House Restores Family Planning Funding Cut by Administration

Washington, DC - June 19, 2006

 On June 9, the House overwhelmingly adopted its version of the FY 2007 foreign operations bill, the annual legislation which funds U.S. development and humanitarian assistance programs including Family Planning and Reproductive Health (FP/RH) programs. The House-approved bill includes $432 million for FP/RH programs, as well as $34 million for a U.S. contribution to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), subject to a Kemp-Kasten restriction ruling. The $432 million funding level is a significant accomplishment in light of the Bush administrationís desire to cut the FP/RH funding level nearly 20 percent to $357 million. PAI commends family planning champions on the Foreign Operations Subcommittee, in particular Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY), for rejecting the steep cuts proposed by the President and for their efforts to restore funding to these critical programs.

The Bush administrationís desire to cut funding for international family planning programs comes despite their success and popularity in the developing world, not to mention the growing need. Today, more than 200 million women in the developing world today wish to delay or end childbearing but do not have access to modern and effective contraceptives. This is an unimaginable situation for women in the U.S. who can obtain birth control at their local pharmacy or grocery store.

Thanks to our Congressional champions, family planning programs will likely avoid the deep budget cuts the President proposed. But in light of the tremendous need, the U.S. should be increasing funding for these critical programs. U.S. leadership and investments in international family planning assistance are critical in order to ensure healthy mothers, healthy pregnancies, and ultimately, healthy families.

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.