OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

The Department Of State, Foreign Operations And Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008--Continued

Floor Speech

Date: June 21, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Abortion


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

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Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Smith-Stupak amendment that guards against policies that would lead to taxpayer funding of abortions abroad. This amendment would ensure that the Mexico City Policy is included in this spending bill.

The Mexico City Policy, first enacted by President Reagan in 1984 and reinstated in 2001, ensures that organizations that do international population assistance work and that promote abortion as a method of family planning do not receive United States funding.

This is a critical policy that underscores the sanctity of human life by telling groups that if they want to promote abortion, they better find a source of funding other than the U.S. taxpayer. It is quite simple: If a group demonstrates a disregard for human life, they don't get funding.

Let me be clear, the Mexico City policy and this funding do not reduce funding for family planning programs. The focus instead is on channeling funds to organizations that agree not to promote abortion. There is, therefore, no overall reduction of family planning funds. Again, the guidelines are simple. If you promote abortion, the U.S. Government will not be giving you money.

Under the current language in the State-Foreign Operations appropriation bill, funding would once again flow to groups that promote abortion. The Smith-Stupak amendment would eliminate language that allows funding to go to even the most aggressively pro-abortion groups.

This amendment is about our Nation's abortion policy. As such, it is entirely focused on ensuring our government does not fund groups that promote abortion. I support this amendment because it wisely guards against any erosion of our protection of the sanctity of human life.

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