Chris Smith: “I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 1757, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act (FY 1998-99). I would like to call attention…”

“I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 1757, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act (FY 1998-99). I would like to call attention to several important features of the bill: First, this legislation is not a foreign aid bill. It contains several important restrictions on foreign aid, but authorizes no appropriations for these purposes--except for a $38 million package of humanitarian assistance to the anti-Saddam Hussein pro-democracy movement in Iraq. This bill contains a compromise version of the pro-life ``Mexico City Policy'', cutting off funds to foreign organizations that perform or promote abortion. It enacts this policy as permanent law--not just for this year but forever. The compromise would allow the President to waive the prohibition on assistance to abortion providers--but not promoters--in exchange for a reduction in total population assistance. This bill also conditions funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on an end to UNFPA activities in co-operation with the coercive population control program of the government of China, or on an end to forced abortions in that program.”