Background:

Women are the backbone of the global economy and key to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive Act (GROWTH) establishes a fund within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to encourage U.S. economic opportunity projects in developing nations that incorporate women’s needs.

This innovative bill would shape U.S. assistance and trade policy by:

• Promoting women’s ability to start and grow businesses.
• Enhancing women’s land and property rights.
• Increasing women’s access to higher quality employment.
• Ensuring that the benefits of trade agreements reach low-income women.
   

Take Action:

Call your Senators and Representative and urge them to Support the Growth Act

The original co-sponsors of S. 2069 are Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). Click here http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN02069:@@@P for a list of all nine co-sponsors. If your Senator is already a co-sponsor, thank them!

Find out who your Senator is by selecting your state from the drop down menu at www.senate.gov (upper right hand corner).

Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

Ask to be connected to your Senator’s office. The receptionist will answer. Introduce yourself as (your name) a constituent from (city, state).

I am calling today to urge Senator______to co-sponsor S. 2069, the Senate version of the GROWTH Act. Economic empowerment of women in developing countries is integral to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. This bill directs aid to projects that increase women’s access to financial tools, property rights, quality jobs, and the benefits of global trade. (You can stop there, or add an additional sentence about why this issue is important to you)

Be sure to thank the receptionist when you are finished. Email kim.stietz@elca.org to report your call so that we can follow up if necessary.
 

The original co-sponsors of H.R. 2965 are Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). Click here http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR02965:@@@P for a list of all 47 co-sponsors. If your Representative is already a co-sponsor, thank them!

Find out who your Representative is by entering your zip code at www.house.gov (upper left corner).

Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3131.

Ask to be connected to your Representative’s office. The receptionist will answer. Introduce yourself as (your name) a constituent from (city, state).

I am calling today to urge Representative______to co-sponsor H.R. 2965, the House version of the GROWTH Act. Economic empowerment of women is integral to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. This bill directs aid to projects that increase women’s access to financial tools, property rights, quality jobs, and the benefits of global trade. (You can stop there, or add an additional sentence about why this issue is important to you)

Be sure to thank the receptionist when you are finished. Email kim.stietz@elca.org to report your call so that we can follow up if necessary.