Sacramento AAUW Public Policy Update By Arlene Cullum

In early January, we experienced some of the darkest days in our nation’s history. One can only hope that our country will heal over time after the inauguration and we will have the opportunity to reflect positively on our path.

Days after the crisis, you received an email from Kimberly Churches, our national AAUW chief executive officer, who reassured the organization that AAUW is “proud (to) join in solidarity with leading gender justice and equity organizations … to hold responsible individuals accountable for their actions.”  The hope is that the unified message will inspire those in power to action.

On Jan. 11, the Sacramento AAUW Public Policy Committee processed the events in DC and then received a Federal Update from Karen Humphrey.  She informed us that the Department of Education may be initiating an Office of Gender Equity, and our new Secretary of Education may be putting sexual harassment and gender equity back on the table.

Arlene Cullum then provided a presentation on the Maternal Health Public Policy Update.  She outlined the opportunities to impact prematurity, the costs of prematurity, and the high unintended pregnancy rate in California and the United States (up to 48-50 percent).  Multiple federal maternal health bills were introduced in the House and Senate last year, and the themes of voluntary state expansion of postpartum care to one year, data collection and perinatal collaboratives, and impacting disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality were discussed.

The committee also reviewed a form and process to submit public policy requests to the board.

Reminder: A webinar on “How To Speak To Your Legislator” training will be held on March 22, 2021 at 7 p.m.  Please sign up on the California AAUW website under upcoming trainings.  The State AAUW Lobby Day will be held on March 24, 2021.  There is still time to sign up!