Press Release
President Obama Acknowledges AAUW's Role in Advocating for Important Bill
Paycheck Fairness Act Falls in Senate, but AAUW Vows to Press Forward
WASHINGTON – Following today's disappointing Senate vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act, President Barack Obama personally thanked Lisa Maatz of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), acknowledging AAUW's leadership role in advocating for the bill. The procedural defeat of the Paycheck Fairness Act by a 58-41 vote was a missed opportunity by the Senate to make real progress on closing the wage gap.
"The fact is that we had a majority of U.S. senators vote in support of the Paycheck Fairness Act," said Maatz, AAUW director of public policy and government relations. "The White House has been a great partner on this issue, and we look forward to continuing our efforts. Today's vote was seriously disappointing, but AAUW is nothing if not persistent — 130 years of persistence, in fact."
Maatz was among the honored guests in a special Roosevelt Room meeting this afternoon with the president, Domestic Policy Advisor Melody Barnes, Special Advisor Valerie Jarrett, and White House Director of the Office of Public Engagement Tina Tchen, as well as a handful of other leaders on the issue. High on the list of items for discussion were continued efforts to close the wage gap, create jobs, improve family economic security, and address work-life balance issues.
To read AAUW's full reaction to today's Senate vote, please visit www.aauw.org/media/pressreleases/pfaVote_11172010.cfm.
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AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation's leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW's founding more than 129 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW's commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections.