Senate Committee Approves Amendment Overturning “Global Gag” Rule

Posted on July 30, 2010  |  Related Issues: Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health, U.S. Foreign Policy & Funding

WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate Appropriations Committee today passed an amendment authored by Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) to the FY 2011 State and Foreign Operations funding measure that would permanently overturn the “global gag” rule and provide access to family planning services for women around the world.     

 “Women’s reproductive health should be protected around the globe, not threatened by an ideological agenda,” stated Sen. Lautenberg, a member of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee.  “It is time to permanently end the dangerous and harmful global gag rule and strengthen America’s position as an international leader for women’s rights.”

The Global Gag Rule denied financial aid from the United States for contraception and family planning services to any organization that used its own funding to perform or promote legal abortion.  Upon taking office, President Obama reversed the rule by executive order, but the policy could be reinstated again by a future administration.  The Lautenberg amendment codifies the elimination of this policy in law and makes it permanent. 

Lautenberg’s amendment is co-sponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).

The effort is supported by the Advocates for Youth; American Civil Liberties Union; American Jewish World Service; American Medical Students Association; American Public Health Association; Americans for Informed Democracy; CARE, USA; Catholics for Choice; Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE); Center for Women Policy Studies; Family Care International; Global AIDS Alliance; Guttmacher Institute; Health Alliance International; Health GAP; International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS—North American Region; International Planned Parenthood Federation; International Women’s Health Coalition; Ipas; John Snow, Inc.; Management Sciences for Health; MSI-US; NARAL Pro-Choice America; National Association of Social Workers; National Council of Jewish Women; Pathfinder International; Physicians for Human Rights; Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Population Action International; Population Connection; Population Institute; PSI (Population Services International); Secular Coalition for America; Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS); Sierra Club; United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society; Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations; Women Thrive Worldwide.

Link to Press Release
 
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Take Action. Tell your representatives in Washington to repeal the Global Gag Rule.

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