On July 14, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved, by voice vote, the Education for All Act (H.R. 4481), sponsored by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY).
Citing the 2012 attack on education activist and Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai and the 2014 abduction of school girls in Nigeria, the legislation notes that gender discrimination continues to be a barrier to girls’ education. The bill would require the United States Agency for International Development to develop a comprehensive strategy to promote universal basic education.
The legislation notes that promoting universal basic education is in the interest of U.S. national security and a matter of foreign policy. The measure would provide assistance for developing countries to promote quality education, stimulate economic growth, and empower women and girls.
