A BILL

To increase the United States financial and programmatic contributions to advancing the status of women and girls in low-income countries around the world, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the `Global Action and Investments for New Success for Women and Girls Act of 2002' or `GAINS for Women and Girls Act of 2002'.

FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS OF POLICY

Congress makes the following findings and declarations of policy:

(1) Economic globalization is not reaching most of the world's poorest women, girls, and communities. United States international economic policies, particularly in the areas of business development, multilateral development banks, trade liberalization and debt relief for developing countries, should help create a positive environment for women's economic empowerment and equality between women and men.

(2) As the complexity of the global economy increases, so too does the important role of women. Women comprise approximately 75 percent of workers in the `shadow', or informal economy, and constitute an ever-greater share of the workforce in developing countries.

(3) Many studies have proven that international development investments in women and girls bring the greatest gains for economic growth and national development. When women increase their incomes they directly invest this additional capital in the education, health, and welfare of their children, breaking the cycle of poverty.

(4) The United States must substantially increase the amount of attention and resources it contributes to implement commitments made at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 and at the United Nations Special Assembly Session on Women in 2000 in its foreign policy, development assistance programs, and international economic policies.

(5) Just as women's lives cannot be compartmentalized, no one sectoral intervention is sufficient to create the environment in which women and girls can thrive economically and socially. Investments are necessary in many mutually supporting areas, including consideration for the different roles of women and men in all United States international policies and programs, economic development and poverty reduction activities for women, education and training, comprehensive health care, agricultural development, protection of women's human rights, violence prevention, leadership development, assistance to women in conflict situations, and environmental protection.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

All programs, projects, activities, or actions contained in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall comply with the following requirements:

(1) The most effective use of the United States development dollar is an investment in women and girls. Numerous studies show that programs to advance the health, education, economic opportunity, and social status of women directly lead to accelerated economic growth for developing and transitional country economies.

4) Women's equality is a core development issue that enhances United States global interests. Comprehensive policies and programs of the Office of Women in Development reflect the reality that women around the world play critical roles in economic growth and development, and their contributions reverberate from the global economy all the way down to the poorest households.

SEC. 104. PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT (WID).

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall carry out the following:

(1) Appoint a head of the Office of Women in Development at the Deputy Assistant Administrator level or higher.

(2) Establish a working group within the Office consisting of Deputy Assistant Administrators of the Agency. Members of the working group shall meet on a routine basis to monitor and assist with the ongoing implementation of and compliance with gender integration policies and programs of the Agency and with all provisions contained in title I of this Act.