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119-hr-8575119th Congress

EMPOWER Act

Sponsored By: Representative Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]

Introduced

Summary

Centers U.S. foreign policy on women's economic empowerment in South and Central Asia. This bill would direct the State Department to expand public-private partnerships that boost women's employment, entrepreneurship, and access to education.

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  • Women and entrepreneurs in South and Central Asia would get targeted support for financial inclusion, mentorship, asset ownership, startup incubation, procurement access, STEM training, care economy programs, and legal reforms. The bill lists nine goals to guide these efforts.
  • U.S. diplomacy would get a new Unit in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs led by a Special Advisor for Women’s Economic Security with ambassadorial rank. Each relevant U.S. diplomatic post would designate a point of contact to identify and track private sector commitments and the Unit would report to the Assistant Secretary.
  • The bill would mobilize private sector, civil society, and academic partners to make and track commitments and allow activities in the United States, in South and Central Asian countries, or in third countries. It would also require a report to House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees within one year on steps taken, allocated personnel and funding, partnership status, and economic data on impact.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More U.S. partnerships for women's economic security

If enacted, the State Department would keep and try to grow women's councils and public-private partnerships that connect the United States with countries in South and Central Asia. The partnerships could work in the United States, in South and Central Asia, or in third countries to support goals like financial inclusion, mentorship, women-owned business growth, procurement access, career education, STEM, and the care economy. The bill would also create a Unit in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs led by a Special Advisor for Women's Economic Security. The Special Advisor would be appointed by the Secretary of State, report to the Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, and have the rank and status of Ambassador. Posts the Special Advisor finds relevant would have a designated point of contact to identify and track private sector commitments tied to these partnerships.

One-year report on program progress

If enacted, not later than one year after enactment the Secretary of State would submit a report to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The report would list steps taken to implement the act, including allocated personnel and funding. It would also describe the status of the partnerships and private-sector commitments and include economic data on the Unit's work.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]

TX • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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