January 23, 2009

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Hails Obama Decision to Repeal Global Gag Rule

For Immediate Release
January 23, 2009

Contact: Nicole Y. Williams
(202) 225-2661

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement applauding President Barack Obama's order to overturn the Global Gag Rule, a U.S. policy that denies foreign organizations receiving U.S. family planning assistance the right to use their own, non-U.S. funds to either engage in any abortion-related public policy debates or perform legal abortions:

"For those of us who have fought to repeal the Global Gag Rule from day one, I applaud President Obama's action today to end this dangerous and un-American policy.  As those of us who have witnessed first-hand how the Gag Rule deprives women, particularly in the world's poorest nations, of desperately needed medical care, we understand and praise this victory for the health of women around the world."

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