,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #ffbf  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,april #bd1 #bjbj,mr4 
,trone 7= himself & ,mrs4 ,rodg]s (     
,wa%+ton7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0
 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign       
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to support & exp& 
civic engagem5t & political lead]%ip (  
adolesc5t girls ar\nd ! _w1 & o!r       
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,girls' ,lead]%ip1         
,engagem5t1 ,ag5cy1 & ,developm5t ,act (
 #bjai or ! ,girls ,,lead ,act4  #b4    
,f9d+s ,congress makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3  
7#a7 ,inclusive democracy & gov]nance   
are fundam5tal objectives & critical    
f\ndations = su/a9able developm5t &     
global peace4 ,promotion ( democracy1   
human rights1 & gov]nance is a          
reflection ( fundam5tal ,am]ican values 
& id5tity4  7#b7 ,democracies score     
consi/5tly high] ?an nondemocracies on a
 broad range ( socioeconomic developm5t 
indicators1 includ+ infant & *ild       
mortality1 life expectancy1 prim>y s*ool

 enrollm5t1 adult lit]acy1 female y\?   
lit]acy1 female second>y s*ool          
enrollm5t1 & access to clean wat]4  7#c7
 ,wom5's political p>ticipation results 
9 tangible ga9s = democracy1 includ+    
great] responsiv5ess to citiz5 ne$s1    
increas$ coop]ation across p>ty & e?nic 
l9es1 & m su/a9able peace4  7#d7 ,wom5 9
 lead]%ip positions are m likely to     
resolve national crises )\t resort+ to  
viol5ce1 su/a9 peace agreem5ts ov] long]
 p]iods ( "t1 advocate = social issues t
 b5efit all1 & allocate budgets to heal?
 & education4  7#e7 ,despite compris+   
ov] #ej p]c5t ( ! _w's population1 wom5 
are und]repres5t$ at all levels ( public
 sector decision mak+4 ,at ! curr5t rate
 ( progress1 x w take ov] #ajj ye>s to  
a*ieve g5d] p>ity 9 political           
p>ticipation4  7#f7 ,engag+ adolesc5t   
girls m 9 civil & political activities  
contributes to increas$ political       
p>ticipation & wom5's lead]%ip ar\nd !  
_w ov] "t4 ,adolesc5ts :o p>ticipate    
actively 9 _! community f e>ly on are m 

likely to become engag$ citiz5s & vot]s1
 ) high] levels ( ambition = future     
lead]%ip positions 9 bo? politics & !   
private sector4 ,_! safe1 mean+ful1 &   
appropriate p>ticipation is key to      
creat+ democratic societies ) in=m$ &   
engag$ citiz5s4  7#g7 ,adolesc5ce is a  
critical p]iod 9 a girl's life1 :5      
significant physical1 emotional1 &      
social *anges %ape h] future4 ,adolesc5t
 girls are p>ticul>ly vuln]able to      
,,hiv_/,,aids1 *ild1 e>ly1 & =c$        
m>riage1 & o!r =ms ( g5d]-bas$ viol5ce1 
includ+ sexual exploitation1 h>assm5t1 &
 assault1 :i* are detrim5tal to _!      
futures4  7#h7 ,approximately           
#acb1jjj1jjj adolesc5t girls betwe5 !   
ages ( #f-ag are out ( s*ool4 ,unit$    
,nations data reveal$ an increase ( ov] 
six p]c5t 9 ! numb] ( adolesc5t girls n 
9 prim>y s*ool1 9 j "o ye>1 f           
#cb1jjj1jjj 9 #bjae to #cd1jjj1jjj 9    
#bjaf4  7#i7 ,by #bjcj1 ov] #aej1jjj1jjj
 m adolesc5t girls w m>ry z *ildr54     
,despite global progress1 #ab1jjj1jjj   

adolesc5t girls "u #ah w m>ry annually4 
,! numb] "o cause ( dea? = adolesc5t    
girls #ae-ai ye>s old is *ildbir?1 & #ij
 p]c5t ( bir?s to adolesc5t girls #ae-ai
 occur )9 a m>riage4  7#aj7 ,e #aj      
m9utes1 some:]e 9 ! _w1 an adolesc5t    
girl dies z a result ( viol5ce4 ,a      
girl's risk ( dy+ z a result ( viol5ce  
increases f e>ly to late adolesc5ce4    
,viol5ce is ! second lead+ cause ( dea? 
among adolesc5t girls globally4  7#aa7  
,emp[]+ adolesc5t girls & "y wom5 9     
*ildhood & z !y transition to become    
adults1 inve/+ 9 _! lead]%ip pot5tial1 &
 ensur+ !re are e/abli%$ pa?ways to     
positions ( political lead]%ip & civic  
engagem5t contribute to ensur+ a _w :]e 
wom5 c ?rive z political lead]s &       
decisionmak]s1 9 economic spaces &      
across society z a :ole4  #c4 ,/atem5t (
 policy ,x %all be ! int]national       
developm5t policy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to--
 7#a7 promote & ensure t all adolesc5ts 
f ! mo/ m>g9aliz$ populations1 includ+  
bo? girls & boys1 are able to fully     

p>ticipate 9 society1 & are specifically
 able to ex]cise _! civil & political   
rights z ag5ts ( *ange 9 _! communities 
& c\ntries2  7#b7 increase ! capability 
( adolesc5ts1 p>ticul>ly adolesc5t      
girls1 9 assum+ lead]%ip roles1 hold+   
decisionmak]s to acc\nt1 & influ5c+     
decision mak+ at ! h\sehold1 community1 
& societal levels2  7#c7 ensure mean+ful
 engagem5t & consultation ) adolesc5ts1 
p>ticul>ly adolesc5t girls1 to ensure t 
,unit$ ,/ates =eign assi/ance           
initiatives1 includ+ ! plann+1          
implem5tation1 & evaluation ( projects1 
are effective & responsive to ?is input 
) a focus on c\ntry & community own]%ip2
  7#d7 ensure t consultation processes  
are transp>5t1 volunt>y1 inclusive1     
safe1 respectful1 & responsive to       
/ructural b>ri]s affect+ adolesc5t      
girls' mean+ful engagem5t2  7#e7        
actively "w to decrease discrim9ation   
t[>ds1 & ! abuses (1 ! rights (         
adolesc5t girls1 p>ticul>ly among ! mo/ 
vuln]able populations2 &  7#f7 utilize  

evid5ce-bas$ approa*es & practices 9    
develop+ su* programs1 includ+ tak+ into
 acc\nt ! role ( family1 religi\s1 &    
community lead]s 9 creat+ supportive    
environm5ts2 ! id5tification ( m5tors & 
role models2 & ! creation ( safe spaces 
= adolesc5t girls4  #d4 ,/rategy to     
enc\rage ! civic & political            
p>ticipation ( adolesc5t girls  7a7     
,/rategy requir$ ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft]
 ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !      
,secret>y ( ,/ate & ! ,adm9i/rator ( !  
,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy = ,int]national    
,developm5t %all jo9tly submit to !     
appropriate congressional committees &  
make publicly available a s+le /rategy  
on /r5g!n+ ! p>ticipation ( adolesc5ts1 
p>ticul>ly adolesc5t girls1 9 democracy1
 human rights1 & gov]nance4 ,! /rategy  
%all include a detail$ description ( h[ 
ea* ag5cy's democracy & gov]nance c5t]  
int5ds to fulfill ! policy objectives   
set =? 9 section #c4  7b7 ,elem5ts ,!   
/rategy submitt$ "u subsection 7a7 %all 
include ! foll[+ elem5ts3 7#a7 ,a       

specific implem5tation plan f ea* ( !   
relevant ,f$]al ag5cies t describes--   
7,a7 ! anticipat$ contributions ( !     
ag5cy1 includ+ te*nical1 f9ancial1 &    
9-k9d contributions1 to implem5t !      
/rategy2 &  7,b7 ! ef=ts ( ! ag5cy to   
ensure t ! policies & initiatives c>ri$ 
out pursuant to ! /rategy are design$ to
 a*ieve maximum impact & long-t]m       
su/a9ability4  7#b7 ,/rategic objectives
 & activities1 includ+ social           
acc\ntability1 rese>*1 & le>n+1 to      
advance ! lead]%ip1 civic1 & political  
engagem5t ( adolesc5ts1 p>ticul>ly      
adolesc5t girls1 includ+ a description (
 h[ su* ef=ts w advance g5d] equality & 
r$uce ! di/9ct b>ri]s t adolesc5t girls 
& boys ea* face1 includ+ ! mo/ m>g9aliz$
 adolesc5ts1 to _! civic p>ticipation 9 
exi/+ /ructures1 in/itutions1 & ! broad]
 enabl+ environm5t4  7#c7 ,metrics1     
b5*m>ks1 & a monitor+1 evaluation1 &    
le>n+ plan to ensure ! acc\ntability &  
effectiv5ess ( all activities relat$ to 
! policy objectives set =? 9 section #c4

  7#d7 ,an explanation ( h[ su*         
objectives & activities w be align$ )   
exi/+ ,unit$ ,/ates =eign assi/ance     
policies & /rategies relevant to promot+
 global g5d] equality & wom5's & girls' 
emp[]m5t4  7#e7 ,an explanation ( h[    
g5d] analysis has in=m$ ! /rategy &     
implem5tation plan1 includ+ ! /rategic  
objectives & activities to advance !    
lead]%ip1 civic1 & political engagem5t (
 adolesc5ts4  7#f7 ,plans =             
consultations ) civil society t include 
girl-l$ & wom5's organizations & o!r    
local civil society 9 p>tn] c\ntries1   
,unit$ ,/ates civil society1 & o!r      
/akehold]s to in=m ! developm5t &       
implem5tation ( ! /rategy1 ! creation ( 
metrics1 & ! monitor+ & evaluation (    
program int]v5tions4  7c7 ,consultation 
,! /rategy requir$ "u subsection 7a7    
%all be develop$ 9 consultation ) civil 
society 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & affect$     
=eign c\ntries1 includ+ adolesc5t girls4
  #e4 ,implem5tation ( =eign assi/ance  
projects1 programs1 & activities ,!     

,secret>y ( ,/ate & ! ,adm9i/rator ( !  
,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy = ,int]national    
,developm5t %all implem5t ,unit$ ,/ates 
=eign assi/ance projects1 programs1 &   
activities design$ to /r5g!n !          
p>ticipation ( adolesc5ts1 p>ticul>ly   
adolesc5t girls1 9 democracy1 human     
rights1 & gov]nance1 includ+-- 7#a7     
increas+ adolesc5t girls' civic &       
political k1 advocacy1 lead]%ip & rese>*
 skills1 lead]%ip opportunities1        
int]g5]ational m5tor%ip opportunities1  
data & m$ia lit]acy1 & support+ _!      
mean+ful political p>ticipation &       
engagem5t 9 civil society & ! public    
sph]e2  7#b7 address+ b>ri]s to         
adolesc5t girls' & wom5's civic         
engagem5t & political p>ticipation1 &   
integrat+ engagem5t ( m5 & boys1        
families1 community lead]s1 religi\s    
lead]s1 s*ools1 political bodies1       
gov]nm5t bodies1 & o!r /akehold]s to    
improve ! enabl+ environm5t = adolesc5t 
girls' civic & political p>ticipation2  
7#c7 id5tify+ & tak+ into acc\nt o!r    

b>ri]s to adolesc5t girls' civic &      
political engagem5t1 includ+ *ild       
m>riage1 access to quality prim>y &     
second>y education1 unequal *ildc>e     
burd5s1 g5d]-bas$ viol5ce1 e>ly         
pregnancy1 adolesc5t mat]nal mortality1 
mobility con/ra9ts1 maln\ri%m5t1        
displacem5t1 lack ( safe & reliable     
female sanitation & hygi5e facilities1 &
 h>mful social norms2  7#d7 integrat+   
fe$back f program p>ticipants into !    
monitor+1 evaluation1 & le>n+ processes 
( relevant ,unit$ ,/ates ag5cies2  7#e7 
support+ girl-l$ & girl-focus$ civil    
society organizations ) flexible1       
su/a9able fund+ & te*nical support2 &   
7#f7 ensur+ age-appropriate &           
g5d]-s5sitive *ild-safegu>d+ provisions 
= all programs t engage p>ticipants "u !
 age ( #ah4  #f4 ,prioritization ( sp5d+
 ,! ,secret>y ( ,/ate & ! ,adm9i/rator (
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy = ,int]national 
,developm5t %all prioritize =eign       
assi/ance fund+ made available =        
democracy1 human rights1 & gov]nance    

programs 9 accordance ) ?is ,act4  #g4  
,annual report  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an
 "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is  
,act1 & annually !reaft]1 ! ,secret>y ( 
,/ate & ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,ag5cy = ,int]national ,developm5t %all
 jo9tly submit to ! appropriate         
congressional committees a report on    
progress made by relevant ,unit$ ,/ates 
,gov]nm5t ag5cies t[>ds increas+ civic &
 political p>ticipation ( adolesc5t     
girls & boys ar\nd ! _w4  7b7 ,elem5ts  
,! report requir$ "u subsection 7a7 %all
 include ! foll[+ elem5ts3 7#a7 ,an     
e/imate ( ! numb] ( p rea*$ by ,unit$   
,/ates ,gov]nm5t-fund$ =eign assi/ance  
or developm5t int]v5tion disaggregat$ by
 age & sex4  7#b7 ,a description ( h[   
adolesc5t girls1 p>ticul>ly among ! mo/ 
vuln]able populations1 are integrat$    
into exi/+ democracy1 human rights1     
gov]nance1 & rule ( law programm+4  7#c7
 ,! p]c5tage ( program p>ticipants t are
 adolesc5t girls 9 curr5t democracy1    
human rights1 & gov]nance programs      

focus$ on issues1 includ+ civic         
engagem5t1 political p>ticipation1      
advocacy1 rese>*1 & lead]%ip developm5t1
 ! p]c5tage ( funds sp5t on ^? programs 
t focus on adolesc5t girls1 & ! c\ntries
 9 :i* ^? programs take place4  7#d7 ,! 
numb] ( democracy1 human rights1 &      
gov]nance programs creat$ to improve or 
t o!rwise support civic engagem5t1      
political p>ticipation1 & lead]%ip (    
adolesc5t girls1 ! am\nt ( funds sp5t on
 ^? programs1 & ! c\ntries 9 :i* ^?     
programs take place4  7c7 ,public       
availability ,! report requir$ "u       
subsection 7a7 %all be po/$ & made      
available on a text-bas$1 se>*able1 &   
publicly available int]net website4  #h4
 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act-- 7#a7 ! t]m   
appropriate congressional committees    
means-- 7,a7 ! ,committee on ,=eign     
,relations & ! ,committee on            
,appropriations ( ! ,s5ate2 &  7,b7 !   
,committee on ,=eign ,affairs & !       
,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,h\se 
( ,repres5tatives2  7#b7 ! t]m =eign    

assi/ance has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9      
section #fcd7;b7 ( ! ,=eign ,assi/ance  
,act ( #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bcid7;b772 
&  7#c7 ! t]m g5d] analysis has ! mean+ 
giv5 ! t]m 9 section #c7;a7 ( ! ,wom5's 
,entrepr5eur%ip & ,economic ,emp[]m5t   
,act ( #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-dbh74