David Skaggs: “my amendment removes the provision in the bill that caps spending for population planning activities at a maximum of 65…”

“my amendment removes the provision in the bill that caps spending for population planning activities at a maximum of 65 percent of the fiscal 1995 level. Humane and respectful assistance to other nations seeking voluntarily to limit their population growth is in the profound national interest of the United States. Ultimately, there's no greater threat to our national security than standing by while the world's population explodes. If we don't constrain population growth, our work to improve living standards, control pollution, and battle disease is hopeless. If we let up on the effort to limit population, all of the other good works that we are seeking to accomplish with our development assistance will be overwhelmed. The cap proposed in the bill would severely disrupt international family planning efforts. If the cap stays put and the cuts take place, 7 million couples seeking access to birth control will not get it. That means that 4 million more women will experience unintended pregnancies. This will lead to 1.9 million unplanned births, 1.6 million more abortions, 8,000 more women dying in pregnancy and childbirth, including those from unsafe abortions, and 134,000 more infant deaths. Is that what we want? Nearly 2 million more unplanned births, and over a million and a half more abortions? All things we know we can prevent? International population assistance is not used to pay for abortions.…”