PAI Applauds Congress as Foreign Aid Bill Passes

Washington, D.C. - December 20, 2001

Population Action International (PAI) today applauds Congress for passing the foreign operations appropriations bill, approving nearly $15.4 billion for international development assistance programs, including increased funding for family planning, maternal and child health, and HIV/AIDS programs. "Today Congress has taken an important step forward," said Amy Coen, President of PAI. "We are delighted that Congress has decided to invest more in people's well-being. Woman by woman, community by community, these investments can build healthier, more stable, democratic societies."

Congress approved $446.5 million for international family planning, which represents an increase of $21.5 million over last year. In addition, the bill allocates $34 million for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), an increase of $9 million. Significantly, the House also agreed to drop long-standing "China Penalty" language, which reduced the total U.S. contribution to UNFPA by one dollar for every dollar spent by UNFPA on programs in China.

The passage of the bill concludes debate over the global gag rule for this session of Congress. PAI regrets that Congress rejected language submitted by the Senate overturning the global gag rule, leaving the policy in place. The global gag rule, reinstated by President Bush on his first day in office, withholds U.S. assistance from any foreign organization that, with its own funding, performs, refers, counsels on or advocates for abortion, regardless of whether abortion is legal in that country.

As the U.S. remains the largest single donor to international reproductive health efforts, this policy is likely to have a measurable impact.

"We're disappointed that Congress chose not to overturn this harmful policy," said Lisa Moreno, Senior Legislative Policy Analyst at PAI. "But we made a lot of progress this year that indicates this is far from being over. We'll be back."

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.