Women make up half the population. When their contributions are valued, when they are allowed to advocate for themselves, their families and communities reap the benefits. This improves stability and prosperity for everyone – maybe more than anything else we’ve tried to invest in. 
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Subcommittee Chairman Paul Cook (R-CA) today concluded two days of meetings and briefings in Saudi Arabia focused on threats from Iran, the conflict in Yemen and economic reform. 
Yesterday evening, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) celebrated the recent enactment of the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act. The bipartisan legislation seeks to expand girls’ access to education by addressing the unique barriers they face, such as child marriage, human trafficking and gender-based violence. 
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) joined Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) today for House Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) signing of S. 1141, the Women, Peace, and Security Act.