[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 5 (Monday, February 3, 1997)]
[Pages 124-125]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Funding for International Family Planning

January 31, 1997

    In the next few weeks, Congress will face an important vote about 
the United States' support for voluntary family planning in developing 
countries.
    The funds to continue our support have already been approved, as 
part of our Fiscal Year '97 budget. At issue is whether the money will 
be released on March 1, or whether it will be further delayed by 4 
months, until July.
    It is my determination that a delay will cause serious, 
irreversible, and avoidable harm. In the balance are the lives and well-
being of many thousands of women and children and American credibility 
as the leader in family planning programs around the world.
    Opponents of this funding have tried to mischaracterize this 
upcoming vote and the work of United States Agency for International 
Development in family planning. So, let me be clear: The United States 
provides family planning support where it is wanted and needed. We are 
prohibited by law from ever funding abortion--and we abide faithfully by 
that law. Indeed, the work we have funded in developing countries has 
been supportive of families, helping them to flourish. It has improved 
women's health and women's station in life. It has allowed generations 
of children to grow and be educated in safer and healthier environments. 
It has been instrumental in helping to prevent the spread of disease, 
including AIDS. And, make no mistake: It has prevented untold numbers of 
abortions and maternal deaths. This much is clear: In preventing 
abortions, maternal and child deaths, family planning has been proven 
effective.
    If we delay support for family planning by even 4 months, denying 
safe and effective contraception to couples who depend on these 
programs, we will see a rise in unintended pregnancies and maternal 
deaths and a tragic recourse to unsafe and unsanitary methods to 
terminate those pregnancies.

[[Page 125]]

    I want to emphasize this vote should have nothing to do with 
partisan politics. In fact, right now, a bipartisan group of legislators 
in the House and the Senate are hard at work to pass this bill for the 
timely release of funds. And for a generation, through administrations 
led by both parties, the United States has led the world in family 
planning programs. Studies show that

our efforts, as part of an international strategy, have prevented more than 
500 million unintended pregnancies.

    Rapid population growth undermines economic and social development 
in poor countries. With our support for family planning, the scarce 
resources in developing countries--from infrastructure and environment 
to nutrition and education--can be better used to allow progress for 
their people.
    Maintaining and building on this progress depends on our being 
consistent in our actions and adhering to our values.
    Cooperative international efforts to address rapid population growth 
serve American foreign policy interests in protecting the Earth's 
environment, promoting human rights, and improving basic standards of 
health. It enhances the social, economic, and political status of women. 
It ensures global economic progress and strong markets for United States 
exports. It encourages international stability and it reduces pressures 
that lead to refugee flows and migration.
    I appeal to the Members of Congress to examine the consequences of a 
delay, to weigh those against the benefits of fulfilling an urgent and 
continuing American commitment, and to vote for the March 1, 1997, 
unconditional release of these voluntary international family planning 
funds.
    If Congress fails to take this simple action, we risk a cost to 
humanity that we will bear well into the next century.
    Surely, we agree that we must do all we can to prevent unintended 
pregnancies and abortions. With passage of this bill, we can do that. 
The decision is now in the hands of the Congress.