Hearing of the United States Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) (As Released by the Helsinki Commission) - Crossing Borders, Keeping Connected: Women, Migration and Development in the Osce Region

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Hearing of the United States Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) (As Released by the Helsinki Commission) - Crossing Borders, Keeping Connected: Women, Migration and Development in the Osce Region

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REP. DORIS MATSUI (D-CA): Thank you very much, Chairman Hastings. I enjoy serving with him on the Rules Committee.

He sits about right there in relationship to me. And he's just absolutely wonderful, and also Congresswoman Solis and Congresswoman Moore. I mean, we travel together, and we have bonded together on many of these issues.

I want to thank you very much for being here today too, both of you. Women migrants have become very of interest to me, because as we study women around the world, we realize that lawmakers really must look at the economic opportunities in countries regarding women as well as work trends and family development. Women seem to be the key to a lot of this.

And today's hearing is really an opportunity for us in congress to present the American public with true life stories on the issues of women in other countries. And during a time in this nation's history that has yielded, sort of, somewhat unfortunately visceral reactions, responses to incidences in our own country, it's important for us to investigate the trends and economic reasons behind women and migration and remittances.

And I know the World Bank and others have other witnesses we'll hear from shortly are analyzing how gender plays a role in dynamics and determinants of international migration. And they're also uncovering the economic circumstances that lead to migrant workers.

In many developing countries, remittance flows make up the second largest source of external financing. And that's coming. More and more people are beginning to understand this. And it raises many important policy questions for all of us.

And as Congress and other lawmakers continue to delve into issues surrounding migrants and gender differences in migration, we have the opportunity to develop policy based on implications for growth and welfare in both origin and destination countries.

And today's hearing really gives us a good forum to ask the kind of questions necessary to understand and deign policies for the migration of women. And I look forward to hearing from you. And I thank Chairman Hastings for putting together this hearing today.

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