House Appropriations Committee United in Efforts to Improve Effectiveness of U.S. Assistance for Family Planning and HIV/AIDS Programs

House Appropriations Committee United in Efforts to Improve Effectiveness of U.S. Assistance for Family Planning and HIV/AIDS Programs

House Action Today:

Today during debate of the FY 2008 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations, the House Appropriations Committee went on record in strong support of measures to improve the effectiveness of U.S. assistance for family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention programs. This historic action marks a strong rebuke to the Bush Administration's global health policies that have sacrificed comprehensive, evidence-based programs in favor of rigid and ineffective ideological restrictions. The House is expected to take up the bill the week of June 18.

The foreign assistance bill, approved last week by a House Appropriations Subcommittee, contains important provisions to: (1) expand access to contraceptives in poor, impoverished nations by providing a targeted exemption from the Mexico City Policy (Global Gag Rule) for USAID-donated contraceptives and condoms; and (2) provide for greater effectiveness and flexibility in the fight against HIV/AIDS by allowing the President to waive the restriction under PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) that mandates at least 1/3 of HIV/AIDS prevention funding be limited to "abstinence-until-marriage" programs. Both provisions cleared a major hurdle today when conservatives on the committee backed away from any repeal efforts, despite efforts by anti-abortion groups to encourage such efforts.

This overwhelming support of the contraceptives provision marks a growing awareness among policymakers of all ideologies that family planning programs are vital to reducing unintended pregnancies and abortion. The lack of efforts to repeal the "abstinence-until-marriage" waiver signifies the committee's willingness to rectify a significant problem that was illuminated by two government-mandated reports, in addition to countless experts in the field.

The bill provides $441 million for family planning and reproductive health programs, a slight increase over current levels but a $116 million increase above the President's request. The committee also approved an earmarked contribution to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) of $40 million, a $6 million increase above last year's level approved by Congress, subject to the so-called Kemp-Kasten restriction. UNFPA opponents on the committee today also backed away from mounting a serious challenge to modest changes proposed in the bill to ensure a more thorough and transparent review by the President in making his determination on whether or not to fund UNFPA.

Statement from Terri Bartlett, Vice President for Public Policy, Population Action International (PAI):

"The real winners in today's hearing are poor women overseas. If given the choice, women in the developing world - like most American women - would use contraceptives. But far too often, they simply don't have that choice. That's why this provision to expand access to contraceptives is so desperately needed.

"Today marks a major milestone in the effort to restore common sense to U.S. global health programs. The lack of dissent today shows that even the most conservative members realize that cutting off the flow of contraceptives is extreme and counter-productive. It is also an affirmation that one-size-fits-all abstinence programs don't protect women and girls from HIV and that contraceptives are vital to saving mothers' lives and reducing the need for abortion. We applaud all the members for supporting these provisions, and we're especially grateful for the leadership shown by Chairwoman Lowey."

To arrange an interview with Ms. Bartlett, please call Tamar Abrams at 202.557.3407. To learn more about the FY 2008 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations, visit the pressroom of PAI's website: http://www.populationaction.org/Press_Room/Index.shtml

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Population Action International 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.