Why is this bill important?
Voluntary family planning has profound health, economic, and social benefits for women, families, and communities. Since its international family planning programs began 40 years ago, the U.S. has helped women and families worldwide to better feed, clothe, educate, and provide health care for their children. Family planning also enables individuals and couples to determine whether, when, and how often to have children, which is vital to women's empowerment, safe motherhood, and healthy families. A growing, unmet need for modern contraceptives and health care in the least developed nations urgently requires renewed U.S. commitment to voluntary family planning programs.

What does the bill do?
This legislation will authorize increased funding to family planning programs implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Specifically, this bill will increase authorized funding for USAID's voluntary family planning programs to $600 million in FY 2008, and then by an additional $100 million annually, over the next four years, reaching $1 billion in FY 2012. The bill also prioritizes funding allocation to countries with acute family planning and maternal and child health needs, where contraceptive shortages are forecast, and to areas where high population growth rates and crucial biological diversity intersect.

Want to Help? Call Your Congressperson Today!
Visit the Congressional directory and enter your zipcode to get the name and telephone number of your Representative (this action is targeting the U.S. House of Representatives, not the Senate). Then check this list to see if your Representative has already co-sponsored H.R. 1225.

If your Representative has not co-sponsored yet, please call his/her office and tell the person who answers the phone who you are and that you want your Representative to co-sponsor H.R. 1225, the Focus on Family Health Worldwide Act, and why. Here's an example of what you might say:

"Hi, my name is __________ and I live in Congressman/woman ________'s district. I am calling to ask him/her to co-sponsor H.R. 1225, the Focus on Family Health Worldwide Act. This act would increase spending on international voluntary family planning, which is critical to saving the lives of women and children around the world. Every year 525,000 women die from causes related to childbirth or pregnancy. I look forward to hearing that the Congressman/woman has co-sponsored H.R. 1225 the Focus on Family Health Worldwide Act. Thank you."

If your Representative has co-sponsored, please call his or her office to thank him/her for co-sponsoring H.R. 1225. Here's an example of what you might say:

"Hi, my name is __________ and I live in Congressman/woman ________'s district. I'm calling to thank him/her for co-sponsoring H.R. 1225, the Focus on Family Health Worldwide Act. The issue of international voluntary family planning is very important to me and I sincerely appreciate her/his leadership on this issue. Thank you."

Take Further Action!
After calling your Congressperson, you can increase the impact of your message by sending an email to your representative about H.R. 1225.

Who Are the Current Co-Sponsors?
Click here to view a document listing all current Congressional co-sponsors of the bill. If your Representative is on it - congratulations! We encourage you to call him/her to thank him/her for her/his leadership. This will help to ensure that s/he continues to support women and sexual and reproductive health and rights in the future.

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Thank you for taking action and please spread the word!