[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[September 25, 1992]
[Page 1655]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Message to the Senate Returning Without Approval the Family Planning 
Amendments Act of 1992
September 25, 1992

To the Senate of the United States:
    I am returning herewith without my approval S. 323, the ``Family 
Planning Amendments Act of 1992.'' This legislation would extend and 
amend the Federal family planning program under title X of the Public 
Health Service Act.
    If the scope of S. 323 were limited to family planning, I would 
approve it. My Administration has an excellent record in support of 
family planning. About this there can be no question. Our approach to 
reauthorizing title X was embodied in a bill transmitted to the Congress 
on February 25, 1991. We need a family planning program to deliver 
preventive, pre-pregnancy services.
    Unfortunately, S. 323 is unacceptable because it would override 
current regulations that are designed to maintain the title X program's 
integrity as a pre-pregnancy family planning program. The bill would 
require projects supported by title X family planning funds to counsel 
pregnant women on, and refer them for, abortions. Such a requirement is 
totally alien to the purpose of the title X program. Title X is a 
quality health care program that provides pre-pregnancy family planning 
information and services and refers pregnant women to health care 
providers who can ensure continuity of care.
    Under current regulations, upheld by the United States Supreme 
Court, pregnant women who seek services from clinics funded by title X 
would be referred to qualified providers for prenatal care and other 
social services, including counseling. Moreover, nothing in these 
regulations prevents a woman from receiving complete medical information 
about her condition from a physician. The Supreme Court specifically 
found that the regulations regarding the title X program in no way 
violated free speech rights.
    In a memorandum to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary 
Louis Sullivan on November 5, 1991, I reiterated my commitment to 
preserving the confidentiality of the doctor/patient relationship. In 
that memorandum, I also repeated my commitment to ensuring that the 
operation of the title X family planning program is compatible with free 
speech and the highest standards of medical care. My memorandum makes 
clear that there is no ``gag rule'' to interfere with the doctor/patient 
relationship. There can be no doubt that my Administration is committed 
to the protection of free speech.
    I have repeatedly informed the Congress that I would disapprove any 
legislation that would transform this program into a vehicle for the 
promotion of abortion. Unfortunately, the Congress has seen fit to 
entangle this family planning program in the politics of abortion.
    I believe that the title X family planning program should be 
reauthorized. I now urge the Congress to adopt a bill that promotes true 
family planning rather than requiring Federal tax dollars to be used in 
a manner that promotes abortion as a method of birth control.

                                                             George Bush

The White House,
September 25, 1992.