Legis Daily

Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018

USA115th CongressS-3247| Senate 
| Updated: 1/9/2019
John Boozman

John Boozman

Republican Senator

Arkansas

Cosponsors (12)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Johnny Isakson (Republican)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Marco Rubio (Republican)Cory Gardner (Republican)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)

Foreign Relations Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018 This bill modifies U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs to provide targeted assistance for women. USAID strategies and projects shall be shaped by analysis to address gender differences, including how results may be different for men and women due to issues such as gender roles and structural barriers. The President is authorized to provide programs in developing countries for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, particularly those owned, managed, and controlled by women. Previously, authorization for such programs was largely limited to microenterprises. The President is also authorized to provide targeted assistance programs that promote economic empowerment of women, including through increased access to financial resources, improving property and inheritance rights, and other legal protections. For sustainable poverty-focused programs, half of resources targeting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises shall be for activities that reach the very poor. Half of resources for programs for small and medium-sized enterprises shall be for activities targeting enterprises owned, managed, or controlled by women. The bill directs USAID to modify its system for monitoring its programs to include outcomes broken down by gender, when feasible. The President is authorized to expand the micro and small business development credit program to provide such assistance to medium-sized businesses as well. The bill also directs USAID to break down various information in its annual report by gender and income level. USAID shall also report to Congress on the implementation of this bill. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress an assessment of the effect of development assistance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries, and the extent to which such aid benefits women and the very poor.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
5 versions available

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Timeline
Jul 18, 2018

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-5480
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Jul 19, 2018
Introduced in Senate
Jul 19, 2018
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Nov 28, 2018
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Nov 28, 2018
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Nov 28, 2018
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 683.
Dec 19, 2018
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Dec 19, 2018
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Dec 19, 2018
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 20, 2018
Received in the House.
Dec 20, 2018
Held at the desk.
Dec 21, 2018
Mr. Royce (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Dec 21, 2018
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10550-10553)
Dec 21, 2018
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3247.
Dec 21, 2018
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Dec 21, 2018
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H10576-10577)
Dec 21, 2018
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 352 - 18 (Roll no. 492). (text: CR H10550-10552)
View Vote
Dec 21, 2018
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jan 2, 2019
Presented to President.
Jan 9, 2019
Signed by President.
Jan 9, 2019
Became Public Law No: 115-428.
  • July 18, 2018

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-5480
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • July 19, 2018
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 19, 2018
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • November 28, 2018
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • November 28, 2018
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • November 28, 2018
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 683.


  • December 19, 2018
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.


  • December 19, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.


  • December 19, 2018
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 20, 2018
    Received in the House.


  • December 20, 2018
    Held at the desk.


  • December 21, 2018
    Mr. Royce (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • December 21, 2018
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10550-10553)


  • December 21, 2018
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3247.


  • December 21, 2018
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • December 21, 2018
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H10576-10577)


  • December 21, 2018
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 352 - 18 (Roll no. 492). (text: CR H10550-10552)
    View Vote


  • December 21, 2018
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • January 2, 2019
    Presented to President.


  • January 9, 2019
    Signed by President.


  • January 9, 2019
    Became Public Law No: 115-428.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 115-5480: Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018
Congressional oversightCredit and credit marketsCrimes against womenEconomic developmentExecutive agency funding and structureForeign aid and international reliefGovernment lending and loan guaranteesGovernment studies and investigationsLand use and conservationPerformance measurementPoverty and welfare assistanceProperty rightsSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationSmall businessU.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)Wages and earningsWomen in businessWomen's employmentWomen's rights

Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018

USA115th CongressS-3247| Senate 
| Updated: 1/9/2019
Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018 This bill modifies U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs to provide targeted assistance for women. USAID strategies and projects shall be shaped by analysis to address gender differences, including how results may be different for men and women due to issues such as gender roles and structural barriers. The President is authorized to provide programs in developing countries for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, particularly those owned, managed, and controlled by women. Previously, authorization for such programs was largely limited to microenterprises. The President is also authorized to provide targeted assistance programs that promote economic empowerment of women, including through increased access to financial resources, improving property and inheritance rights, and other legal protections. For sustainable poverty-focused programs, half of resources targeting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises shall be for activities that reach the very poor. Half of resources for programs for small and medium-sized enterprises shall be for activities targeting enterprises owned, managed, or controlled by women. The bill directs USAID to modify its system for monitoring its programs to include outcomes broken down by gender, when feasible. The President is authorized to expand the micro and small business development credit program to provide such assistance to medium-sized businesses as well. The bill also directs USAID to break down various information in its annual report by gender and income level. USAID shall also report to Congress on the implementation of this bill. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress an assessment of the effect of development assistance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries, and the extent to which such aid benefits women and the very poor.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
5 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 18, 2018

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-5480
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Jul 19, 2018
Introduced in Senate
Jul 19, 2018
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Nov 28, 2018
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Nov 28, 2018
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Nov 28, 2018
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 683.
Dec 19, 2018
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Dec 19, 2018
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Dec 19, 2018
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 20, 2018
Received in the House.
Dec 20, 2018
Held at the desk.
Dec 21, 2018
Mr. Royce (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Dec 21, 2018
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10550-10553)
Dec 21, 2018
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3247.
Dec 21, 2018
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Dec 21, 2018
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H10576-10577)
Dec 21, 2018
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 352 - 18 (Roll no. 492). (text: CR H10550-10552)
View Vote
Dec 21, 2018
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jan 2, 2019
Presented to President.
Jan 9, 2019
Signed by President.
Jan 9, 2019
Became Public Law No: 115-428.
  • July 18, 2018

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-5480
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • July 19, 2018
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 19, 2018
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • November 28, 2018
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • November 28, 2018
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • November 28, 2018
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 683.


  • December 19, 2018
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.


  • December 19, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.


  • December 19, 2018
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 20, 2018
    Received in the House.


  • December 20, 2018
    Held at the desk.


  • December 21, 2018
    Mr. Royce (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • December 21, 2018
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10550-10553)


  • December 21, 2018
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3247.


  • December 21, 2018
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • December 21, 2018
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H10576-10577)


  • December 21, 2018
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 352 - 18 (Roll no. 492). (text: CR H10550-10552)
    View Vote


  • December 21, 2018
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • January 2, 2019
    Presented to President.


  • January 9, 2019
    Signed by President.


  • January 9, 2019
    Became Public Law No: 115-428.
John Boozman

John Boozman

Republican Senator

Arkansas

Cosponsors (12)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Johnny Isakson (Republican)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Marco Rubio (Republican)Cory Gardner (Republican)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)

Foreign Relations Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 115-5480: Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightCredit and credit marketsCrimes against womenEconomic developmentExecutive agency funding and structureForeign aid and international reliefGovernment lending and loan guaranteesGovernment studies and investigationsLand use and conservationPerformance measurementPoverty and welfare assistanceProperty rightsSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationSmall businessU.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)Wages and earningsWomen in businessWomen's employmentWomen's rights