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United States · Law · S

S. 3247 (115th)

Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

19 July 2018

Last action

9 January 2019 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 115-428.

Sponsors

John Boozman, Rep. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD-3], Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL], Lisa Murkowski, Christopher Coons, Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA], Jeff Merkley, Susan Collins, Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Richard Durbin, Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO], Maria Cantwell

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

7 April 2025

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

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.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 19 July 2018

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 19 July 2018

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 28 November 2018

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 683.

    Source: Calendars

  4. 28 November 2018

    Reported

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

    Source: Committee

  5. 28 November 2018

    Reported

    Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Source: Committee

  6. 19 December 2018

    Floor

    Held at the desk.

    Source: Floor

  7. 19 December 2018

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  8. 19 December 2018

    Passed

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

    Source: Floor

  9. 19 December 2018

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

    Source: Floor

  10. 21 December 2018

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10550-10553)

    Source: Floor

  11. 21 December 2018

    Floor

    Mr. Royce (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

    Source: Floor

  12. 21 December 2018

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  13. 21 December 2018

    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)

    Source: Floor

  14. 21 December 2018

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: 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)

    Source: Floor

  15. 21 December 2018

    Vote

    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.

    Source: Floor

  16. 21 December 2018

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3247.

    Source: Floor

  17. 2 January 2019

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  18. 2 January 2019

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  19. 9 January 2019

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 115-428.

    Source: President

  20. 9 January 2019

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  21. 9 January 2019

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

21 December 2018 · passed · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · Passed · Official source

Yes 352 · No 18 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 62

Showing the first 8 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Documents

11 official files

Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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