Social Security is one of our country's most successful anti-poverty programs, providing benefits to children, disabled workers, surviving spouses, and retirees. Without Social Security benefits, more than half of older women would fall into poverty. However, there is growing movement in the Senate to reduce the federal budget deficit by cutting Social Security and Medicare programs, which would have a devastating and disproportionately negative impact on women. Urge your senators to oppose cuts to these programs. Several senators have threatened to hold up other budget legislation unless a debt-reducing, entitlement-cutting commission is established. This commission's recommendations would be crafted behind closed doors, the normal process of debate would be ignored, and no amendments would be allowed before a vote. This 'all or nothing' commission would fast-track cuts to these critical programs. AAUW opposes this clearly undemocratic, non-transparent commission process. The Social Security program continues to run a surplus and is expected to be able to pay full benefits for another 30 years without affecting the deficit, giving Congress ample time to make adjustments to future benefits through the normal legislative process. And the best way to way to reign in the costs of Medicare is through the current health care reform bills, not by cutting benefits to the millions of Americans who depend on the program for their health care.  More than two-thirds of unmarried women would be living below the poverty line without the help of Social Security, which also supports more children than Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), also known as welfare. In these tough economic times, cutting social programs like Social Security and Medicare could be devastating to women and families across our nation. Now more than ever, these programs need to be protected and expanded. AAUW is not opposed to reforming and improving these programs, but we must tell the Senate that the 'all or nothing,' undemocratic process of the commission is not the way to do it. Take Action! Urge your senators to oppose the formulation of an undemocratic commission that would target Social Security and Medicare programs.