On August 1, The Borgen Project-backed bill Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act passed the Senate by a voice vote. The READ Act, H.R. 601, passed the House of Representatives on January 24 of this year. This low-cost bipartisan bill promotes universal basic education worldwide.

Specifically, it updates the objectives of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to support U.S. universal education policies that involve cooperation with partner countries, the private sector and civil society. The READ Act also emphasizes the need for strengthening education systems, especially so that girls can safely attend school.

Provisions to evaluate its effectiveness are included in the bill. By Oct. 1, 2017, the president must submit a comprehensive strategy for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 through FY 2022 that promotes basic education in partner countries. The president is then required to submit to Congress an annual implementation report.

The act also establishes the role of Senior Coordinator of U.S. International Basic Education Assistance within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), the ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA), a member of The Borgen Project board of directors. The Senate version was sponsored by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Richard Durbin (D-IL).

Rep. Lowey said on Twitter: “Pleased the Senate passed my bipartisan #READAct to prioritize education around the world.” On prioritizing education, Lowey has also said that promoting universal education is important in combatting poverty, disease, hunger and extremism.

The Congressional Budget Office said that the READ Act will likely cost taxpayers a total of $1 million between 2017 and 2021.

In the past 25 years, literacy rates rose 33% and primary school enrollment tripled. However, 250 million children and youths worldwide currently do not have access to quality education, and 500 million adult women are illiterate.

Both USAID and U.S. foreign aid previously succeeded in promoting universal education and literacy. In 2002, there were no female students in Afghanistan. Now they make up one-third of all Afghan students.

The Borgen Project is a strong supporter of the READ Act. In this year alone, 5,003 emails were sent to Members of Congress through The Borgen Project website in support of the READ Act.

The READ Act now heads back to the House of Representatives with minor revisions, before moving on to the president for his approval.

– Sean Newhouse

Photo: Flickr