Girls Count Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-802
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2015-03-19
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Census and government statistics

Child safety and welfare

Congressional oversight

Crimes against children

Foreign aid and international relief

Foreign loans and debt

Health information and medical records

Human rights

International organizations and cooperation

Multilateral development programs

Property rights

Rule of law and government transparency

Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

United Nations

Women's education

Women's health

Women's rights
Latest action: action_date: 2015-06-12
text: Became Public Law No: 114-24.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-03-19
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Girls Count Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>Authorizes the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development to: (1) support programs that will contribute to improved civil registration and vital statistics systems with a focus on birth registration; and (2) promote programs that build the capacity of developing countries' national and local legal and policy frameworks to prevent discrimination against girls, and help increase property rights, social security, land tenure, and inheritance rights for women.</p> <p> Authorizes the Secretary and the Administrator to cooperate with multilateral organizations to promote such programs.</p>

action_date: 2015-05-21
action_desc: Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
text: <p><strong>Girls Count Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 3) This bill states that it is U.S. policy to: </p> <ul> <li>encourage countries to support the rule of law and ensure girls and boys of all ages are able to fully participate in society, including by providing birth certifications and other official documentation; </li> <li>enhance training and capacity-building in key developing countries, local nongovernmental organizations, and other civil society organizations in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs to address the needs of birth registries in countries where girls are systematically under counted; and </li> <li>incorporate into the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs measures to evaluate the impact on girls of such policies and programs. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development to support: </p> <ul> <li>programs that contribute to improved civil registration and vital statistics systems with a focus on birth registration; </li> <li>programs that build the capacity of developing countries' national and local legal and policy frameworks to prevent discrimination against girls in gaining access to birth certificates; and </li> <li>programs and key ministries to increase property rights, social security, home ownership, land tenure security, inheritance rights, access to education, and economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for women and girls.</li> </ul> <p>Authorizes the Secretary and the Administrator to coordinate with multilateral organizations and private sector and civil society organizations to advocate for the registration and documentation of all girls and boys in developing countries.</p> <p>(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary and the Administrator to include in relevant evaluations and reports to Congress the following information: </p> <ul> <li>a breakdown of U.S. foreign assistance beneficiaries by age, gender, marital status, location, and school enrollment status; </li> <li>a description of how U.S. foreign assistance benefits girls; and </li> <li>specific information on programs that address the particular needs of girls.</li></ul>

action_date: 2015-05-23
action_desc: Passed Senate amended
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on May 21, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</p> <p><strong>Girls Count Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 3) This bill states that it is U.S. policy to: </p> <ul> <li>encourage countries to support the rule of law and ensure girls and boys of all ages are able to fully participate in society, including by providing birth certifications and other official documentation; </li> <li>enhance training and capacity-building in key developing countries, local nongovernmental organizations, and other civil society organizations in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs to address the needs of birth registries in countries where girls are systematically under counted; and </li> <li>incorporate into the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs measures to evaluate the impact on girls of such policies and programs. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development to support: </p> <ul> <li>programs that contribute to improved civil registration and vital statistics systems with a focus on birth registration; </li> <li>programs that build the capacity of developing countries' national and local legal and policy frameworks to prevent discrimination against girls in gaining access to birth certificates; and </li> <li>programs and key ministries to increase property rights, social security, home ownership, land tenure security, inheritance rights, access to education, and economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for women and girls.</li> </ul> <p>Authorizes the Secretary and the Administrator to coordinate with multilateral organizations and private sector and civil society organizations to advocate for the registration and documentation of all girls and boys in developing countries.</p> <p>(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary and the Administrator to include in relevant evaluations and reports to Congress the following information: </p> <ul> <li>a breakdown of U.S. foreign assistance beneficiaries by age, gender, marital status, location, and school enrollment status; </li> <li>a description of how U.S. foreign assistance benefits girls; and </li> <li>specific information on programs that address the particular needs of girls.</li></ul>

action_date: 2015-06-01
action_desc: Passed House without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on May 21, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</p> <p><strong>Girls Count Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 3) This bill states that it is U.S. policy to: </p> <ul> <li>encourage countries to support the rule of law and ensure girls and boys of all ages are able to fully participate in society, including by providing birth certifications and other official documentation; </li> <li>enhance training and capacity-building in key developing countries, local nongovernmental organizations, and other civil society organizations in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs to address the needs of birth registries in countries where girls are systematically under counted; and </li> <li>incorporate into the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs measures to evaluate the impact on girls of such policies and programs. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development to support: </p> <ul> <li>programs that contribute to improved civil registration and vital statistics systems with a focus on birth registration; </li> <li>programs that build the capacity of developing countries' national and local legal and policy frameworks to prevent discrimination against girls in gaining access to birth certificates; and </li> <li>programs and key ministries to increase property rights, social security, home ownership, land tenure security, inheritance rights, access to education, and economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for women and girls.</li> </ul> <p>Authorizes the Secretary and the Administrator to coordinate with multilateral organizations and private sector and civil society organizations to advocate for the registration and documentation of all girls and boys in developing countries.</p> <p>(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary and the Administrator to include in relevant evaluations and reports to Congress the following information: </p> <ul> <li>a breakdown of U.S. foreign assistance beneficiaries by age, gender, marital status, location, and school enrollment status; </li> <li>a description of how U.S. foreign assistance benefits girls; and </li> <li>specific information on programs that address the particular needs of girls.</li></ul>

action_date: 2015-06-12
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on May 21, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</p> <p><strong>Girls Count Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 3) This bill states that it is U.S. policy to: </p> <ul> <li>encourage countries to support the rule of law and ensure girls and boys of all ages are able to fully participate in society, including by providing birth certifications and other official documentation; </li> <li>enhance training and capacity-building in key developing countries, local nongovernmental organizations, and other civil society organizations in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs to address the needs of birth registries in countries where girls are systematically under counted; and </li> <li>incorporate into the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs measures to evaluate the impact on girls of such policies and programs. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development to support: </p> <ul> <li>programs that contribute to improved civil registration and vital statistics systems with a focus on birth registration; </li> <li>programs that build the capacity of developing countries' national and local legal and policy frameworks to prevent discrimination against girls in gaining access to birth certificates; and </li> <li>programs and key ministries to increase property rights, social security, home ownership, land tenure security, inheritance rights, access to education, and economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for women and girls.</li> </ul> <p>Authorizes the Secretary and the Administrator to coordinate with multilateral organizations and private sector and civil society organizations to advocate for the registration and documentation of all girls and boys in developing countries.</p> <p>(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary and the Administrator to include in relevant evaluations and reports to Congress the following information: </p> <ul> <li>a breakdown of U.S. foreign assistance beneficiaries by age, gender, marital status, location, and school enrollment status; </li> <li>a description of how U.S. foreign assistance benefits girls; and </li> <li>specific information on programs that address the particular needs of girls.</li></ul>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 802 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 19, 2015 Mr. Rubio (for himself and Mrs. Shaheen ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To authorize the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to provide assistance to support the rights of women and girls in developing countries, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Girls Count Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) According to the United States Census Bureau’s 2013 international figures, 1 person in 12, or close to 900,000,000 people, is a girl or young woman age 10 through 24. (2) The Census Bureau’s data also illustrates that young people are the fastest growing segment of the population in developing countries. (3) Even though most countries do have birth registration laws, four out of ten babies born in 2012 were not registered worldwide. Moreover, an estimated 36 percent of children under the age of five worldwide (about 230,000,000 children) do not possess a birth certificate. (4) A nationally recognized proof of birth system is important to determining a child’s citizenship, nationality, place of birth, parentage, and age. Without such a system, a passport, driver’s license, or other identification card is difficult to obtain. The lack of such documentation can prevent girls and women from officially participating in and benefitting from the formal economic, legal, and political sectors in their countries. (5) The lack of birth registration among girls worldwide is particularly concerning as it can exacerbate the disproportionate vulnerability of women to trafficking, child marriage, and lack of access to health and education services. (6) A lack of birth registration among women and girls can also aggravate what, in many places, amounts to an already reduced ability to seek employment, participate in civil society, or purchase or inherit land and other assets. (7) Girls undertake much of the domestic labor needed for poor families to survive: carrying water, harvesting crops, tending livestock, caring for younger children, and doing chores. (8) Accurate assessments of access to education, poverty levels, and overall census activities are hampered by the lack of official information on women and girls. Without this rudimentary information, assessments of foreign assistance and domestic social welfare programs are difficult to gauge. (9) To help ensure that women and girls are considered in United States foreign assistance policies and programs, that their needs are addressed in the design, implementation, and evaluation of foreign assistance programs, and that women and girls have the opportunity to succeed, it is important that girls be counted and have access to birth certificates and other official documentation. 3. Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to— (1) encourage countries to support the rule of law and ensure girls and boys of all ages are able to fully participate in society, including by providing birth certifications and other official documentation; (2) enhance training and capacity-building in key developing countries, local nongovernmental organizations, and other civil society organizations, including organizations representing children and families in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs under this Act, to effectively address the needs of birth registries in countries where girls are systematically undercounted; and (3) incorporate into the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs measures to evaluate the impact that such policies and programs have on girls. 4. United States assistance to support counting of girls in the developing world (a) Authorization The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to prioritize and advance ongoing efforts to— (1) support programs that will contribute to improved and sustainable Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems (CRVS) with a focus on birth registration; (2) support programs that build the capacity of developing countries’ national and local legal and policy frameworks to prevent discrimination against girls; (3) support programs to help increase property rights, social security, home ownership, land tenure security, and inheritance rights, particularly for women; and (4) assist key ministries in the governments of key developing countries, including health, interior, youth, and education ministries, to ensure that girls and boys from poor households have equitable access to social programs. (b) Coordination with multilateral organizations The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to coordinate with the World Bank, relevant United Nations agencies and programs, and other relevant organizations to encourage and work with countries to enact, implement, and enforce laws that specifically collect data on girls and establish registration programs to ensure girls are appropriately counted and have the opportunity to be active participants in the social, legal, and political sectors of society in their countries. (c) Coordination with private sector and civil society organizations The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to work with the United States, international, and local private sector and civil society organizations to advocate for the registration and documentation of all girls and boys in developing countries, in order to help prevent exploitation, violence, and other abuses and to help provide economic and social opportunities. 5. Report The Secretary and the Administrator shall include in relevant evaluations and reports to Congress the following information: (1) To the extent practicable, a breakdown of United States foreign assistance beneficiaries by age, gender, marital status, location, and school enrollment status. (2) A description, as appropriate, of how United States foreign assistance benefits girls. (3) Specific information, as appropriate, on programs that address the particular needs of girls. 6. Definitions In this Act: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. (2) Foreign assistance The term foreign assistance has the meaning given the term in section 634(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2394(b) ). (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of State. 7. Sunset This Act shall expire on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

tv_txt: 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 802 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To authorize the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to provide assistance to support the rights of women and girls in developing countries, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Girls Count Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) According to the United States Census Bureau’s 2013 international figures, 1 person in 12, or close to 900,000,000 people, is a girl or young woman age 10 through 24. (2) The Census Bureau’s data also illustrates that young people are the fastest growing segment of the population in developing countries. (3) Even though most countries do have birth registration laws, four out of ten babies born in 2012 were not registered worldwide. Moreover, an estimated 36 percent of children under the age of five worldwide (about 230,000,000 children) do not possess a birth certificate. (4) A nationally recognized proof of birth system is important to determining a child’s citizenship, nationality, place of birth, parentage, and age. Without such a system, a passport, driver’s license, or other identification card is difficult to obtain. The lack of such documentation can prevent girls and women from officially participating in and benefitting from the formal economic, legal, and political sectors in their countries. (5) The lack of birth registration among girls worldwide is particularly concerning as it can exacerbate the disproportionate vulnerability of women to trafficking, child marriage, and lack of access to health and education services. (6) A lack of birth registration among women and girls can also aggravate what, in many places, amounts to an already reduced ability to seek employment, participate in civil society, or purchase or inherit land and other assets. (7) Girls undertake much of the domestic labor needed for poor families to survive: carrying water, harvesting crops, tending livestock, caring for younger children, and doing chores. (8) Accurate assessments of access to education, poverty levels, and overall census activities are hampered by the lack of official information on women and girls. Without this rudimentary information, assessments of foreign assistance and domestic social welfare programs are difficult to gauge. (9) To help ensure that women and girls are considered in United States foreign assistance policies and programs, that their needs are addressed in the design, implementation, and evaluation of foreign assistance programs, and that women and girls have the opportunity to succeed, it is important that girls be counted and have access to birth certificates and other official documentation. 3. Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to— (1) encourage countries to support the rule of law and ensure girls and boys of all ages are able to fully participate in society, including by providing birth certifications and other official documentation; (2) enhance training and capacity-building in key developing countries, local nongovernmental organizations, and other civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations representing children and families in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs under this Act, to effectively address the needs of birth registries in countries where girls are systematically undercounted; and (3) incorporate into the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs measures to evaluate the impact that such policies and programs have on girls. 4. United States assistance to support counting of girls in the developing world (a) Authorization The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to prioritize and advance ongoing efforts to— (1) support programs that will contribute to improved and sustainable Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems (CRVS) with a focus on birth registration; (2) support programs that build the capacity of developing countries’ national and local legal and policy frameworks to prevent discrimination against girls in gaining access to birth certificates, particularly where this may help prevent exploitation, violence, and other abuse; and (3) support programs and key ministries, including, interior, youth, and education ministries, to help increase property rights, social security, home ownership, land tenure security, inheritance rights, access to education, and economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for women and girls. (b) Coordination with multilateral organizations The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to coordinate with the World Bank, relevant United Nations agencies and programs, and other relevant organizations to encourage and work with countries to enact, implement, and enforce laws that specifically collect data on girls and establish registration programs to ensure girls are appropriately counted and have the opportunity to be active participants in the social, legal, and political sectors of society in their countries. (c) Coordination with private sector and civil society organizations The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to work with the United States, international, and local private sector and civil society organizations to advocate for the registration and documentation of all girls and boys in developing countries, in order to help prevent exploitation, violence, and other abuses and to help provide economic and social opportunities. 5. Report The Secretary and the Administrator shall include in relevant evaluations and reports to Congress the following information: (1) To the extent practicable, a breakdown of United States foreign assistance beneficiaries by age, gender, marital status, location, and school enrollment status. (2) A description, as appropriate, of how United States foreign assistance benefits girls. (3) Specific information, as appropriate, on programs that address the particular needs of girls. 6. Definitions In this Act: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. (2) Foreign assistance The term foreign assistance has the meaning given the term in section 634(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2394(b) ). (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of State. 7. Sunset This Act shall expire on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Passed the Senate May 23 (legislative day, May 22), 2015. Secretary

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 91 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 802 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 19, 2015 Mr. Rubio (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Coons , and Mrs. Gillibrand ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations May 21, 2015 Reported by Mr. Corker , with an amendment Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To authorize the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to provide assistance to support the rights of women and girls in developing countries, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Girls Count Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) According to the United States Census Bureau’s 2013 international figures, 1 person in 12, or close to 900,000,000 people, is a girl or young woman age 10 through 24. (2) The Census Bureau’s data also illustrates that young people are the fastest growing segment of the population in developing countries. (3) Even though most countries do have birth registration laws, four out of ten babies born in 2012 were not registered worldwide. Moreover, an estimated 36 percent of children under the age of five worldwide (about 230,000,000 children) do not possess a birth certificate. (4) A nationally recognized proof of birth system is important to determining a child’s citizenship, nationality, place of birth, parentage, and age. Without such a system, a passport, driver’s license, or other identification card is difficult to obtain. The lack of such documentation can prevent girls and women from officially participating in and benefitting from the formal economic, legal, and political sectors in their countries. (5) The lack of birth registration among girls worldwide is particularly concerning as it can exacerbate the disproportionate vulnerability of women to trafficking, child marriage, and lack of access to health and education services. (6) A lack of birth registration among women and girls can also aggravate what, in many places, amounts to an already reduced ability to seek employment, participate in civil society, or purchase or inherit land and other assets. (7) Girls undertake much of the domestic labor needed for poor families to survive: carrying water, harvesting crops, tending livestock, caring for younger children, and doing chores. (8) Accurate assessments of access to education, poverty levels, and overall census activities are hampered by the lack of official information on women and girls. Without this rudimentary information, assessments of foreign assistance and domestic social welfare programs are difficult to gauge. (9) To help ensure that women and girls are considered in United States foreign assistance policies and programs, that their needs are addressed in the design, implementation, and evaluation of foreign assistance programs, and that women and girls have the opportunity to succeed, it is important that girls be counted and have access to birth certificates and other official documentation. 3. Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to— (1) encourage countries to support the rule of law and ensure girls and boys of all ages are able to fully participate in society, including by providing birth certifications and other official documentation; (2) enhance training and capacity-building in key developing countries, local nongovernmental organizations, and other civil society organizations, including organizations representing children and families in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs under this Act, to effectively address the needs of birth registries in countries where girls are systematically undercounted; and (3) incorporate into the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs measures to evaluate the impact that such policies and programs have on girls. 4. United States assistance to support counting of girls in the developing world (a) Authorization The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to prioritize and advance ongoing efforts to— (1) support programs that will contribute to improved and sustainable Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems (CRVS) with a focus on birth registration; (2) support programs that build the capacity of developing countries’ national and local legal and policy frameworks to prevent discrimination against girls; (3) support programs to help increase property rights, social security, home ownership, land tenure security, and inheritance rights, particularly for women; and (4) assist key ministries in the governments of key developing countries, including health, interior, youth, and education ministries, to ensure that girls and boys from poor households have equitable access to social programs. (b) Coordination with multilateral organizations The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to coordinate with the World Bank, relevant United Nations agencies and programs, and other relevant organizations to encourage and work with countries to enact, implement, and enforce laws that specifically collect data on girls and establish registration programs to ensure girls are appropriately counted and have the opportunity to be active participants in the social, legal, and political sectors of society in their countries. (c) Coordination with private sector and civil society organizations The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to work with the United States, international, and local private sector and civil society organizations to advocate for the registration and documentation of all girls and boys in developing countries, in order to help prevent exploitation, violence, and other abuses and to help provide economic and social opportunities. 5. Report The Secretary and the Administrator shall include in relevant evaluations and reports to Congress the following information: (1) To the extent practicable, a breakdown of United States foreign assistance beneficiaries by age, gender, marital status, location, and school enrollment status. (2) A description, as appropriate, of how United States foreign assistance benefits girls. (3) Specific information, as appropriate, on programs that address the particular needs of girls. 6. Definitions In this Act: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. (2) Foreign assistance The term foreign assistance has the meaning given the term in section 634(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2394(b) ). (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of State. 7. Sunset This Act shall expire on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Girls Count Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) According to the United States Census Bureau’s 2013 international figures, 1 person in 12, or close to 900,000,000 people, is a girl or young woman age 10 through 24. (2) The Census Bureau’s data also illustrates that young people are the fastest growing segment of the population in developing countries. (3) Even though most countries do have birth registration laws, four out of ten babies born in 2012 were not registered worldwide. Moreover, an estimated 36 percent of children under the age of five worldwide (about 230,000,000 children) do not possess a birth certificate. (4) A nationally recognized proof of birth system is important to determining a child’s citizenship, nationality, place of birth, parentage, and age. Without such a system, a passport, driver’s license, or other identification card is difficult to obtain. The lack of such documentation can prevent girls and women from officially participating in and benefitting from the formal economic, legal, and political sectors in their countries. (5) The lack of birth registration among girls worldwide is particularly concerning as it can exacerbate the disproportionate vulnerability of women to trafficking, child marriage, and lack of access to health and education services. (6) A lack of birth registration among women and girls can also aggravate what, in many places, amounts to an already reduced ability to seek employment, participate in civil society, or purchase or inherit land and other assets. (7) Girls undertake much of the domestic labor needed for poor families to survive: carrying water, harvesting crops, tending livestock, caring for younger children, and doing chores. (8) Accurate assessments of access to education, poverty levels, and overall census activities are hampered by the lack of official information on women and girls. Without this rudimentary information, assessments of foreign assistance and domestic social welfare programs are difficult to gauge. (9) To help ensure that women and girls are considered in United States foreign assistance policies and programs, that their needs are addressed in the design, implementation, and evaluation of foreign assistance programs, and that women and girls have the opportunity to succeed, it is important that girls be counted and have access to birth certificates and other official documentation. 3. Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to— (1) encourage countries to support the rule of law and ensure girls and boys of all ages are able to fully participate in society, including by providing birth certifications and other official documentation; (2) enhance training and capacity-building in key developing countries, local nongovernmental organizations, and other civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations representing children and families in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs under this Act, to effectively address the needs of birth registries in countries where girls are systematically undercounted; and (3) incorporate into the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs measures to evaluate the impact that such policies and programs have on girls. 4. United States assistance to support counting of girls in the developing world (a) Authorization The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to prioritize and advance ongoing efforts to— (1) support programs that will contribute to improved and sustainable Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems (CRVS) with a focus on birth registration; (2) support programs that build the capacity of developing countries’ national and local legal and policy frameworks to prevent discrimination against girls in gaining access to birth certificates, particularly where this may help prevent exploitation, violence, and other abuse; and (3) support programs and key ministries, including, interior, youth, and education ministries, to help increase property rights, social security, home ownership, land tenure security, inheritance rights, access to education, and economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for women and girls. (b) Coordination with multilateral organizations The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to coordinate with the World Bank, relevant United Nations agencies and programs, and other relevant organizations to encourage and work with countries to enact, implement, and enforce laws that specifically collect data on girls and establish registration programs to ensure girls are appropriately counted and have the opportunity to be active participants in the social, legal, and political sectors of society in their countries. (c) Coordination with private sector and civil society organizations The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to work with the United States, international, and local private sector and civil society organizations to advocate for the registration and documentation of all girls and boys in developing countries, in order to help prevent exploitation, violence, and other abuses and to help provide economic and social opportunities. 5. Report The Secretary and the Administrator shall include in relevant evaluations and reports to Congress the following information: (1) To the extent practicable, a breakdown of United States foreign assistance beneficiaries by age, gender, marital status, location, and school enrollment status. (2) A description, as appropriate, of how United States foreign assistance benefits girls. (3) Specific information, as appropriate, on programs that address the particular needs of girls. 6. Definitions In this Act: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. (2) Foreign assistance The term foreign assistance has the meaning given the term in section 634(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2394(b) ). (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of State. 7. Sunset This Act shall expire on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

May 21, 2015 Reported with an amendment

tv_txt: One Hundred Fourteenth Congress of the United States of America 1st Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the sixth day of January, two thousand and fifteen S. 802 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To authorize the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to provide assistance to support the rights of women and girls in developing countries, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Girls Count Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) According to the United States Census Bureau’s 2013 international figures, 1 person in 12, or close to 900,000,000 people, is a girl or young woman age 10 through 24. (2) The Census Bureau’s data also illustrates that young people are the fastest growing segment of the population in developing countries. (3) Even though most countries do have birth registration laws, four out of ten babies born in 2012 were not registered worldwide. Moreover, an estimated 36 percent of children under the age of five worldwide (about 230,000,000 children) do not possess a birth certificate. (4) A nationally recognized proof of birth system is important to determining a child’s citizenship, nationality, place of birth, parentage, and age. Without such a system, a passport, driver’s license, or other identification card is difficult to obtain. The lack of such documentation can prevent girls and women from officially participating in and benefitting from the formal economic, legal, and political sectors in their countries. (5) The lack of birth registration among girls worldwide is particularly concerning as it can exacerbate the disproportionate vulnerability of women to trafficking, child marriage, and lack of access to health and education services. (6) A lack of birth registration among women and girls can also aggravate what, in many places, amounts to an already reduced ability to seek employment, participate in civil society, or purchase or inherit land and other assets. (7) Girls undertake much of the domestic labor needed for poor families to survive: carrying water, harvesting crops, tending livestock, caring for younger children, and doing chores. (8) Accurate assessments of access to education, poverty levels, and overall census activities are hampered by the lack of official information on women and girls. Without this rudimentary information, assessments of foreign assistance and domestic social welfare programs are difficult to gauge. (9) To help ensure that women and girls are considered in United States foreign assistance policies and programs, that their needs are addressed in the design, implementation, and evaluation of foreign assistance programs, and that women and girls have the opportunity to succeed, it is important that girls be counted and have access to birth certificates and other official documentation. 3. Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to— (1) encourage countries to support the rule of law and ensure girls and boys of all ages are able to fully participate in society, including by providing birth certifications and other official documentation; (2) enhance training and capacity-building in key developing countries, local nongovernmental organizations, and other civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations representing children and families in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs under this Act, to effectively address the needs of birth registries in countries where girls are systematically undercounted; and (3) incorporate into the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs measures to evaluate the impact that such policies and programs have on girls. 4. United States assistance to support counting of girls in the developing world (a) Authorization The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to prioritize and advance ongoing efforts to— (1) support programs that will contribute to improved and sustainable Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems (CRVS) with a focus on birth registration; (2) support programs that build the capacity of developing countries’ national and local legal and policy frameworks to prevent discrimination against girls in gaining access to birth certificates, particularly where this may help prevent exploitation, violence, and other abuse; and (3) support programs and key ministries, including, interior, youth, and education ministries, to help increase property rights, social security, home ownership, land tenure security, inheritance rights, access to education, and economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for women and girls. (b) Coordination with multilateral organizations The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to coordinate with the World Bank, relevant United Nations agencies and programs, and other relevant organizations to encourage and work with countries to enact, implement, and enforce laws that specifically collect data on girls and establish registration programs to ensure girls are appropriately counted and have the opportunity to be active participants in the social, legal, and political sectors of society in their countries. (c) Coordination with private sector and civil society organizations The Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to work with the United States, international, and local private sector and civil society organizations to advocate for the registration and documentation of all girls and boys in developing countries, in order to help prevent exploitation, violence, and other abuses and to help provide economic and social opportunities. 5. Report The Secretary and the Administrator shall include in relevant evaluations and reports to Congress the following information: (1) To the extent practicable, a breakdown of United States foreign assistance beneficiaries by age, gender, marital status, location, and school enrollment status. (2) A description, as appropriate, of how United States foreign assistance benefits girls. (3) Specific information, as appropriate, on programs that address the particular needs of girls. 6. Definitions In this Act: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. (2) Foreign assistance The term foreign assistance has the meaning given the term in section 634(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2394(b) ). (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of State. 7. Sunset This Act shall expire on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate