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.
| Action Date | Type | Text | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-01-09 | President | Became Public Law No: 115-428. | House floor actions |
| 2019-01-09 | President | Signed by President. | House floor actions |
| 2019-01-02 | Floor | Presented to President. | House floor actions |
| 2018-12-21 | Floor | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2018-12-21 | Vote | 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) | House floor actions |
| 2018-12-21 | Floor | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H10576-10577) | House floor actions |
| 2018-12-21 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2018-12-21 | Floor | DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3247. | House floor actions |
| 2018-12-21 | Floor | Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10550-10553) | House floor actions |
| 2018-12-21 | Floor | Mr. Royce (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. | House floor actions |
| 2018-12-19 | Floor | Held at the desk. | House floor actions |
| 2018-12-19 | Floor | Received in the House. | House floor actions |
| 2018-12-19 | Floor | Message on Senate action sent to the House. | Senate |
| 2018-12-19 | Floor | Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. | Senate |
| 2018-11-28 | Calendars | Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 683. | Senate |
| 2018-11-28 | Committee | Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report. | Senate |
| 2018-11-28 | Committee | Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. | Senate |
| 2018-07-19 | IntroReferral | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. | Senate |
| 2018-07-19 | IntroReferral | Introduced in Senate | Library of Congress |