[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 102 (Friday, June 22, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2007

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I stand in strong support of H.R. 2764 and 
want to convey my appreciation to Chairwoman Lowey for the inclusion of 
international family planning provisions in the State-Foreign Ops FY08 
Appropriations bill. In total, H.R. 2764 allocates $441 million for 
such programs, which represents an increase of $116 million above the 
President's request. This increase is designed to ease restrictions on 
access to contraceptives and family planning information that is 
crucial to help women and men throughout the developing world make 
informed decisions on their reproductive health needs.
  Since 1984, U.S. international family planning assistance has been 
stymied by the Mexico City Policy or the ``Global Gag rule.'' The 
Mexico City Policy prevents any U.S. funding for reproductive health 
from going towards family planning organizations that provide 
abortions. H.R. 2764 and the Lowey amendment allows non-governmental 
organizations to receive U.S. donated contraceptives--not funds--for 
distribution to millions of people in need of these products. The bill 
does nothing to alter or weaken the ten provisions in the bill that ban 
federal funds for abortion overseas. Providing contraceptives to men 
and women in the developing world helps prevent abortions and unwanted 
pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS. I 
urge my colleagues to support a saner foreign assistance package that 
allows for families throughout the world that are in desperate need of 
contraception the ability to make important, personal decisions about 
their families and reproductive health.

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