantee large federal deficits again within 10-15 years.

Twenty-eight House and Senate Democrats objected to the proposed allocations by noting in a letter that the “significant increases proposed in military spending go far beyond what is needed for our national security, and given the fact that the spending caps already severely constrain important programs, these military increases will come at the expense of every other function of the federal government.” Increased military spending is also supported by President Clinton which, no doubt, will complicate the budget fight.

The White House criticized other parts of the resolutions, saying that the caps on discretionary non-defense spending will require cuts of more than 12% in Fiscal Year 2000 and perhaps as much as 24% by 2004. CBPP says that cuts will rise to 29 % or higher by the year 2009 due to caps on discretionary spending and reduced revenues from tax cuts.

House and Senate versions are similar and final passage of a joint budget resolution is expected by mid-April. But because of strong Democratic opposition to cutting social spending, increasing tax cuts and expanding the military budget,  an appropriations battle is expected to last for many months. Republicans are also opposed to using other revenue sources to help ease the pressure that their budget resolution would exert on social programs

Action Needed:

For a detailed analysis of the Republican budget proposals and other important Congressional fiscal initiatives, visit the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities website,  http://www.cbpp.org/CBPP is a non-profit research organization which evaluates the impact of federal expenditures on middle and low income families.

At the same time, reports from food banks around the country report an increased demand for help, coming from growing numbers of working poor people and senior citizens. Rep. Tony Hall (D-OH) released the findings of a survey of 117 food banks which also note that they are receiving fewer donations. 

Action Needed:

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), House sponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 541), with House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO) and D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), spoke at that gathering. Del. Norton is the sponsor of the Fair Pay Act, (H.R. 1271). At other events coordinated by the National Committee for Pay Equity and Business and Professional Women/USA, governors, mayors and state agency officials participated in delivering the message, indicating the increasing importance of the issue and the need for Congressional action this session. President Clinton re-iterated his support for achieving pay equity for women at a round-table discussion on Wednesday, April 7th.

A recent study released in February by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) and the AFL-CIO by revealed that, on average, working women’s families lose about $4,000 in income annually due to the pay gap -- a loss that  remains even after accounting for differences in education, age, pay, geographic location and number of hours worked. 

In Congress, NOW and other pay equity advocates are asking Minority Leader Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) to strengthen various provisions to his Paycheck Fairness (S. 75) bill. Among those requests is restoration of data collection requirements that would improve information collection about employee pay to assist in enforcing federal law prohibiting pay discrimination. The data would be described by sex, race and national origin of employees under new regulations to be developed.

The bill would provide for better enforcement of the Equal Pay Act, by allowing women to sue their employers for unlimited compensatory and punitive damages, in addition to the limited damages and back pay awards now available under federal law to remedy pay violations. These provisions would offer women the same avenues of relief currently available to persons of color and other minority groups. Daschle’s bill also aims to educate employers, employees and the general public about the problem of pay discrimination.

Action Needed:

A copy of the study by IWPR and AFL-CIO is available by calling (202) 785-5100.

The deletion of funds is especially unfortunate at a time when many women are moving from
welfare to work is especially unfortunate. Additionally, the Workforce Investment Act, passed in 1998, which repealed the Job Training Partnership Act ( JTPA), also dropped other federal programs designed to help women achieve those better-paying occupations. States are now only asked to describe how they are going to serve low income women and displaced homemakers, but are not required to establish and fund specific training and hiring programs for those groups.

Rep. Connie Morella (R-MD) is taking a leadership role in preserving WANTO funding.

Action Needed:

BOB would reward states for developing programs which include child care, non-traditional employment and domestic violence services for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), that program replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). BOB would do this through a $1 billion bonus for the ten top performing states (each to receive an amount equal to 5% of the state family assistance grant). The bonus funds would  be used to
assure the provision of high quality child care services, employment training for jobs that pay a sustainable wage, and implementing the Family Violence Option (FVO). The FVO includes training on domestic violence for welfare case workers, conducting public education on domestic violence and confidentially screening and refering TANF applicants for problems with family violence. It would also allow “good cause” waivers for additional time to meet program requirements.

Action Needed:

CCDBG programs assist low income families to pay for child care services and the proposed increase is to be spent over the next five years. The tax credit is available to all families who have employment-related child care expenses and is now available to families where one parent stays home to care for an infant. 

Sen. Dodd and two dozen other senators are sponsoring the Child Care ACCESS Act (S. 17) which is one of the Senate Democratic leadership’s top ten priorities for this Congress. Additionally, President Clinton announced on March 16th that his administration will “support new investments in child care, expanding subsidies and providing greater tax relief for working families, increasing after-school opportunities for children, improving child care quality and providing new tax relief for parents who stay at home.” He noted that Rep. Ben Cardin (D-NY) has introduced the Child Care Improvement Act of 1999 and that Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) and other Democrats have introduced the Affordable Child Care, Education and Security Act which incorporates many of the President’s proposals.

The Lifetime Television channel will be airing a documentary about the lack of availability of affordable child care on April 20th, as part of a national campaign sponsored by NOW LDEF, the YWCA, and Girls, Inc., called Caring for Kids: Our Lifetime Commitment. To participate in the effort to pressure Congress to put child care on its agenda, send your messages and real life
stories about child care needs by visiting www.lifetimetv.com and responding with an email
message or by calling 1-800-522-0925. Also, May 1st will be observed as Worthy Wage Day to call attention to the need for increased pay for child care workers, many of whom receive the minimum hourly wage. 

Action Needed:

In response to this urgent need, the VAW Re-Authorization Bill (H.R. 1248) was introduced on
March 24th, by Reps. Connie Morella (R-MD) and Nancy Johnson (R-CT) to extend all existing Violence Against Women Act programs for five more years at adequate funding levels. H.R.1248 also streamlines a number of programs in a way that makes their operations more efficientand effective. Co-sponsors are being sought for the bill.

Among the vital services that current VAW programs provide:  law enforcement and prosecution grants to combat violence against women (including provision of victim services, assistance to state courts and law enforcement agencies); the National Domestic Violence Hotline which assists up to 10,000 callers a month; grants to encourage arrest policies; education and prevention grants to reduce sexual abuse of runaway, homeless and street youth; and, assistance to survivors of child abuse, rape prevention education and various grants for community initiatives to combat violence.

Current sponsors of H.R. 1248 are Reps. Berkley (D-NV), Biggert (R-IL), Boucher (D-VA), Carson (D-IN), Cubin (R-WY), Danner (D-M), DeGette (D-CO), Etheridge (D-NC), Fowler (R-FL), Gilman (R-OH), Granger (R-TX), Inslee (D-WA), Johnson (D-TX), Kelly (R-NY), Lantos (D-CA), Leach (R-IA), Lofgren (D-CA), Maloney (D-CT), Matsui (D-CA), McKinney (D-GA), McNulty (D-NY), Myrick (R-NC), Norton (D-DC), Rangel (D-NY), Shays (R-CT), Shows (D-MS), Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Waxman (D-CA) and Wilson (R-NM).

Action Needed:

On Thursday, April 15th, the bill will be offered as an amendment to H.R. 1073, the Homeless Housing and Programs Consolidation and Flexibility Act (H.R. 1073), sponsored by Rep. Rick Lazio (R-NY), chair of the Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee, which would appropriate $1.05 billion for homeless assistance. Democrats on the subcommittee will attempt to increase that appropriation by $400 million and to make funds available for survivors of domestic violence. 

Studies show that violence is a prevalent factor among homeless women, with as many as nine out of ten reporting battering or sexual assault experiences.  When survivors leave battered women’s shelters, they often face serious obstacles in obtaining affordable housing.

Action Needed:

Recent statistics with regard to arrest and incarceration of women are alarming. For instance, arrests of girls and women for drug offenses climbed 42 percent from 1991 to 1996 -- faster than arrests of males during the same period. Drug arrests for girls (most due to marijuana possession) have climbed even more quickly; more than tripling during those six years. Experts note a disparate impact of these policies with the incarceration of African Americans (both men and women) running at 55% for those (all races) convicted of drug offenses, despite the fact that African Americans constitute only 13% of the population. The Committee reports that the incarceration rate from 1991 to 1996 for black women increased by 82%! 

The pervasiveness of such punishing policies is noted in such areas as health care, where there is a pronounced lack of appropriate drug treatment services for women; in the Medicaid program where there is no coverage for residential drug treatment; and, under the Temporary Assistance to Need Families (TANF) program where recipients will become ineligible for assistance after only one drug conviction. 

Similarly, poor women become ineligible for public housing assistance after just one drug conviction; disabled persons are ineligible for Social Security Supplemental Income (SSI) help when their disabilities are related to drug use; and, HIV/AIDS low income patients are denied access to clean needles. 

The Higher Education Act of 1998, which was re-authorized last Congress, denies or delays financial aid eligibility to anyone convicted of a drug offense -- a particularly counterproductive policy as higher education is a sure route out of poverty.  No other criminal offense, even violent crimes, results in the loss of financial aid, according to the Drug Coordination Network (DRCNet) which is part of the coalition. They indicate that students on nearly 100 campuses are beginning to work on reforming these harsh policies.

Action Needed:

Advocates in the Senate are Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Harry Reid (D-NV), with House members, Reps. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Jim Greenwood (R-PA). Twenty other Senators, mostly Democrats, are co-sponsors; House advocates are looking for co-sponsors.

In March, over 40 women’s rights organizations, including NOW, in March wrote to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) seeking policy guidance on the question of whether the exclusion of contraceptive drugs and devices from employees’ health insurance plans is a violation of the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Such a determination would affect the thousands of employers who are covered by Title VII and whose employee health insurance excludes contraceptive coverage.

Action Needed:

Action Needed: