Senate Foreign Ops Bill Bans Mexico City Policy and Increases Population Control Funding

By Lisa Correnti | May 29, 2012

The Senate Appropriations committee approved the FY 2013 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, a bill that funds overseas operations of the State Department and global health programs through USAID.

The Senate bill allocates $44 million to UN Population Fund (UNFPA), a recipient for the fourth straight year under President Obama. Known for its strategic population reduction policies UNFPA lost its U.S. funding under President Bush when it was reported U.S. taxpayer dollars were being used in China for the enforcement of the one-child policy.

The Senate foreign operations appropriations bill directs $700 million for family planning and reproductive health (RH/FP), which exceeds even the $643 million the president requested in the FY’13 State Dept budget.

Funding population control programs in developing countries has been a priority for this administration especially with Hillary Clinton at the helm of the State Department. It should be no surprise that given the State Departments tendency to view its overseas programs through a reproductive rights lens, that RH/FP funding has risen exorbitantly since 2008 with funding levels at $651 million in FY 2010, a 42% increase and in 2011 $633 million – a 37% increase.

The Senate bill includes an amendment by Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ-D), an abortion rights advocate, to permanently repeal the Mexico City policy.  This policy prohibits funding to international health clinics that perform or promote abortions and is usually invoked or revoked by presidential executive order. The Lautenberg amendment would codify into law the prevention of this policy being implemented by a pro-life president.

Senator Lautenberg used the standard verbiage often recited by abortion rights groups that the Mexico City policy prevents poor women in developing countries from vital healthcare. When in effect the Mexico City policy simply redirects funding for reproductive healthcare to clinics that are life-affirming.

The Lautenberg amendment makes the foreign operations bill quite problematic and almost assures a Republican filibuster.

Last week the House foreign ops committee approved their version of the bill restoring pro-life riders including the Mexico City policy. The House bill eliminates UNFPA funding and appropriates $493 million for reproductive health and family planning (RH/FP), $146 million below the administrations request but still above pre-Obama years.

 

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