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Biden will ask Congress for $2.6M to promote global gender equality programs

A celebration of International Women's Day in Baghdad, Iraq
AP Photo/Ceerwan Aziz
A celebration of International Women's Day in Baghdad, Iraq

President Joe Biden says he’s asking Congress for $2.6 billion for foreign aid programs that promote gender equality around the world. Biden says the amount is more than double what he asked Congress to provide last year.

The funding request was announced Tuesday, which was International Women's Day, a day set aside to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide.

On this day last year, Biden created the first-ever White House Gender Policy Council to promote gender equity in his administration.

This year, First Lady Jill Biden recognized the women of Ukraine and Russia in particular.