[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              THE WOMEN'S PROGRESS ASSESSMENT ACT OF 1994

                                 ______


                        HON. PATRICIA SCHROEDER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 5, 1994

  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, the International Conference on 
Population and Development in Cairo was a turning point for the world's 
approach to population policy. For the first time, nations of the world 
agreed that women are the key to ensuring a livable world for our 
children and grandchildren.
  The 160-plus countries involved agreed that we can only stabilize 
population by addressing women's needs in a holistic way, and improving 
women's health, women's jobs, and women's power over their own lives 
instead of simply promoting contraceptives.
  U.S. Congress nor parliaments from around the world can give life to 
the document's words, however, unless we first understand the 
complexities of women's lives.
  Timely and reliable data on women around the world is critical to 
understanding women's lives, and therefore, key to the effective 
implementation of the Program of Action and in evaluating the cost-
effectiveness of U.S. domestic and foreign assistance programs.
  Unfortunately, the information available is inadequate, and defies 
comparison between countries, and is not generally published or 
analyzed in a useful form. Because empowering women is the critical 
element for transforming the world in the 21st century, we need to know 
the whole story. Today, my colleague, Rep. Connie Morella and I are 
introducing the Women's Progress Assessment Act of 1994 to give us the 
tools we need to learn the whole story.

                          ____________________