Noted National Women's Rights Activist To Present Keynote Address At Legislative Briefing In February

ba/legspk.pr Contact: LaTaunya Howard, 301-279-8300

NOTED NATIONAL WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVIST
TO PRESENT KEYNOTE ADDRESS
AT LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING IN FEBRUARY For Immediate Release: Jan. 22, 1998

Pat Reuss, chair of the National Task Force on Violence Against Women, will present
the keynote address at the 1998 Women's Legislative Briefing on February 1 in Bethesda.
Reuss, who also directs the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund (LDEF) in
Washington, DC, was instrumental in the 1994 passage of the $1.62 billion Violence Against
Women Act and the inclusion of the Family Violence Amendment to the 1996 welfare bill.
Prior to opening NOW LDEF's Washington office in 1991, Reuss served as Legislative
Director of the Women's Equity Action league. She has worked on projects for the Women's
Campaign Fund, Planned Parenthood and the Women's Pension Rights Consortium and is
noted for her expertise on tax, budget and health policy, especially on behalf of low-income
and poor families.
Before coming to Washington in 1979, Reuss formed chapters of the Women's
Political Caucus in Montana and Colorado, encouraging women to become involved in the
political process. In 1988, she was cited by Ladies Home Journal as "one of the 100 most
important women in America."
Reuss earned a degree in Social Sciences from the University of California at Riverside and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado.
She is the mother of three "twenty-something" sons who credits her political savvy to her
early career as a junior high school teacher and her current role as a single parent.
The free program begins at 12:30 p.m., followed by workshops on legislation in the
areas of health, civil rights, education, children, economics and domestic violence and safety.
A plenary session from 4:15 to 5 p.m. will feature a panel discussion by legislators on what
kind of advocacy is -- and is not -- effective. The briefing will close with a reception with
legislators at 5 p.m.
The event is sponsored by the Commissions for Women in Montgomery, Calvert,
Charles, Frederick, and Prince George's counties, the state of Maryland and District of
Columbia, in addition to 40 women's and community groups.
The snow date is February 8. For information about cancellation on the day of the
event, tune in to WMAL or WTOP radio or call 301-217-8800.
For more information or to pre-register, call the Montgomery County Commission for
Women at 301-279-8301; TDD 301-279-1034.

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