April 29, 2026
Ms. Johnson of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
To strengthen the public-private partnerships and policy efforts of the Department of State to advance women’s economic security in South and Central Asia, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Enhancing Mobilization of Public-Private Organizations for Women’s Economic Rights Act
or the EMPOWER Act
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Women’s full and unfettered political, economic, and social participation is vital to realizing universal human rights, global prosperity, peace, and security.
(2)
Women’s labor force participation, asset ownership, and economic security are development multipliers, promoting family financial resilience, community health and development, children’s educational attainment, and poverty reduction, among other development gains across South and Central Asia.
(3)
Women’s economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment are directly proportional to countries’ economic competitiveness.
(4)
Women make up about 33 percent of South Asia’s labor force, among the lowest female labor force participation rates in the world, yet gender parity in employment could increase South Asia’s Gross Domestic Product by between 19 to 58 percent.
(5)
While the percentage varies across the five Central Asian states, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan also have some of the lowest female labor force participation rates in the world, at 29.6 percent and 35.9 percent, respectively.
(6)
The Women’s Councils are consortia of public-private partnerships between the Department of State and United States and South Asian businesses, civil society, and universities, to matchmake technology, networks, expertise, and resources of our corporate and civil society members to create more impact together than any entity could alone.
(7)
The Women’s Councils implement President Trump’s Presidential Memorandum on Promoting Women’s Global Development and Prosperity and the bipartisan Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017.
(8)
The Women’s Councils accelerate women’s economic empowerment in South and Central Asian countries, growing economies and advancing stability and prosperity for all, at no cost to American taxpayers.
Sec. 3. Statement of policy
It is the policy of the United States to promote women’s economic security and advancement, including in South and Central Asia, as an integral part of the broader conduct of United States foreign policy in the region.
Sec. 4. Women’s councils and public-private partnerships advancing women’s economic security in South and Central Asia
(a) In general
The Secretary of State shall maintain and seek to expand existing women’s councils and other public-private partnerships that—
(1)
forge ties between the United States and countries in South and Central Asia, by catalyzing commitments from the private sector, civil society, and academia; and
(2)
advance women’s employment, entrepreneurship and access to education, such as the United States-Pakistan Women’s Council, the United States-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment, and the Alliance for Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience.
(b) Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that the activities authorized under subsection (a) should support—
(1)
women’s financial inclusion and access;
(2)
women’s access to mentorship;
(3)
women’s asset ownership;
(4)
incubation and scaling of women-owned startups and small and medium enterprises;
(5)
access to procurement opportunities by women entrepreneurs;
(6)
career-enhancing educational opportunities;
(7)
women in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics;
(8)
the care economy; and
(9)
addressing legal and social barriers to women’s economic empowerment.
(c) Location
Activities authorized under this section may be conducted in the United States, in countries in South and Central Asia, or in third countries.
Sec. 5. Establishment of Unit
(a) In general
The Secretary of State shall establish within the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs a Unit responsible for overseeing the public-private partnerships described in section 4(a). Such Unit shall be led by a Special Advisor for Women’s Economic Security, who shall report to the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.
(b) Special advisor
The Special Advisor for Women’s Economic Security shall—
(1)
be appointed by the Secretary of State, including from among existing officials or employees of the Department of State to serve as the Special Advisor in addition to that official or employee’s existing role; and
(2)
have the rank and status of Ambassador.
(c) Designated point of contact
Each United States diplomatic and consular post the Special Advisor determines relevant shall designate a point of contact from among the personnel of such post, whose duties shall include identifying and tracking relevant private sector commitments with respect to the public-private partnerships overseen by the Unit established under subsection (a).
Sec. 6. Report
(a) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes—
(1)
a description of the steps taken to implement this Act, including allocated personnel and funding;
(2)
the status of the commitments and partnerships described in section 4(a); and
(3)
economic data on the impact of work of the Unit authorized by section 5.
(b) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means the following:
(1)
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(2)
The Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.