I
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3827
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide for the establishment
of a Women in Enterprise Development Program to support the economic
empowerment of women in developing countries.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 16, 1996
Ms. WATERS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on International Relations
A BILL
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide
for the establishment of a Women in Enterprise Develop-
ment Program to support the economic empowerment
of women in developing countries.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Women in Enterprise
Development Act of 1996’’.
SEC. 2. WOMEN IN ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT.
Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961 is amended by inserting after section 113 the fol-
lowing:
‘‘SEC. 114. WOMEN IN ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF PROGRAM.—In carrying
out this part, the Administrator of the Agency for Inter-
national Development shall establish and implement a
Women in Enterprise Development Program.
‘‘(b) DESCRIPTION
OF PROGRAM.—This program
shall provide funding and other support for projects hav-
ing the following 3 interrelated components:
‘‘(1) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—The provision of
financial assistance to women—
‘‘(A) to support the creation of small to
medium-size businesses in which women can
readily participate;
‘‘(B) to foster investment in businesses
substantially owned or managed by women; and
‘‘(C) to enable such women to further their
education.
‘‘(2) EDUCATIONAL
ASSISTANCE.—The provi-
sion of assistance to encourage and support efforts
of indigenous educational institutions, and where ap-
propriate other organizations—
‘‘(A) to encourage women to participate in
the processes of local and national government,
and to stimulate the interest of women in busi-
ness;
‘‘(B) to prepare women for involvement in
government and business;
‘‘(C) to provide opportunities for women to
gain practical experience in government and
business through internships or on-the-job ap-
prenticeships while in school;
‘‘(D) to provide women with remedial as-
sistance whenever necessary; and
‘‘(E) to identify women with leadership po-
tential to serve as role models, and to assist
such women in furthering their education and
obtaining suitable positions in the public or pri-
vate sector.
Assistance under this paragraph shall encourage the
development and implementation of guidelines to be
used by secondary and postsecondary education in-
stitutions to achieve the objectives described in sub-
paragraphs (A) through (E) through the develop-
ment of appropriate curricula and other means.
‘‘(3) INFORMATION
ASSISTANCE.—The provi-
sion of assistance to support the creation or expan-
sion of local resource centers which offer to women
interested in careers in business, government, or re-
lated fields—
‘‘(A) courses in accounting, bookkeeping,
and elementary marketing practices, and other
courses; and
‘‘(B) workshops, informational materials,
career counseling, and assistance in the local
community.
‘‘(c) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FINANCIAL ASSIST-
ANCE.—The Administrator of the Agency for Inter-
national Development shall develop criteria for identifying
the women who are eligible to receive financial assistance
under subsection (b)(1).
‘‘(d) INITIAL FUNDING LEVEL.—The Congress urges
the Administrator of the Agency for International Devel-
opment, in carrying out this section during fiscal year
1997, to use not less than an amount equal to 10 percent
of the amount made available under this part for assist-
ance for micro-enterprise development.
‘‘(e) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The annual congressional
presentation materials on economic assistance shall in-
clude a description of the assistance being provided under
this section, including the amount that was provided for
such assistance during preceding fiscal year, the amount
estimated to be provided during the current fiscal year,
and the amount proposed for the coming fiscal year.’’.
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