On June 1, the House approved, by voice vote, the Girls Count Act (S. 802). The Senate approved the measure on May 23; the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a similar version of the bill (H.R. 2100) the same day (see The Source, 5/22/15). House passage of S. 802 clears the legislation for President Obama’s signature.
The measure, sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), would support international programs that improve birth registration of girls, which would help reduce women’s and girls’ vulnerability to trafficking and child marriage, promote their ability to inherit land, and increase their access to health and education services.
