House Votes To Lift Contraception Aid Ban

Current Law Bars Contraception Assistance To Groups Overseas That Offer Abortions

(AP)  The House voted narrowly Thursday to reverse a ban on contraception aid to groups overseas that offer abortions, a pillar of President Bush's foreign aid policy.

Bush is likely to swiftly veto the proposal and be upheld by conservative lawmakers who say no assistance of any kind should be given to organizations that promote or offer abortions.

The measure, approved 223-201, is intended by the new Democratic majority to crack open debate on a policy it says is failing badly. Initiated by President Reagan in 1984 at a population conference in Mexico City, the policy bars any assistance to organizations abroad that perform or promote abortion as a method of family planning.

Democrats say an unintended consequence is an alarming shortage of contraceptives, particularly in poor rural areas.

The bill would help "reduce unintended and high-risk pregnancies and abortions ... and save the lives of mothers," said Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., who chairs the House appropriations panel that oversees the foreign aid budget.

"It is simply not enough to say you support family planning, so long as the current restrictions remain in law," Lowey said.

The House voted to attach the measure to a $34.2 billion bill that pays for State Department operations and foreign aid in 2008.

Lowey initially drafted legislation in such a way that would have guaranteed funds to any group so long as the assistance included funding for contraceptives.

Facing stiff opposition to the plan, Lowey drafted the amendment that passed to restrict the aid to U.S.-donated contraceptives.

Republicans still bristled at the proposal because they said the donation would free up resources for groups to provide abortions. They also said it would undermine the intention of the Mexico City policy, which is intended to pressure organizations to abandon abortion services.

"The Mexico policy exists to draw a bright line between U.S. family planning policy and abortion," said Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pa. "However, it appears that there are some out there who wish to blur this line, (which) is what leads to coercive abortions and forced sterilizations."

Smith and Bart Stupak, D-Mich., proposed alternative legislation intended to reinforce the existing policy. That was rejected 218-205. While Republicans were doubtful they had enough votes to pass Smith's measure, they were confident they could sustain a presidential veto.

"If we provide either cash or in-kind contributions or anything of value to pro-abortion organizations in other countries, we empower, enrich and enable them to expand abortion," said Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J.

In a statement released Tuesday, the administration said the president would veto any legislation "that weakens current federal policies and laws on abortion."

Democrats say statistics show sexually transmitted infections and abortions are on the rise in areas where U.S. contraceptive assistance is unavailable. According to Population Action International, which supports the Democratic bill, Ghana's rates rose after a prominent family planning group in the country was denied U.S. assistance.

Bush policy has had a destabilizing impact on country-led family planning programs and undermined decades of health care provision by leading national non-governmental organizations, the group says.

The funding bill attracted a slew of other amendments on foreign affairs. The House voted 355-69 to restart the Iraq Study Group to conduct another assessment of the war.

It also adopted by voice vote a proposal by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., to redirect $20 million initially intended for the U.N. development program, under fire for its aid to North Korea. The House also was on track to adopt a measure to restrict money for the U.N. Human Rights Council.

Ros-Lehtinen said the votes are evidence of "palpable bipartisan frustration with the slow pace of U.N. reform and the alarming deterioration of the U.N.'s commitment to protect human rights around the world."

[fapland]

ALL DEMOCRAT LEFTIST LIBERALS YOUNGER THAN THE AGE OF 90 SHOULD UNDERGO RETROACTIVE BIRTH CONTROL IMMEDIATELY.

[sy2502]

So, we send money to clinics that do abortions so they can promote using prophylactics?

Does anyone see a contradiction here?
Posted by pwrslm at 11:26 PM : Jun 21, 2007

No, I don't see any contradiction. First of all, these clinics aren't "abortion clinics", they are women's health clinics, offering a wide range of free and essential services: from obgyn to family planning, from help with STDs to pre-natal care. And yes, abortion is one of their services. These organizations cater to very poor and ignorant women who don't have the education to avoid STDs and unwanted pregnancies, and don't have the money to get health care when they end up needing it. These are precisely the people who need free contraceptives, and education about safe ***. By penalizing these clinics you are really penalizing the women that rely on their help. I hope you fell in peace with your god about it.

[horse3farm]

"If we provide either cash or in-kind contributions or anything of value to pro-abortion organizations in other countries, we empower, enrich and enable them to expand abortion," said Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J.

Mr. Smith goes to Washington and becomes an idiot.

That is the most idiotic statement I have ever read!! We can't help you with contraceptives, but you can't have an abortion either? We can't help you with contraceptives, but we're sorry your people all have STDs.

Hmm in Europe they give contraceptives freely and guess what? Unwanted pregnancy no where near the numbers in the US. Teenage pregnancy no where near the US numbers. STDS no where near the numbers in US.

But I forgot, this is the US of Bush, and his lap dog Mr. Smiths, so they know it all and no other practices, even if they work in other countries, could possibly be right.

When it comes right down to it....who the hell do you think you are?

[cozzicon]

"But just like racism, the religious fanatics will only instill their ideals and "values" on their children, and their children's children, and so on. Essentially, for the same reason why racism will never end on planet earth, the fanaticism of religion, (which breeds terroism), will also never end.

Which is why I say again, the future is not bright for humanity in the 21st century.-- Posted by acauble1

No we'll be fine.

What needs to happen (and will eventually) is a really *baaaaaad* war. Something so hideous that afterwards everyone goes: "We aren't gonna do that again".

It'll have to be worse than WWII, and affect every country negatively. It has to be bad enough that everyone thinks "What the heck were we thinking?"

It will be a tough lesson. Germany learned it, Europe learned it, we might be next.

[donnie900]

And that aeresol cream cheese? You know de kind dat you spray on crackers? Ooooo nelly.. The inventer of dat stuff had foresight.

[donnie900]

My schizophrenic hallucinations don't tell me: "Yer God, Donnie. Go blow up." Or: "Donnie? Be President." No.. My schizophrenic hallucinations tell me: "Oooooo... Ahhhh... OOOOO! AHHHHH!"

Have any of you men ever tried on a skirt? And looked in de mirror? You'd be surprised..

[donnie900]

I've dumped more Jesus juice on dis here ******** computer keyboard in de last 10 ******** years den in my entire childhood! Me nuts are a couple'a peanuts! And no: "Honey, yer not ambitous." Or "Honey, you don't tell me you love me enough."

Or: "Sarah's husband works out. How come you don't?"

I'm tell'n yaz.. This is why de werld envies us. We're uni-sexual.

[donnie900]

I'm writing a book about it. "Being Free" I'm calling it. Something vague.. with pictures and everything.

There's even a set'a plans to turn yer old 9 horsepower lawn mowers into dilddddoes and vacuum cleaners. Just remember to change the oil..

[donnie900]

Look. I'm tell'n yaz. Masterrrbation. Just masterrrbate. All yer problems are solved. No sitcom bullshyyt? No "she's having an affair"? "He's having an affair."? None of that. And with the internet nowadays? Let me tell yaz .. You could masterrbate until yer 60! And never be lonely..

[moxford0]

I would support a measure aborting all Republicians and disposing of them as medical waste that's tossed into the trash and hauled off as garbage.