Senator Hatch Introduces Amendment to Prohibit Abortion Funding Abroad

By Lisa Correnti | November 11, 2011

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) introduced an amendment today that will prohibit U.S. foreign assistance from flowing to any international clinic that performs or promotes abortion. The amendment (SA934) was attached to the minibus bill, H.R. 2354 that pertains to appropriations for the State/Foreign Operations, Energy and Water, and Financial Services.

The amendment was necessary to counter language inserted into the FY2012 Foreign Assistance and Operations bill by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), that would prevent a future president from reinstating the pro-life Mexico City Policy by executive order. The Mexico City Policy, named for where it was implemented in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan at a U.N. population conference, prevents family planning funds from going to international NGO’s that perform abortions or advocate for abortion policy in that country.

Both President Clinton and President Obama rescinded the Mexico City policy shortly after taking office.

Foreign assistance for family planning was $600 million last year. The proposed amount in the Senate bill for 2012 is $700 million. If the Hatch amendment were to pass, restoring the Mexico City policy, it would prevent millions of dollars from flowing to NGO’s that advocate for widespread access to abortion and population control activities in poor countries.

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