SEN. MENENDEZ MEETS WITH MUSIC SUPERSTAR SHAKIRA ON GLOBAL CAMPAIGN FOR EDUCATION

CAPTION: Sen. Menendez and Shakira discuss global education initiative in the Hart Senate Office Building.

April 23, 2008

CONTACTS:
Menendez Press Office 202-224-4744

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Grammy Award-winning singer Shakira and former National Economic Adviser Gene Sperling met yesterday to discuss The Education for All Act, which would provide universal basic education for all children. Senator Menendez is Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee that oversees U.S. foreign assistance programs. Shakira and Gene Sperling are in D.C. to kick off the Global Campaign for Education Action Week.

“I was delighted to meet an advocate who has repeatedly said that she prefers to use the light that is shone on her to shine it on the causes that are truly important, like basic education for children around the world,” said Sen. Menendez. “Promoting education for children around the world strengthens the global economy and improves international security. I am a proud co-sponsor of the Education for All Act, which aims to achieve that goal, and I have also introduced a bipartisan bill that seeks to provide 2.5 billion over 10 years for social and economic development in the Americas.”

The Education for All Act of 2007 amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide assistance for developing countries to promote quality basic education and to establish the achievement of universal basic education in all developing countries as an objective of United States foreign assistance policy. It also directs the President to develop a comprehensive U.S. strategy to promote universal basic education by 2015, authorizes USAID to establish an education fellowship program and establishes within the Department of State an Education Coordinator. The Bill would authorize $10 billion over the next five years.

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