Senate Committee advances Boozman-Cardin Bill to Empower Women-Led Enterprises

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Senate Committee advances Boozman-Cardin Bill to Empower Women-Led Enterprises

WASHINGTON-The Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced legislation introduced by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) that aims to eliminate global gender-related barriers and empower female entrepreneurs around the world.

The Women’s Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment (WEEE) Act passed with a committee amendment.

“This is an important step to reducing financial hurdles that women in developing countries face. Providing access to economic tools will put more women in control of their financial success and facilitate improvements in their homes and communities. I appreciate the leadership of Chairman Corker to advance this legislation and help level the playing field for women around the world,” Boozman said.

The WEEE Act seeks to establish a development cooperation policy of the United States to reduce gender disparities related to economic participation and opportunity, strive to eliminate gender-based violence, support women’s property rights and increase the capability of women and girls to determine life outcomes.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a companion bill in July.

First Security Banking collecting Christmas gifts for Foster Children SEARCY – Arkansas has an alarming number of children in foster care. There are currently nearly 4,500 kids in state custody, with more than 1,000 children having been in care for more than two years. There are 363 currently waiting to be adopted. In attempt to make Christmas a bit brighter for these children, First Security Bancorp is partnering with Restore Hope Arkansas and Red Door Tables to collect monetary and gift donations. Restore Hope is a non-profit created to bridge the recognized gap between government services and communities struggling to reduce the rate of incarceration, to facilitate a successful re-entry from incarceration to freedom, and to reduce the number of children entering our state’s foster care system. Now through Friday, Dec. 15, monetary gifts, store gift cards, and new, unwrapped toys will be accepted at any First Security banking center throughout the state. Donations will be distributed to local children through partner agencies of the Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services within each banking center community.