John Chenoweth: “I come forward today to express my strong support for a bipartisan alternative to President Clinton's resolution. The…”

“I come forward today to express my strong support for a bipartisan alternative to President Clinton's resolution. The President's resolution will release an additional $123 million for population control programs for fiscal year 1997 without any pro-life safeguards, and that is what our debate is all about. We need pro-life safeguards. My colleagues, we object to giving the administration more money to spend this year unless the White House agrees to ensure that these family planning funds will not support organizations which perform or promote abortion. Mr. Speaker, abortion should not and need not be interjected into the population assistance program as the Clinton administration has done. The President's resolution does not increase funding for international family planning. Rather, what it does is permit the U.S. Agency for International Development to begin spending certain appropriated funds for population control at a date earlier than was established by law last fall. This will result in the promotion and performance of abortion overseas. I urge my colleagues to support the Smith bill, which will provide international family planning funds with pro-life safeguards.”