| Coalition
for Budget Integrity |
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NOW Legal Defense Fund
Balanced Budget Amendment Fact
Sheet
Evidence has shown that programs benefitting the poor are
disproportionately cut during efforts to balance the budget.
(See The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities "Bearing Most
of the Burden") A majority of these programs' recipients
consist of women and children. Therefore, the cuts made to
balance the budget fall disproportionately on poor women and
children. Someone must stand up for this under-represented
constituency.
97% of AFDC recipients are WOMEN AND CHILDREN
AFDC is a cash assistance program serving almost 15 million
people. Typically, the total income (vouchers and cash) of a
mother and two children receiving AFDC and food stanps is $661
per month -- only 2/3 of the poverty line! Women head over 85%
of the single-parent families and almost half of families
headed by single mothers are poor, partly because women earn
70% of men's earnings. Only families with children qualify for
AFDC -- and 2/3 of all AFDC recipients are children. If the
states adopt draconian paternity-establishment provisions,
assistance for as many as 3.3 million children could be
eliminate. In additon, up to 70,000 children could be denied
AFDC simply because they were born to unmarried mothers under
18 if states choose to implement this provision. Cuts threaten
to eliminate the JOBS program, which provides education, training and work
programs for parents receiving AFDC. 90% of people in the JOBS
program are women. The welfare conference agreement eliminates
the provision that would have exempted battered women from the
work requirement if their safety would be jeopardized.
85% of MEDICAID recipients are WOMEN and CHILDREN
This safety net program provides health care for the poorest
Americans, including a quarter of our nation's children.
Coverage for millions of children, elderly, and people with
disabilities is threatened. States may be unable to provide
health services for home care patients and nursing home
residents. 75% of nursing home residents are women.
85% of FOOD STAMP recipients are WOMEN and CHILDREN
This program provides impoverished children and working poor
women and families with vouchers for buying food. Food Stamps
ensure that 26 million vulnerable Americans won't go hungry.
Cuts could deny benefits to tens of thousands of legal
immigrants and disabled children.
75% of Earned Income Tax Credit recipients are WOMEN
The EITC helps low-income working moms pay for food, clothing,
transportation, and shelter, and keeps them from going back on
welfare. Any reduction will increase taxes on millions of low-
and moderate-income working families -- primarily families with
children.
68% of SSI funds go to WOMEN and CHILDREN
Almost 2/3 of disabled children currently eligible for
Supplemental Security Income could be denied or receive reduced
benefits along with 300,000 low-income children due to cuts.
58% of MEDICARE recipients are WOMEN
This vital health care program serves 36.3 million seniors and
people withdisabilities.
100% of CHILD NUTRITION funds go to WOMEN and KIDS
Programs being threatened are: school breakfast and lunch;
Women, Infants, Children (WIC); and meals for child care and
summer programs.
100% of VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN funds help WOMEN and FAMILIES
Cuts threaten Violence Against Women Act funding for shelters
and sexual assault programs, where funds are so desperately
needed to help women and children be safe.
100% of Women's Educational Equity Act helps GIRLS and WOMEN
Legislation could eliminate this program that helps schools
implement non-discriminatory practices and curricula.
84% of PUBLIC HOUSING funds go to WOMEN and KIDS
The median annual income of these families is only $6,800.
75% of ENERGY ASSISTANCE goes to WOMEN and KIDS
This program helps 5 to 6 million low-income families with
home heating and cooling bills.
56% of STUDENT LOANS go to WOMEN
Poor and middle class families rely most heavily on these
loans.
58% of Public Transport riders are WOMEN and KIDS in urban
communities; 70% of Public Transport riders are WOMEN and KIDS in non-urban
communities
These programs are threatened with increased fares and
decreased services for poor women who depend on public
transportation.
50% of LEGAL SERVICES are used by WOMEN
This program provides essential legal services to poor women
and their families to help them escape domestice violence,
avoid eviction, and collect subsistence benefits. Over 71% of
the legal needs of the poor are currently unmet.
41% of HOMELESS ASSISTANCE goes to WOMEN and KIDS on AFDC
Assistance to more than 16,000 homeless children could be
denied. Almost half of the women in homeless shelters are
fleeing domestic violence. Women head almost 60% of the
familes that now pay over 50% of their income in rent; funding
for these families is being eliminated.
Compiled and produced by Kate O'Malley, Cecelia Prewett,
Bronwen Macro, NOW LDEF/ WDC. For further information or a
list of sources, contact Diane Greenhalgh or Pat Reuss,
(202)544-4470.)
Click here for NOW Legal Defense Fund's
web site.