Susan Hoover
NYS Public Policy Director

For over a century, the American Association of University Women has examined the fundamental issues of the times - educational, social, economic, and political - and has taken courageous positions, often far ahead of popular opinion.

The Advocacy Policies that guide AAUW are determined by the members at Convention. All AAUW Public Policy actions must conform to these policies. Information on the National Public Policy issues may be found on the national website - http://www.aauw.org/advocacy/issue_advocacy/

The AAUW Public Policy Program is voted upon at each biennial AAUW Convention

The AAUW NYS Biennial Action Priorities 2011-2013 were voted upon at the 2011 AAUW NYS Convention. Resolutions approved at the AAUW NYS Convention become priority issues requiring the state to expend resources to implement. A brochure is available which you may print for distribution in your community.

Join the AAUW Action Network free and be a part of what is happening nationally with AAUW issues. You will receive:

• The Two Minute Activist which lets you easily and efficiently tell Congress what you think.
• Washington Update is a weekly e-bulletin for members only who want detailed inside information about AAUW issues in the capital.

Resolutions passed conventions require us to focus on specific issues. Webpages have been established for these concerns of AAUW NYS members. All are part of our NYS Public Policy Priorities 2011-13.

Five resolutions have been passed at the 2005 and 2006 AAUW-NYS Conventions. There were no resolutions added to this inclusive list in 2007 or 2009, but one was added in 2008. Details for resources and action plans for all of them is available here.

• Child Care and its Economic Impact to Families in New York State
• Human Trafficking - Legislation passed!!! The anti-trafficking law is effective Nov 30, 2007. The Safe Harbor Act was signed into law September 25, 2008. It prevents juveniles, US Citizens or not, from being arrested for prostitution but will provide appropriate care for them.
• Promoting and Educating Women to Run for Elected/Appointed Office - Powerpoint presentation available for branches.
• Pay Equity
• Equitable NYS School Funding - Successfully Implemented!!!
• CLEAN MONEY, CLEAN ELECTIONS - adopted in 2008. "Project Sunlight" is a site which NYS Attorney General Cuomo's office has developed to let us see the internal results of campaign financing. You can learn the source of a candidate's funds, the legislation representatives have sponsored and the laws governing special interests. It is a wonderful source of information, useful to all of us.

2011-2013 BIENNIAL ACTION PRIORITIES, AAUW-NYS (Adopted April 2011)

Biennial priorities for action are chosen according to the criteria of viability, critical need, strong member support, and potential for distinctive AAUW contribution. These AAUW NYS Public Policy Action Priorities do not preclude members, branches or the state from acting on any other issues clearly stated in the AAUW Public Policy Program.

1. To support a strong system of public education in New York State that promotes gender fairness, equity and diversity, AAUW New York State advocates:

• Adequate and equitable funding for quality public education for all students
• Vigorous enforcement of Title IX
• Protection of programs that meet the needs of girls in elementary and secondary education
• Opposition to the use of public funds for non-public elementary and secondary education
• Responsible funding for all levels of education, including early childhood education

2. To achieve economic self-sufficiency for all women, AAUW New York State advocates:

• Fairness in compensation, including pay equity, Social Security and other pension benefits for women
• Equitable access and advancement in employment
• Vigorous enforcement of employment anti-discrimination statutes
• Access to affordable, quality, comprehensive health care; and choice in reproductive health care for all women
• Programs that provide women with education, training, and support for success in the workforce and improve women’s earning potential, including women's entrepreneurship.
• Greater availability of and access to quality, affordable dependent care
  

2011-2013 AAUW PUBLIC POLICY PRINCIPLES FOR ACTION
(Adopted June 2011)

Basic to all of AAUW's public policy efforts is the understanding that true equity requires a balance between the rights of the individual and the needs of the community. AAUW opposes all forms of discrimination and supports constitutional protection for the civil rights of all individuals.

AAUW believes that quality public education is the foundation of a democratic society. We advocate equitable climates free of harassment and bullying, academic freedom, civic education, protection from censorship, bias-free education, and responsible funding for all levels of education, including early childhood education. We advocate increased access to higher education, especially for women in poverty. We promote equitable efforts to close the persistent achievement gap that disproportionately affects low-income children and students from minority communities.

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, a livable wage, quality affordable dependent care, paid family and medical leave, decent and affordable housing, quality affordable health care, and a clean and healthful environment. We support a Social Security system that provides inflation-protected, guaranteed lifetime benefits with a progressive benefit formula, spousal and widow benefits, and disability and survivor benefits.

AAUW believes in the right to privacy, freedom from violence, and choice in the determination of one's reproductive life. We firmly believe in the separation of church and state. We support a fair, balanced, and independent judiciary. We support public budgets that balance individual rights and responsibility to the community.

AAUW supports affirmative action to improve racial, ethnic, and gender diversity and affirms our commitment to passage and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. We support meaningful campaign finance reform and voter education efforts that will promote equitable political participation and representation in appointed and elected office. 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 against human trafficking and 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 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action from the 4th World Conference on Women and subsequent declarations. We affirm our commitment to the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). We support international family planning programs that are consistent with AAUW policy.