The Department Of State, Foreigh Operations And Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008

Floor Speech

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (House of Representatives - June 21, 2007)

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Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the Lowey amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the Mexico City policy was first promulgated in 1984 and renewed by the current administration in 2001. This policy simply requires that, as a condition for receipt of U.S. family-planning aid, whether commodities or cash, foreign nongovernmental and international organizations certify that they neither perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning. This is a sound policy, and we should not undermine it in any way.

The Lowey amendment is an attempt to blur this line by diverting contraceptive commodities from organizations that do not promote or provide abortion to those that do.

Abortion is a tragic loss of life not only to the child but to the mother. We know from the affidavits that were produced from the Gonzales v. Carhart case, 180 post-abortive women, what they had to say. Let me give you an example of one:

``How has abortion affected you?''

``My life is worthless to me. There is nothing in it. Shame, guilt, and regret is hard to live with. I am 50 years old now.''

Mr. Chairman, the Mexico City policy at issue here establishes a bright line between noncontroversial family planning activities and abortion. We should not blur this line with the Lowey amendment in any way.

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