[July 10, 2009]
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday voted 29-1 to approve a $48.7 billion fiscal year 2010 Department of State and foreign affairs appropriations bill that includes $628.5 million for international family planning programs, of which $50 million is designated for the United Nations Population Fund, CQ Today reports.
Before passing the measure, the committee voted 17-10 to approve an amendment by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) that would make permanent President Obama's reversal of the "global gag rule," also known as the "Mexico City" policy. The policy, which was first put in place under President Reagan, prohibited U.S. funding to international family planning groups that offered abortion services or information with their own funds. President Clinton revoked the policy, and President George W. Bush reinstated it.
Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio) voted present on the amendment, with Landrieu saying she was concerned that the amendment would launch a debate over abortion that could jeopardize the bill's chance of passing. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), the lone dissenter on the bill, said he voted against it because of Lautenberg's amendment.
The bill also includes $7.8 billion for global health programs, $5.7 billion to address HIV/AIDS and $700 million for the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Webber, CQ Today, 7/9).
House Approves Funding for International Family Planning
The House on Thursday voted 318-106 to approve a $48.8 billion FY 2010 Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs appropriations bill (HR 3081) that includes $648 million for international family planning, CQ Today reports. According to CQ Today, antiabortion-rights Republicans who supported other elements of the bill felt the family planning provision was "putting them in a bind" because Democrats did not allow a vote on it (Graham-Silverman, CQ Today, 7/9).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
Search the Archives
Subscribe
Hot Topic
The greatest tribute we can pay Senator Kennedy is to redouble our efforts to see his vision for universal health care become reality.
So recommit yourself to one of the most important legislative challenges of our time.
Start by sharing your story!
Do you think we need health insurance reform, or is the status quo okay?
The Editors
Debra Ness, publisher & president, National Partnership
Laura Hessburg, associate editor & senior health policy advisor, National Partnership
Christine Monahan, assistant editor & health program assistant, National Partnership
Freya Riedlin, assistant editor & communications team, National Partnership
Francesca Tarant, assistant editor & communications team, National Partnership
Justyn Ware, editor
Amanda Wolfe, editor-in-chief
Brittany Hackett, senior writer
Cassandra Blohowiak, Audrey Horn, Julia Moss, Santosh Rao, Zach Swiss, Matt Wayt, staff writers
Tucker Ball, director of online marketing, National Partnership
