House Approves Funds for Family Planning - $425 Million for Family Planning Overseas Far Short of "Fair Share"
Washington, D.C. - July 26, 2001Population Action International (PAI) applauds the House of Representatives' 381-46 vote on July 24 to approve the House Foreign Operations spending bill (HR 2506), which includes $425 million for international family planning and $487 million for HIV/AIDS programs.
"We are pleased the House has again pledged support for programs critical to the lives of women and children," said Amy Coen, President of PAI. "The fact remains, however, that this funding still falls far short of our nation's international commitments. It's time to pay our fair share."
These monies are approved for family planning and other reproductive health services, including HIV/AIDS programs overseas. PAI points out, however, that this amount still falls short of the United States' fair share ($2 billion) of the funding goals agreed to at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo.
PAI also notes that the spending bill does not mention the global gag rule, the policy reinstated by President Bush that bars recipients of U.S. international family planning assistance from providing abortions with their own funds, counseling women on abortion, or engaging in political speech on abortion.
"The global gag rule compromises the quality of family planning services in many developing countries," said Coen. "This discriminatory policy needlessly endangers the health of those whom U.S. aid is intended to help."
The Senate is taking two steps to advance international family planning program policy and funding before the August recess. Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee will mark up the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, which is anticipated to include language to overturn the global gag rule and increase funding for family planning. On August 1, the Foreign Relations Committee is expected to mark up the Global Democracy Promotion Act, S. 367, which is also aimed at overturning the global gag rule.
"Congress still has a chance to repeal the global gag rule, and save women's lives," said Coen. "We urge them to do the right thing."
Population Action International (PAI) works to improve individual well-being and preserve global resources by mobilizing political and financial support for population, family planning and reproductive health policies and programs.
