The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act: Bad For Women And Families

For Immediate ReleaseContact: Danielle Marse-Kapr845.629.8656 | dmarsekapr@ywca.orgSTATEMENT BY YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. CastilloThe tax legislation which passed the Senate today, brazenly threatens the health, economic security, and safety of women, families, and communities of color. As a result of this decision, 13 million people will be left without health insurance. Moreover, it will eliminate tax benefits that help women and families, such as deductions for child care, early education, student loan interest and medical expenses. These significant problems are exacerbated by projected deficit increases in the trillion of dollars, which jeopardize future funding for programs and services that help women and girls meet a variety of needs, including Medicaid, Pell Grants, child care, nutrition and housing assistance.In addition, the rollback of the Johnson Amendment and elimination of the charitable tax deduction undermine the strength and vitality of the non-profit sector which plays such a critical role in meeting community needs. YWCA alone helps 2.3 million people each year – together, the impact of nonprofits is immeasurable.This legislation—passed without opportunity for Senators to even read the bill, much less for constituents to meaningfully understand its consequences—will have lasting impact for decades to come. YWCA USA urges the House and Senate to address these serious deficiencies in the days ahead.About YWCA USAYWCA USA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. We are one of the oldest and largest women's organizations in the nation, serving over 2 million women, girls, and their families.YWCA has been at the forefront of the most pressing social movements for more than 150 years — from voting rights to civil rights, from affordable housing to pay equity, from violence prevention to health care reform. Today, we combine programming and advocacy in order to generate institutional change in three key areas: racial justice and civil rights, empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls, and health and safety of women and girls.###