Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), along with eight co-signers, has sent a letter to the chairs and ranking members of the House Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs in support of funding for programs for Afghan women and Afghan women’s rights. The letter expresses “strong support for the language included in the House passed” appropriations bill which was not included in the Senate version.
While the Senate included funding for programs that aid Afghan women and girls in its bill, it changed key wording that would require funding for these programs. The Senate version also eliminated the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) as a recipient of this funding. Differences in the two versions will be ironed out by a Senate and House Conference Committee before it is adopted. The letter “strongly encourage(s)” that the final conference report retain the House-passed language, which includes funding for the AIHRC “so that the Commission will be able to continue its vital work on behalf of all Afghan citizens including women and children.”
Representatives Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Lois Capps (D- ), William Delahunt (D-MA ), Chaka Fattah (D-PA ), The Honorable Raul Grijalva (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Michael McNulty (D-NY), and Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) joined Rep. Maloney in supporting the House-passed language, which the Feminist Majority has supported and is urging Congress to adopt.
