Janice Schakowsky: “the global gag rule is anti-family and it is pro-abortion. President Bush said the policy was necessary ``to make…”

“the global gag rule is anti-family and it is pro-abortion. President Bush said the policy was necessary ``to make abortion more rare.'' There is absolutely no evidence that it did that the last time it was in effect. Rather, there is statistical evidence that family planning reduces the number of abortions all over the world. This gag rule would deny money to places like Turkey, where the Ministry of Health initiated a pilot program linking family planning services and abortion. The results have been dramatic. After a program to promote the use of birth control, the number of abortions performed at that hospital dropped 42 percent from 1992 to 1998. This policy would be unconstitutional if applied in our own country. How could we even imagine voting in favor of a policy that hinders and gags democracy around the globe? The global gag rule undermines women's health by denying aid money to organizations that provide crucial family planning services. I urge a no vote.”