HOUSE STRIKES CONGRESSWOMAN LEE'S BI-PARTISAN LANGUAGE TO OVERTURN MEXICO CITY ANTI-FAMILY PLANNING POLICY
Washington, DC - The House of Representatives voted 218-210 today to reinstate President Bush's global gag rule by voting to
strike pro-family planning language in H.R. 1646 that would allow badly needed family planning funds for women around the
world, and especially in developing nations.
The vote came in a motion to strike an amendment to H.R. 1646 offered by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) in the House
International Relations Committee. The amendment passed by a bipartisan vote of 26-22 on May 02, 2001.
"This vote puts at risk the lives and health of women all over the
world. International family planning helps save lives, promotes
women's and children's health, and strengthens families and communities around the world," said Lee. "With this vote we are
essentially denying women access to methods of contraception, and increasing the risk of spreading the HIV/AIDS virus."
By placing these restrictions on family planning services, the Bush Administration and the House of Representatives are
severely limiting the ability of family planning programs in developing countries to curb the spread of sexually transmitted
diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and to utilize proper population control measures.
"Often, family planning clinics are the only point of contact women have with the health care system in their country. It is
essential that family planning counseling as well as information about HIV/AIDS prevention be provided," said Lee. "We must
continue our work to overturn this misguided policy that limits women's
access to international family planning services on every
level."
Last week, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) joined Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and
James Greenwood (R-PA), in sending a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell urging his support of the Foreign Relations
Authorizations Act for FY02 and FY03. The Bipartisan letter also requested a meeting with Secretary Powell to discuss
strategies to convince the Administration to reverse its Mexico City Policy.
Congresswoman Lee vowed to continue the fight to overturn this
deadly policy with the help of family planning organizations and
Members of Congress.
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