Nancy Pelosi: “Mr. Chairman, I guess I do not understand some of the arguments in favor of the Smith amendment, because it seems to me…”

“Mr. Chairman, I guess I do not understand some of the arguments in favor of the Smith amendment, because it seems to me that if we oppose unnecessary abortions, as I do, and as I think everyone here does, then we would support the Gilman-Pelosi amendment and oppose the Smith amendment. The Smith amendment would cause women in developing countries to face more unwanted pregnancies, more poverty, and more despair. What it would do is prevent birth control information and family planning information from going to women in developing countries who desperately need it. It will increase abortions and it will jeopardize the health of millions of women and children internationally. The Smith amendment will deny funding to international family planning organizations who are giving women desperately needed reproductive health services and delivering vital pre- and post-natal care. I do not see anybody else who is going to do that, other than the fine organizations who are performing those services now. For that reason, I would oppose the Smith amendment and support the Gilman-Pelosi amendment.”