Good news for family planning & the environmnet!

Pop News: Good News for International Family Planning and the Environment!

Last Wednesday July 16th, the House State-Foreign Operations Appropriations subcommittee chaired by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) approved $600 million for international family planning and reproductive health programs ($540 million for USAID’s programs and $60 million for UNFPA). This represents the largest total amount ever recommended for international family planning programs and the largest one-year dollar increase in these programs on record, not accounting for inflation. $600 million would be a 28% increase above current levels and an 83% increase above the President’s budget request of $327 million. Wow!
On Thursday July 17th, the Senate Appropriations Committee took up their version of the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. The committee approved $520 million for international family planning ($475 for USAID's programs and $45 million for UNFPA). The Senate version also includes language that would repeal the Global Gag Rule, which disqualifies overseas family planning organizations from receiving U.S. family planning funds if they, with their own money, lobby to change abortion laws or provide legal abortion services in their countries. The House version is silent on this issue.
Both the House and Senate versions of the bill include language that would allow funds to be released to UNFPA, even if the Administration invokes what's known as the Kemp-Kasten amendment to withhold the funds, by directing those funds to targeted projects in any of the 150 countries other than China where UNFPA works. These targeted projects include things like safe childbirth, contraceptives to prevent unintended pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and the provision of maternal health services in disaster areas.
We are encouraged to see these substantial increases in Congressional allocations for international family planning programs. This represents an important step forward in our goal to increase funding to $1 billion for international family planning programs that save lives, improve community health, and ensure a more sustainable environmental future!
With the good news coming out of the House and Senate, this is an important time to reinforce the efforts made by members of Congress and remind them that we are paying attention!
Click here to find your Representative and his/her contact information, or here to find your Senator and his/her contact information. If he or she sits on the Appropriations Committee, please thank him or her for passing a bill that includes increased funding for international family planning.
Your message could go something like this:
Hi, my name is (your name) and I'm from (your city). I am a Sierra Club activist and I care about the health of families and the planet.
Thank you for voting last week to increase funding for international family planning in the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.
Increasing access to voluntary family planning around the world is crucial to protecting our global environment. Couples with access to family planning education and services are able to choose the size and spacing of their families, ultimately leading to healthier families and reducing strain on the Earth's natural resources.
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