What if you could help remove barriers that keep women around the world from escaping poverty? You can. Support the GROWTH Act.

Right now a groundbreaking bill that has the potential to help lift millions of women in the developing world out of poverty is before Congress. On July 10, 2007, Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) re-introduced the Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive Act (GROWTH Act, HR-2965) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Then, on September 19, it was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) (S.2069), bringing it one step closer to becoming a reality for women worldwide! The GROWTH Act is an innovative bill that, if passed, would make the U.S. a leader in reducing poverty and promoting opportunities for women and families around the world.

Help pass the GROWTH Act - Sign the Petition!

How Would the GROWTH Act Help Women Living in Poverty?

The GROWTH Act would shape U.S. assistance and trade policy to empower women in these areas:

• * Small Business:* Help women start and grow their own businesses
• * Property Rights:* Help increase women's land and property rights
• * Wages and Working Conditions:* Help improve women’s wages and working conditions by emphasizing training and education
• * Access to Global Trade:* Ensure that increased trade benefits women and families living in poverty.
• * Local Women’s Organizations:* Encourage U.S. agencies to recognize women and to work with local organizations that focus on women's needs.

Why Economic Opportunities for Women?
Investing in women is the surest way to end global poverty. In many poor countries, women produce the majority of the food supply and are more likely to spend their income on food, education and healthcare for their children. However, they face unequal barriers to lifting their families out of poverty: women often work longer hours in the lowest-paid sectors, earn less stable incomes, and receive less training and have fewer economic opportunities than men.

As the largest economy in the world, a powerful trading partner, and major international donor, the U.S. can have a huge impact on the lives of women worldwide. By improving our policies, we can help millions of mothers, daughters, and sisters around the world escape poverty.

Help pass the GROWTH Act - Sign the Petition!

The GROWTH Act is supported by Women Thrive Worldwide (formerly the Women's Edge Coalition), which worked with Congressional leaders, other organizations, and women in developing countries to research and develop the bill.

Learn More: www.WomenThrive.org