MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1996

Note corrected time of 1pm

WHO:

Kate Engle, domestic violence survivor and spokesperson for the National Welfare Rights Union, and other survivors and welfare recipients

U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.) and Representatives Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Robert Matsui (D-Calif.) and Constance Morella (R-MD)

with NOW President Patricia Ireland, Martha Davis with the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, and study author Jody Raphael with the Taylor Institute

WHAT: Will release dramatic results of a new study, "Prisoners of Abuse: Domestic Violence and Welfare Receipt,"

WHEN: Wednesday, May 1, 1996, at 1 p.m.

WHERE: U.S. Capitol, Senate side, basement meeting room SC-5.

WHY: This study reveals that up to 80 percent of women on welfare are survivors of domestic violence or are attempting to escape violent relationships. Punitive welfare reform proposals would inflict further violence against these women who are desperately trying to become self-sufficient.

"Passage of ANY of the welfare dismantling proposals currently before Congress could mean a death sentence for tens of thousands of women and children who have survived domestic violence," said NOW President Patricia Ireland. "This research proves that battered women must have access to life-saving services such as shelter, medical care, child care, financial and legal assistance, to counseling, if they are to have a chance for survival. Those pushing for punitive welfare cuts better believe the voting public won't be forgiving at the polls for such deceitful, hateful politics that could literally cost lives."