[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 134 (Tuesday, October 24, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1889-E1890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE GLOBAL ACTIONS AND INVESTMENTS FOR NEW SUCCESS FOR 
                          WOMEN AND GIRLS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 24, 2000

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, Economic globalization is leaving the 
world's poorest women, girls, and communities behind. Women and their 
children make up more than 70 percent of the 1.3 billion poorest people 
today. U.S. international economic policies, particularly in the areas 
of trade liberalization and debt relief for developing countries, 
should help create a positive environment for women's economic 
empowerment and gender equality.
  As the complexity of the global economy increases, so too does the 
important role of women. They make up to 75 percent of workers in the 
``shadow'' or informal economy and constitute an ever-greater share of 
the workforce in developing countries. Many studies have proven that 
women's earnings are directly invested in the education, health, and 
welfare of their children.

[[Page E1890]]

  The United States has not taken adequate steps to implement its 
commitments made at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women 
in its foreign policy and international assistance programs. For 
example, the U.S. has not implemented strategic objective A1 of the 
Platform for Action, ``Review, adopt, and maintain macroeconomic 
policies and development strategies that address the needs and efforts 
of women in poverty'' or strategic objective K2, ``Integrate gender 
concerns and perspectives in policies and programmes for sustainable 
development.''
  No one sectoral intervention is sufficient to create the environment 
in which women and girls can thrive economically and socially. 
Investments are necessary in multiple areas including: education and 
training; health care including access to safe and effective family 
planning and reproductive health services, maternal health care, and 
children's health; HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment; tuberculosis 
treatment; microcredit; and human rights, violence prevention and anti-
trafficking.
  With this in mind, I am pleased to be joined by ten original 
cosponsors today in introducing the Global Actions and Investments for 
New Success for Women and Girls Act, or the GAINS Act. It is our hope 
that the next administration will view this legislation as a blueprint 
for action, and I look forward to working with my colleagues and the 
next president to improve further the status of the world's women.

                          ____________________