Washington, DC—Today, Reps. Lois Frankel (D-FL-21) and Michael Waltz (R-FL-06), co-chairs of the Women, Peace, and Security Caucus, released the following statement after the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted to advance the Keeping Girls in School Act—a bill dedicated to closing the gender parity gap in education and keeping girls in school when they are most at risk of dropping out.

“Girls who receive an education are more likely to lead healthy, productive lives, earn higher incomes, and build better futures for themselves and their families,” the Members said. “This puts them in positions to make their communities more prosperous and secure. We’re grateful to the House Foreign Affairs Committee for advancing this important piece of legislation that will advance gender equity, and we look forward to passing it on the House Floor later this session.”

This bill:

• Directs the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to address the challenges adolescent girls face in accessing a quality secondary education—in countries where girls are disproportionately more likely to drop out of school than boys. These barriers include a lack of safety at school or traveling to school, early marriage and pregnancy, gender-based violence, HIV, female genital mutilation, religious or ethnic discrimination, and more;
• Authorizes international development projects to improve safe, inclusive, and quality educational opportunities for girls by combatting the barriers girls face in successfully transitioning to, remaining enrolled in, and completing secondary school.
• Requires an updated U.S. global strategy to empower adolescent girls that is informed by consultations with relevant U.S. government and Congressional authorities, U.S. and international civil society and multilateral organizations with expertise in women’s empowerment and gender equality, and program participants.
  

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