Background Information:
Reportedly, the administration has agreed to accept an amendment authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R.NJ), a long-time opponent of family planning and abortion rights. The amendment would re-impose a global gag rule, sometimes referred to as the "Mexico City Policy." This means that any foreign non-governing organization (NGO) that receives U.S. funds for population assistance may not discuss abortion -- even as medical topic -- with anyone (this includes health care-givers, policy-makers as well as patients). They may not talk about abortion at all, unless they decline to receive U.S. funds. In essence, the United States would be imposing a restriction that would not be allowable in this country as a fundamental violation of First Amendment free speech rights.
It should be noted that NGOs receiving U.S. funds may not utilize those funds to provide abortion services, a policy which has been in place since 1973, but they may use funds from other sources to provide such services. As part of the amendment, the President could exercise a waiver on the bans concerning abortion and discussion of abortion, but that waiver would invoke an across-the-board cut of 3% of the $385 million in international family planning funds. Keep in mind that the immediate effect of limiting funds (by $12.5 million) for family planning abroad has the inevitable result of increasing the need for abortion services.
There is also the possibility that the compromise will include a limitation (of $15 million) on the total amount of non-U.S. funds that USAID-funded non-governing organizations can spend on abortion services and discussing abortion -- although details about this provision are unclear.
Prior attempts to reinstate the "Mexico City policy" have resulted in presidential vetoes over the past three years. This time, with the right-wing Republican leadership holding up five major appropriations measures, the bargaining has become more intense. In return for the administration making these concessions, the Republican leadership will agree to payment of United Nations dues -- which are currently in arrears to the tune of $1 billion. Unless the U.S. pays these dues soon, the U.S. is in danger of losing its voting status in the United Nations General Assembly (but we would retain voting power on the U.N. Security Council). And the Republicans will make certain other agreements about the appropriations measures that are being held hostage as well.
No one knows how many women could be affected by the 3% reduction in family planning funds that would be made if the President elects to use his waiver authority, but overall U.S. family planning funds support services to about 34 million persons. Access to reproductive health care in the developing world is a critical factor for many desperately poor women who have no alternative sources of care. It is estimated that 78,000 women world-wide die from pregnancy related complications due to unsafe abortions, so continued provision of a full range of family planning information and services is essential. Additionally, about one-quarter of more than 200 million pregnancies result in abortion or an unwanted birth each year. It should be remembered that the world reached the 6 billion mark last month in population growth and that much ground has been lost in the last two decades since opponents of contraception and abortion have been able to influence public health policy.
Please Call Right Away:
Please call the President and urge him not to make this bad deal. It will deprive millions of women the vital health care that they need. The same message needs to be delivered to Speaker Hastert and other members of Congress, who also should be reminded that we are denying people in other countries free speech and the proper provision of needed health care services. The global gag rule is an unprecedented intrusion into the decisions that NGOs make about use of their private, non-U.S. funds. Finally, the gag rule repesents an undemocratic approach that we should NOT be fostering abroad and conveys the image of the U.S. as a "bully" nation.
The White House phone number is (202) 456-1111 and the email address is president@whitehouse.gov . Speaker of the House of Representatives is Rep. J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL), his phone number is (202) 225-0600 and his email address is speaker@mail.house.gov .
Other members of Congress can be reached by calling the main number at (202) 224-3121 or checking at the websites for the House and the Senate for their fax numbers and email addresses. Thanks for your help.