Public Policy is the arm of AAUW concerned with advancing our organizational mission by lobbying our legislators and participating in the democratic process. Contacting local, state and federal representatives is easier than you think. Each contact to a state legislator is seen as representing the views of about 100 people. A federal legislative contact is seen as 1,000 people. No wonder a handful of dedicated advocates can have a tremendous impact on the legislative process!
One way AAUW helps keep us all informed about issues of importance is through the Get the Facts network. Once a month the national office sends out a bulletin by fax or e-mail. The branch, in turn, forwards that notice to every one of our members on our branch e-mail network. If you forward the message on, you can see how rapidly and widely the information spreads.
The public policy program underscores AAUW's mission of promoting equity and education for all women and girls. The work of AAUW builds upon a century of responsible public participation at the local, state, national, and international levels. AAUW is committed to working in partnership with diverse allies.
The following principles provide a basis for AAUW members' actions at the local, state, and federal levels. Implicit in each is support for government agencies administering programs, including adequate appropriations, effective administration, and provision for citizen participation. We work to increase the number of underrepresented populations, including women, in policy-making positions.
AAUW supports constitutional protection for the civil rights of all individuals, including the right to privacy. We oppose all forms of discrimination. We support affirmative action as a remedy for past discrimination. We affirm our commitment to passage and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
AAUW believes that quality public education is the foundation of a democratic society. We advocate equity, academic freedom, protection from censorship, bias-free education, and responsible funding for all levels of education. We advocate increased access to higher education, especially for women in poverty.
AAUW promotes the economic, social, and physical well-being of all persons. Essential to that well-being are an economy that provides equitable employment opportunities, reduction of poverty, quality dependent care, decent housing, and quality affordable health care; freedom from violence; and a clean and healthful environment. We support public budgets that balance individual rights and responsibility to community.
AAUW values and is committed to the arts and humanities, which develop and enhance our pluralistic cultural heritage.
AAUW believes that global interdependence requires national and international policies that promote peace, justice, human rights, sustainable development, and mutual security for all people. We support a strengthened United Nations and its affiliated agencies. We advocate implementation of the Platform for Action from the 4th World Conference on Women.
Biennial priorities for federal action are chosen according to the criteria of viability, critical need, strong member support, and potential for distinctive AAUW contribution.
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