The U.S. House is scheduled to vote on an appropriations bill Wednesday that includes language aimed at ending the president's prohibition on tax dollars going to groups that fund or promote abortion overseas. Another provision in the bill would change the way AIDS money is spent.
The State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill contains language that would kill the Mexico City policy – named after the location where President Reagan announced it.
The National Right to Life Committee said the proposed change would "allow even the most aggressively pro-abortion groups to be eligible for U.S. assistance," LifeNews.com reported.
Reps. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican, and Bart Stupak, a Michigan Democrat, are behind a bipartisan amendment to the bill that would preserve the pro-life policy.
“Once again, we are so thankful for members of Congress who are willing to defend family values," said Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst for Focus on the Family Action. "Constituents must stand behind Representatives Smith and Stupak as they seek to protect the family in the face of overwhelming odds by offering these pro-family amendments.”
President Bush has pledged to veto any legislation that undermines his pro-life policies.
The appropriations bill also includes a provision that would waive the 33 percent spending directive for abstinence-until-marriage programs under PEPFAR, a five-year, $15 billion plan to address AIDS.
Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pa., is planning to offer an amendment to protect the abstinence component.
Linda Klepacki, sexual health analyst for Focus Action, said, "International research has proven that HIV infections decrease in a generalized population when a three-pronged approach is taken: abstinence-until-marriage, being faithful to one’s partner, and condoms if necessary. Why would any politician risk increasing HIV rates in this world?"
TAKE ACTION
Urge your representative to support Rep. Pitts’ amendment to preserve the spending directive for abstinence-until-marriage programs. Also, urge your representative to support the Smith/Stupak amendment to preserve the Mexico City policy.
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