YWCA USA Mourns the Death of Senator Kennedy

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ — The YWCA USA joins the nation in mourning the death of Senator Edward Kennedy, a progressive political force who worked tirelessly for nearly five decades to advance civil rights, education, social welfare, and health care. He authored 2,500 pieces of legislation that helped to improve the lives of all Americans.

“Senator Kennedy was a champion of issues of critical importance to the YWCA,” said Lorraine Cole, PhD, YWCA USA CEO. “His dream lives on in his remarkable legacy of legislative accomplishments.”

Kennedy was a steadfast proponent of raising the minimum wage, increased funding for Head Start, and the expansion of the Women, Infants and Children Program that provides nutritional assistance to pregnant women and mothers in need. He also championed critical women’s and civil rights issues, including the Equal Rights Amendment, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Mental Health Parity Act, the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and hate crimes legislation.

His greatest legacy, said Cole, was his three-decade commitment to ending health care disparities and promoting universal health care for all Americans. He sponsored the Ryan White CARE Act that provides funding for AIDS services and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that provides health care to children of parents with low-incomes.

Visit www.tedkennedy.org to learn more about Kennedy’s career, share your memories about the Senator, express your sympathies with his family, or make a donation to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.

YWCA USA is a national not-for-profit membership organization that provides social services, advocacy, education and leadership development. It is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Established in the United States in 1858, the YWCA is the oldest and largest national women’s organization, and celebrating its 150th anniversary. Through its nearly 300 affiliated local YWCAs and its headquarters in Washington, D.C., the YWCA serves 2.5 million women and girls each year. Globally, the YWCA USA is a member of World YWCA, which has affiliates in 103 countries that serve 25 million women and girls worldwide. Visit www.ywca.org.

SOURCE YWCA USA