[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 584 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 584

 Recognizing the International Day of Rural Women on October 15, 2017, 
           in celebration of women farmers around the world.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 24, 2017

  Ms. Kaptur (for herself, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Welch, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. 
Evans, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Norton, and Ms. Pingree) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the International Day of Rural Women on October 15, 2017, 
           in celebration of women farmers around the world.

Whereas rural women make up over one-quarter of the total world population, 
        represent approximately 43 percent of the agricultural labor force, and 
        play a critical role in agricultural productivity, both in terms of food 
        security and economic security;
Whereas women serve as the bedrock of society, feeding their families, 
        neighbors, and countrymen, and are important role models for younger 
        generations;
Whereas women-led agricultural efforts remain significant untapped potential for 
        countries around the world, such as in Ukraine, which is the breadbasket 
        of Europe and where Ukrainian women play an outsized role in 
        agricultural production, producing 80 percent of the country's 
        vegetables and fruit crops and 60 percent of the hogs consumed 
        domestically;
Whereas women's involvement in rural projects leads to greater productivity, 
        such as in Peru where women's participation in a rural road project led 
        to more robust transportation networks and higher incomes;
Whereas women farmers continue to face considerable societal limitations and 
        constraints in their access to resources, despite their important role 
        in ensuring food security for their communities;
Whereas technology and informative extension services in rural areas allow for 
        more modern and effective farming practices, yet, for example in Zambia, 
        many of the poorest farmers who are women were underserved in 
        development outreach;
Whereas women farmers in China work over 50 percent of the country's overall 
        labor hours in agriculture, yet are excluded from signing contracts in 
        farming schemes;
Whereas giving rural women the power and ability to cultivate nutritious and 
        ample food positively impacts the physical and cognitive development of 
        the next generation, leading to healthier and more productive citizenry;
Whereas there is great opportunity for economic and societal development in any 
        nation that shines a light on women farmers and empowers them to succeed 
        as entrepreneurs; and
Whereas food security and economic stability around the world require the 
        success of women farmers and are central to the interests of the United 
        States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the International Day of Rural Women; and
            (2) calls on the people of the United States and interested 
        groups to--
                    (A) celebrate rural women as integral members of 
                societies and economies around the world;
                    (B) recognize women farmers for their role in 
                feeding their families and fellow countrymen and for 
                their productivity which helps maintain economic 
                stability and stronger democracies;
                    (C) ensure rural women have access to the tools and 
                productive resources they need to engage in 
                entrepreneurship; and
                    (D) recommit to reducing limitations, breaking down 
                barriers to success, and prioritizing initiatives that 
                wholly support rural women farmers at the local level 
                to ensure more stable and prosperous societies.
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