House Committee Supports Loosening Abortion Policy

By Doug Carlson - Jun 12, 2007 - comment

A longstanding policy that protects the unborn may soon disappear.

An appropriations bill that includes new provisions cleared a House subcommittee last week, moving the bill one step closer to passage.

The major policy in question, known as the Mexico City policy, mandates that international family planning services receiving U.S. taxpayer dollars must agree not to perform or promote abortions. In 1984, President Reagan birthed the Mexico City policy, which was later struck down by President Clinton before President Bush reinstated it by executive order in 2001. Congress has reauthorized it each succeeding year in the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, one of 12 annual appropriations bills.

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee, led efforts June 5 to weaken the policy, a move that would allow U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund international family planning services as long as they direct an undetermined amount to promote contraception, though most funds could be used to promote or perform abortions. The full House Appropriations Committee could vote on the legislation this week before it moves to the House floor.

Consequently, President Bush soon could find himself weighing the possibility of another veto if the bill reaches his desk without assurance that unborn children will be protected, not killed, internationally under U.S. funds. Recent statements by the president, however, indicate he is poised to stop such a shift in policy. In May, he sent Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) a letter reiterating his firm pro-life position, vowing, “I will veto any legislation that weakens current federal policies and laws on abortion or that encourages the destruction of human life at any stage.”

If you agree that taxpayer dollars should not be granted to international family organizations that advocate or provide abortions, please tell your congressman to oppose the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill if it weakens the Mexico City policy.

Further Learning

Learn more about: Life, Abortion, Citizenship, Legislation, National, Science, Bioethics

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