[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E430-E431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 28, 2000

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, thanks to the efforts of enterprising women 
in Sonoma County, CA, March is Women's History Month. As we celebrate 
women's history, we must focus on the future of women. The right to 
choose and make family planning decisions is central to women's liberty 
and freedom in that future. Family planning represents an opportunity 
for women and empowers families to make decisions that impact their 
quality of life and their future.
  United States support for international family planning is an 
integral part of a progressive agenda for women and a foreign policy 
agenda that saves the lives of women and children and improves life 
circumstances. Unfortunately, many impoverished women are held hostage 
to the conservative politics of the right wing of the Republican party 
and damaging restrictions on international family planning assistance 
that conservatives forced into law.
  Last year, conservatives forced President Clinton to accept the 
undemocratic ``global gag rule'' restrictions that force foreign non-
governmental organizations (NGOs) to give up their right to participate 
in their own democratic process to become eligible for U.S. funds. 
These restrictions contradict the main objective of U.S. foreign 
policy, fostering democracy and stability throughout the world. They 
represent a strong setback for women and democracy. If the U.S. 
Government tried to impose similar restrictions on U.S.-based 
organizations, they would, without a doubt, be unconstitutional. They 
are undemocratic and deny women a fundamental right.
  Restrictions on family planning assistance will restrict access for 
poor women, which will result in more unintended pregnancies, more 
births, more maternal deaths and injuries and more abortions. The World 
Health Organization estimates that 600,000 women die each year from 
pregnancy-related causes and more than 150 million married women who 
want contraceptives have no access to them.
  Soon, I will introduce legislation, along with Representative Nita 
Lowey and Representative Chris Shays, to ensure that the current 
restrictions are never again included in law. This forthcoming 
legislation, the Global Democracy Promotion Act, will stop foreign NGOs 
from being forced to relinquish their right to free speech in order to 
participate in U.S.-supported family planning programs. If we can't 
impose these restrictions on U.S. organizations, we shouldn't be 
imposing them on foreign organizations. If passed, our legislation will 
stop foreign NGOs from being

[[Page E431]]

excluded from these programs based solely upon legal health services 
that they provide with their own, non-U.S. funds. If the services are 
legal here, and they are legal where the NGO is operating, it would be 
misguided to deny an NGO the opportunity to carry out its important 
work.
  This new bill will assist women around the world by protecting their 
fundamental rights and enabling women to access important family 
planning services from NGO's. As we celebrate Women's History Month, we 
must continue fighting for fundamental rights for women at home and 
around the globe.

                          ____________________