Johnson Introduces Bill to Advance Women’s Economic Security in South and Central Asia

May 12, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32) introduced the Enhancing Mobilization of Public-Private Organizations for Women’s Economic Rights (EMPOWER) Act . The legislation will establish U.S. policy to promote women’s economic security and advancement in South and Central Asia as an integral part of our foreign policy objectives in the region. “We know that women’s labor force participation, asset ownership, and economic security are key drivers of poverty reduction and long-term stability, including in South and Central Asia. North Texas is home to a large and vibrant South and Central Asian community, and the connections between our region and that part of the world make this work even more meaningful,” said Johnson. “While the Trump administration has pursued a reckless culture war at the expense of our national security interests, Congress must remain committed to smart investments in global stability. This important bill strengthens the public-private partnerships and policy efforts of the State Department, reaffirming our commitment to advancing women’s economic mobility, employment, entrepreneurship, and access to education around the world.” This bill would direct the Secretary of State to maintain and expand existing Women’s Councils and other public-private partnerships, such as the U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council, U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment, and the Alliance for Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience. The Women’s Councils are consortia of public-private partnerships between the U.S. Department of State and U.S. and South Asian businesses, civil society, and universities, to matchmake technology, networks, expertise, and resources of our corporate and civil society members to create more impact together than any entity could alone. Furthermore, the bill will establish within the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs a unit responsible for overseeing public-private partnerships by a Special Advisor for Women’s Economic Security who will report to the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia. It also requires reports regarding the implementation of this bill, allocated personnel and funding, the status of commitments, a list of participating partners, and economic data on the impact of the Unit’s work. To read the full text of the legislation, click here . Congresswoman Julie Johnson represents Texas’s 32 nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving on the Homeland Security Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Administration Committee. Her district includes parts of Collin, Dallas, and Denton Counties. ### Issues : Congress Foreign Affairs