Connie Morella: “Worldwide efforts to stabilize population growth, alleviate poverty, and protect the environment have been significantly…”

“Worldwide efforts to stabilize population growth, alleviate poverty, and protect the environment have been significantly undermined by the lack of attention to women's reproductive health and the role of women in the economic development of their families, their communities, and their countries. The world's population now exceeds 5.5 billion, and more than 90 percent of the annual population increase of 100 million people is in the developing world. Whether the Earth's population doubles or triples in the next century will be determined by actions we take during this decade to improve access to family planning programs for all women who desire it. Later this year, the decennial International Conference on Population and Development will meet in Cairo to discuss strategies for slowing rapid population growth and assuring access to family planning services for all women and couples who desire them. I urge my colleagues to join us in support of this legislation.”