CHAIRMAN LYNCH'S OPENING STATEMENT [PDF]

On Thursday, July 23, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, will hold a hybrid hearing to examine the United States Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS Strategy), and the implementation plans released last month by the Department of State (State), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Department of Defense (DOD), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The Trump Administration has pursued policies that conflict with the goals and objectives of the WPS Strategy, raising significant questions about the Trump Administration’s commitment to promoting equal opportunity for women and girls and helping them serve in political, security and civic leadership positions around the world.

For example, the Trump Administration has put women and girls at risk by restricting access to sexual and reproductive health care and sidelined women during conflict resolution and peace negotiations—notably during U.S.-Taliban peace talks.

The hearing will also address how the United States can promote and encourage a greater number of women to serve in senior national security leadership positions within our own government to ensure the U.S. principles on women, peace, and security are applied in the implementation of U.S. foreign and defense policy.