House to take up pro-life international policies Wednesday

The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations bill at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 24.  Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), Chair of the State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee, has included all of the current pro-life policies in the bill. The legislation would also reinstate the Mexico City Policy (see below) and a provision de-funding the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).  Hostile amendments regarding the following two policies are likely.

• Mexico City Policy – this policy creates a bright line of separation between abortion and family planning by only funding foreign nongovernmental organization that do not promote or perform elective abortion.  Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush adopted the Mexico City Policy by Executive Order, but Presidents Clinton and Obama rescinded it.  The language in section 7065(b) of the State, Foreign Operations bill would reinstate the policy.
• De-funding the UNFPA – the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has a history of working closely with the Chinese Population Control Program.  President George W. Bush (as well as Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush) invoked their authority under the Kemp-Kasten amendment and cut off all funds to UNFPA.  Since assuming office in 2009, President Obama has provided nearly 200 million taxpayer dollars to the UNFPA.  Language in section 7065(a) of the State, Foreign Operations bill would prohibit funding for the UNFPA.