[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 130 (Saturday, August 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND 
                RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATION ACT, 1996

                                 ______


                             HON. JIM KOLBE

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 2, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2127) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education, and related agencies, for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes:

  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the 
Greenwood amendment to restore funding to the title X Family Planning 
Program.
  My colleagues have been thorough in explaining what the Greenwood 
amendment entails. I would like to address my remarks to what a vote in 
favor of the Greenwood amendment is not.
  This is not a pro-choice or a pro-life vote. This amendment is not 
about abortion--despite calls to congressional offices to the contrary. 
Title X is not a radical program--in fact, the original legislation was 
sponsored by then Representative George Bush and signed into law by 
President Nixon in 1970.
  Title X is the only Federal program which must provide family 
planning services. It is a brilliant strategy on the part of the 
opponents of family planning to transfer title X moneys into the 
Maternal and Child Health Grant Program and the Consolidated Health 
Centers Migrant Block Grant Program. I strongly support both of these 
programs--which are adequately funded in the Labor-HHS bill. Neither of 
these programs, however, are required to provide family planning 
services.
  I believe a majority of those on both sides of the choice issue want 
abortion to be rare. The most effective method of doing this is to take 
steps to prevent unintended pregnancy. The title X Family Planning 
Program has been enormously successful in doing just that. Family 
planning clinics serve a high-risk population whose only source of 
preventative helath care is a clinic. We are talking about women who 
are caught in the gap--they do not qualify for Medicaid and can't 
afford private health insurance.
  An estimated 1.2 million additional unintended pregnancies would 
occur each year if there was no federally funded Family Planning 
Program. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, for 
every $1 invested in family planning services, this country saves $4.40 
in costs that would otherwise be realized in welfare and medical 
services.
  I plead with my colleagues to make an informed vote on this 
amendment. I urge a yes vote on the Greenwood amendment.


                          ____________________