[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 27, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING FUNDING

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 27, 2002

  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the 
Administration's decision to withhold funds already appropriated for 
the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
  Last year, after extensive negotiations between Congress and the Bush 
Administration, Congress passed and the President signed the FY02 
Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, including $34 million for 
UNFPA.
  The decision to withhold funding from this vital program was founded 
on the mistaken belief that UNFPA supported forced abortion in China.
  This decision is part of a disturbing trend of anti-choice opposition 
within the Administration to any type of family planning funding. This 
funding is vital to women's health and vital to sustainable 
international development, and the President should reverse this 
decision immediately.
  I would like to remind my colleagues that since 1973 no U.S. dollars 
have been used to pay for the performance of an abortion as a method of 
family planning or for involuntary sterilizations overseas--none.
  Turning UNFPA funding into a debate about abortion does a disservice 
to the millions of women throughout the world who do not have access to 
the health care and reproductive services, education and treatment that 
is available to women in this country.
  The World Health Organization estimates that close to 600,000 women 
die each year of causes related to pregnancy or childbirth. Three 
hundred fifty million women in developing countries don't have access 
to safe and effective family planning methods. More than 600,000 
infants become infected with HIV each year worldwide. These statistics 
are appalling. How can we possibly claim to be working to prevent the 
spread of HIV if we do not offer counsel and education in family 
planning?
  UNFPA is the largest international source of population assistance to 
developing countries, often working in countries where few others go, 
such as Vietnam. UNFPA does not fund abortion in China and its program 
there is rigorously monitored to ensure that it does not support 
coercion in any form.
  We cannot allow yet another issue to get caught up in abortion 
politics. We have the chance to really make a difference for millions 
of women worldwide. Let's give women the opportunity to make informed 
and educated decisions about their reproductive health. Mr. President, 
reverse the decision to withhold UNFPA funds.

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