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S. 3247: Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018

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S. 3247: Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018

115th Congress · introduced 2018-07-19 · International Affairs · Latest: Became Public Law No: 115-428.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2018-07-19 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 492 (2018): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, S3247 (2018-12-21), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 115-428. (final step reached)
  5. 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

Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018

Plain summary

Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018 This bill modifies U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs to provide targeted assistance for women. USAID strategies and projects shall be shaped by analysis to address gender differences, including how results may be different for men and women due to issues such as gender roles and structural barriers. The President is authorized to provide programs in developing countries for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, particularly those owned, managed, and controlled by women. Previously, authorization for such programs was largely limited to microenterprises. The President is also authorized to provide targeted assistance programs that promote economic empowerment of women, including through increased access to financial resources, improving property and inheritance rights, and other legal protections. For sustainable poverty-focused programs, half of resources targeting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises shall be for activities that reach the very poor. Half of resources for programs for small and medium-sized enterprises shall be for activities targeting enterprises owned, managed, or controlled by women. The bill directs USAID to modify its system for monitoring its programs to include outcomes broken down by gender, when feasible. The President is authorized to expand the micro and small business development credit program to provide such assistance to medium-sized businesses as well. The bill also directs USAID to break down various information in its annual report by gender and income level. USAID shall also report to Congress on the implementation of this bill. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress an assessment of the effect of development assistance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries, and the extent to which such aid benefits women and the very poor.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

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

Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR] · 12 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR] reported raising $579,216 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (2)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-s3247 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115