That's our message to Congress today.  Why?  As our country and the world celebrates International Women's Day, Congress has chosen to do nothing to stop across-the-board spending cuts that threaten the health and economic security of women, our families, and our national economy.

***Take action in honor of International Women's Day today. Tell Congress: Stop senseless cuts. Protect women, families, and our economy: http://action.momsrising.org/sign/sequester1/

Our voices now, sending messages, can make a big impact.  Congress can put a stop to these cuts, protect women and families, and help strengthen the economy.  It's up to them.

Congress needs to hear from us that we need a balanced approach to address our national fiscal challenges, which must include significant new revenues, and NOT indiscriminate across-the-board cuts which harm our families and our economy in the long run.  In the last two years, Congress has cut spending by more than twice the amount it’s raised revenues.  So a balanced approach going forward is essential.

The detrimental impact on women from automatic across-the-board cuts cannot be overstated. The sequester has massively reduced funding to women’s health programs, childcare and early learning, and will disproportionately cut women's jobs.   To be blunt, these are devastating cuts which were never meant to be implemented since the sequester (automatic across-the-board cuts) was put into place as an incentive for Congress to reach solutions before the automatic cuts started.

We can’t wait any longer. If we don’t speak up now, the consequences are dire.

***Honor International Women's Day by speaking up for women. Tell Congress to protect women and families today: http://action.momsrising.org/sign/sequester1/

What does the sequester (automatic cuts) mean for women?

Jobs: 750,000 jobs will be lost due to budget cuts from the sequester. These job losses will primarily affect public sector jobs, which are disproportionately held by women, who are 50% more likely to work in the public sector than men.

Safe pregnancies: The sequester cut four million dollars from the Safe Motherhood Initiative, a vital program that prevents pregnancy-related deaths. Every day in the United States, women die from preventable pregnancy- related complications. The US ranks 50th in maternal mortality and is one of only 23 countries to have increasing rates.  Further, a $50 million cut to the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block grant will block 5 million low-income families from receiving prenatal health care and additional services that reduce infant mortality and improve maternal health.

Domestic Violence: Though we’re thrilled with the recent passage of VAWA, its effectiveness could be compromised by a $20 million cut. A $9 million cut to the Family Violence Prevention Act will vastly reduce the primary source of funding for shelters for women and children escaping domestic violence. Over 112,000 fewer survivors of domestic violence will receive services.

Women's Health: The sequester included an $8 million cut to the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program and a $24 million cut from Title X family planning and reproductive services.

Unemployment Insurance: Unemployment remains high especially for single mothers and many women with families are at risk of losing their unemployment insurance. Nearly 4 million people will face cuts to federal jobless aid.

Early Learning and Education: Cuts to Head Start will remove 70,000 kids from Head Start programs. 2,700 schools will see budget cuts, including the loss of 10,000 teachers and 7,000 special education teachers.

This is urgent: The health and welfare of women are at stake. We need Congress to come up with a better solution, and we needed it yesterday.

*****Honor International Women's Day by speaking up for women. Tell Congress to protect women and families today: http://action.momsrising.org/sign/sequester1/

Please share this action far and wide. Post the action link on your Facebook wall and forward this blogpost far and wide.  The more voices, the stronger our message to Congress.

Thank you for everything you do for women and families!