S.Res. 251: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of Afghanistan, with the support of the international community, should fulfill its obligations to ensure that women fully participate as candidates and voters in the August 20, 2009, presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan.

S.Res. 251: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of Afghanistan, with the support of the international community, should fulfill its obligations to ensure that women fully participate as candidates and voters in the August 20, 2009, presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan.

111th Congress · introduced 2009-08-07 · International Affairs · Latest: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9091; text as passed Senate CR S9091; text of measure as introduced: CR S9090)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2009-08-07 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9091; text as passed Senate CR S9091; text of measure as introduced: CR S9090) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of Afghanistan, with the support of the international community, should fulfill its obligations to ensure that women fully participate as candidates and voters in the August 20, 2009, presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan.

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Congratulates the women and women-led organizations of Afghanistan on the launch of the Five Million Afghan Women Campaign. Urges the government of Afghanistan to ensure that sufficient staffing is in place in women's polling stations, including security staff and equipment and appropriate polling place personnel, and include women in committees charged with election security and related processes. Urges the government of Afghanistan, the religious, community, and cultural leaders to encourage women to participate in the August 2009 elections. Urges the government of Afghanistan and the Independent Electoral Commission to continue to consult with the Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs, the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, and women-led nongovernmental organizations regarding women's participation in the elections. Encourages the Secretary of State to continue to mobilize U.S. resources for programs throughout Afghanistan to raise the awareness of women in Afghanistan regarding governance and their rights as citizens. Urges the new government of Afghanistan to meaningfully engage women in such new government.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

A Yea supports adopting this resolution.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of Afghanistan, with the support of the international community, should fulfill its obligations to ensure that women fully participate as candidates and voters in the August 20, 2009, presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] · 10 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] reported raising $3.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (5)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.
Resolution: A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
Roll-call vote: A vote where each member's position is recorded by name, so the public can see how every member voted. "Yea" means yes, "Nay" means no, "Present" means the member was there but did not take a side.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-111sres251.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/111/sres>

Record fed-us-cong111-sres251 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111