House Funding Bill Provisions Endanger Women Across the Globe

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Planned Parenthood Federation of America condemned a funding bill released yesterday that would be devastating for women and their access to health care around the world. The House Appropriations Committee released the FY 2019 State and Foreign Operations bill, which would slash U.S. funding for international family planning by over $100 million, prohibit funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and codify an expanded version of the harmful global gag rule.

Statement of Dana Singiser, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

On day one, the Trump-Pence administration targeted women around the world with an expanded global gag rule. Their cronies in the House have picked up this mantle with a proposed funding bill that would endanger women’s health and lives across the globe. Reducing U.S. investments in reproductive health care options and information would result in more unintended pregnancies and higher maternal death rates. These measures endanger life — millions of women will lose access to birth control and thousands of women may die needlessly in pregnancy and childbirth because of them. Congress must oppose the harmful anti-women’s health measures included in this bill.

The FY 2019 State and Foreign Operations bill includes proposed cuts to international family planning funding that are projected to result in more than six million fewer women and couples receiving contraception, nearly two million more unintended pregnancies, over 776,000 more abortions, and over 3,500 more maternal deaths. The ban on U.S. support to UNFPA cuts funding to its vital work in more than 150 countries, where it provides reproductive and maternal health services for the most vulnerable women, especially those who are in conflict and humanitarian settings.

The bill also enshrines the radically expanded global gag rule, which  restricts international organizations that work on any U.S. funded global health program, including HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, tuberculosis, malaria, reproductive health care, and maternal and child health programs. The global gag rule bans these groups from all global health funding from the U.S. government if they also happen to provide counseling, referrals, or services for safe, legal abortion or advocate for abortion reforms in their own country with non-U.S. funding.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.