 |
|---|
| Home |
| Magazine |
| Interviews |
| Policy Papers |
| Donate |
| Story |
|
Bill Targets UN Abortion Funding A Congressional committee has given preliminary approval to a bill that would end U.S. funding of controversial anti-life family planning operations through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). H.R. 2059—To prohibit funding to the United Nations Population Fund, legislation that is sponsored by North Carolina Rep. Renee Ellmers (R–2), would “save $400 million in taxpayer dollars over 10 years,” according to a press release from Ellmers’ office. The bill states simply that “the Secretary of State may not make a contribution to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)”—a return to the policy under both Presidents Reagan and Bush that was rescinded by President Obama in an executive order. The press release from Ellmers’ office cites “UNFPA’s complicity in China’s one-child policy enforced through coercive abortion and involuntary sterilization” as the primary motivation for the bill. North Carolina representatives Howard Coble (R–6), Virginia Foxx (R–5), Walter Jones (R–3), Patrick McHenry (R–10), and Mike McIntyre (D–7) have also signed on cosponsors of H.R. 2059. H.R. 2059 would prohibit the Secretary of State from contributing the usual $50 million from the Foreign Affairs budget to UNFPA, which “has been widely denounced for its involvement in China’s one-child policy,” according to the press release. The press release goes on to point out that UNFPA is both “the principal unit within the United Nations for global population issues” and “the world’s largest source of population and reproductive health programs.” Ellmers posits in her press release that the U.S. practice of contributing funds to the UN to support China’s one-child policy “violate[s] provisions of the ‘Kemp-Kasten’ amendment which bans U.S. aid to organizations involved in the management of coercive family planning practices.” After passing the House Foreign Affairs Committee on October 5, H.R. 2059 is now expected to go to the House floor for a vote. Related resources: Copyright © 2012. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.
|
