Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill which reauthorizes a USAID Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship program named after Malala Yousafzai.

Malala is a Pakistani activist who began making the case for access to education for women and girls in 2008 despite objections from the Pakistani Taliban.

In October 2012, she was shot in the head by the Taliban in an assassination attempt in retaliation for her activism. Malala, just 15 years old at the time, miraculously survived and continues to fight for access to education for every child.

I want to thank my colleagues, Congressman Jeffries and Congresswoman Wagner, for introducing this bill and for their work on this issue.

Specifically, this bill authorizes for 3 years a USAID Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship program to academically talented, financially needy Pakistani students to pursue a bachelor's or master's degree at participating Pakistani universities. At least half of the number of scholarships shall go to women, and the administrator shall make every effort to award at least half of the scholarships under the program to go to Pakistani women.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the words of my colleague. I would add to that just a few thoughts. My mother grew up on a farm in Dingle, Idaho. Her high school class had eight people in it, and she traveled to New York City to get a master's degree from New York University.

I am so pleased for the women in my life and in our community who have led the way, but acknowledge, Mr. Speaker, that so many people around the world don't have that same opportunity. For that, I applaud my colleagues for the work on this bill and for promoting this very important issue.

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Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I again want to thank my colleagues for their hard work to expand the number of scholarships available to Pakistani women under USAID's Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship Program.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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