BPW Fact Sheet BPW/USA Business and Professional Women/USA, founded in 1919, promotes equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information. With 30,000 members in more than 1,600 local organizations represented in every congressional district in the country, BPW/USA includes among its members women and men of every age, race, religion, political party and socio-economic background. BPW/USA monitors federal legislation that affects workingwomen and educates its members to become involved in policy development in their own workplaces, and at the local, state and federal government levels. Among the first of women's organizations to endorse the Equal Rights Amendment in 1937, BPW/USA has been a leader in promoting legislation affecting workingwomen including: The Women's Business Ownership Act Equal Pay Act of 1963 Violence Against Women Act of 1994 The Retirement Equity Act of 1984 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1987 Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 Women’s Educational Equity Act of 1974 The Equal Credit Opportunity Act Legislative Platform BPW/USA annually releases its national legislation platform, which includes planks that call for: Economic Equity Ensure pay equity, equal educational and economic opportunities at all stages of life; and promote affordable, quality dependent care to help ensure economic self-sufficiency for women. Health Ensure reproductive choice and full access to all reproductive health services and education; ensure funds for research into and protections for women's health care needs; and encourage the development of a national health care plan recognizing the special health care needs of women. Civil Rights Ensure equal rights and remedies for women in all phases of their lives; support affirmative action; eliminate sexual harassment and violence against women. BPW's political action committee, the BPW/PAC, provides contributions and endorsements to women and pro-women candidates who support BPW's legislative priorities. The BPW Foundation BPW's Foundation collects, conducts and analyzes research on issues affecting women Foundation in the workplace while providing financial assistance for women to further their education. The Foundation, which has awarded over $6 million in scholarships, loans and grants to almost 8, 000 women, raises money to educate women who need additional skills to advance in their careers or re-enter the workforce. The Foundation’s Marguerite Rawalt Resource Center, one of the nation's first and most comprehensive libraries dedicated to working women's issues, serves as a reference source of information for members and over 200 other libraries across the country.