The U.S. House of Representatives will soon have the opportunity to do the right thing and restore vital U.S. support for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the humanitarian assistance organization widely credited with saving thousands of women's and children's lives every year. In a controversial move last year, the White House cancelled the $34 million U.S. contribution to UNFPA, depriving UNFPA of critically needed support for its global health programs. It is imperative that funding for UNFPA be restored.

The House of Representatives will soon consider the State Department authorization bill and debate whether the United States will resume its contributions to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Last year, Congress appropriated $34 million for UNFPA, but these monies were later withheld by the White House, depriving UNFPA of critically needed support for its global health programs. It is imperative that funding for UNPFA be restored.

Politics triumph over fact in dispute over China programs Population Action International today expressed deep disappointment at the Bush Administration's decision to deny funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), bringing to a bitter end the 7-month saga over the U.S.'s $34 million contribution.

PAI Deplores Campaign of "Fabrications & Distortions" Population Action International today released the following statement by its President, Amy Coen, expressing strong disappointment that the House Appropriations Committee overturned an amendment that would have released current year funds to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and describing the allegations against the international agency as a "campaign of fabrications and distortions."

PAI Deplores Campaign of "Fabrications & Distortions" Population Action International today released the following statement by its President, Amy Coen, praising the House Appropriations Committee for its efforts to release current year funds to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and describing the allegations against the international agency as a "campaign of fabrications and distortions."

Family Planning Proponents Urge White House to Honor Funding Agreement The Bush Administration last week indicated that it may reduce or deny funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the foremost UN agency involved in expanding access to family planning and maternal health care around the world, including in Afghanistan. The news comes within days of the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion in the United States, and can only be interpreted as an attempt by conservative, anti-abortion groups and lawmakers to derail U.S. international family planning efforts. High-ranking White House and State Department officials are scheduled to further discuss the matter this Wednesday.

As Congress adjourned for its month-long August recess, efforts to negotiate and pass a foreign aid bill conference report prior to leaving town were derailed at the last-minute by the inability of Congress and the White House to resolve their disagreements over total funding levels, debt relief provisions, and international family planning policy.

Decision assailed by Members of Congress, European Commission, NGOs and others from around the world Going against the recommendations of its own fact-finding delegation, the Bush Administration has cut off funds to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), denying support for the same agency the United States helped establish in 1969. In announcing the decision on Monday, July 22, the State Department pledged to reprogram the $34 million in funds through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).