Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act

Bill: 113-hr-3583
Sponsor: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-27]
Introduced: 2013-11-21 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Area studies and international education
Asia
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Foreign aid and international relief
Higher education
Human rights
International exchange and broadcasting
Pakistan
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Student aid and college costs
Women's education
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: 
Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) every individual, regardless of gender, should have the opportunity to pursue an education free from the fear of discrimination; and (2) educational exchanges promote institutional linkages between the United States and Pakistan.
 
Encourages the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to continue to support Pakistani education initiatives, especially those for women.
 
Directs the USAID Administrator to increase the number of scholarships to women under the Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship Program (Program) during each of calendar years 2013 through 2015 over the level awarded to women in calendar year 2011. (The Program awards scholarships for university study to academically talented, financially needy Pakistani students.)
 
Requires the additional scholarships to be awarded: (1) in accordance with existing scholarship criteria, and (2) for a range of disciplines to improve the employability of graduates and to meet the needs of the scholarship recipients.
 
 Directs the USAID Administrator to make every effort to award 50% of the scholarships available under the Program to Pakistani women.

action_date: 2014-11-19
text: 
Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act - (Sec. 3) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) every individual, regardless of gender, should have the opportunity to pursue an education free from the fear of discrimination; (2) educational exchanges promote institutional linkages between the United States and Pakistan; and (3) recipients of scholarships under the Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship Program (Program) should commit to improving their local communities. (The Program awards scholarships for university study to academically talented, financially needy Pakistani students.)
 
Encourages the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to continue to support Pakistani education initiatives, especially those for women.
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the USAID Administrator to award at least 50% of the scholarships available under the Program to women for each of calendar years 2014-2016.
 
Requires the scholarships to be awarded: (1) in accordance with existing scholarship criteria, and (2) for a range of disciplines to improve the employability of graduates and to meet the needs of the scholarship recipients.
 
 Directs the USAID Administrator to: (1) make every effort to award 50% of the scholarships available under the Program to Pakistani women; and (2) consult with, and leverage investments by, the Pakistani private sector and Pakistani diaspora communities in the United States to improve, expand, and sustain education programs in Pakistan.
 
(Sec. 5) Requires the USAID to brief Congress, annually for the next four years, on the implementation of this Act's requirements, including specified information regarding Program scholarships.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-11-20
text: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 603.
action_date: 2014-11-19
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2014-11-19
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8110-8111)
action_date: 2014-11-19
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8110-8111)
action_date: 2014-11-19
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3583.
action_date: 2014-11-19
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8110-8113)
action_date: 2014-11-19
text: Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2014-04-03
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2014-04-03
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: Introduced in House