Chris Smith: “Unfortunately, the underlying language that was adopted in committee would reverse the Bush-Mexico City policy. As a…”

“Unfortunately, the underlying language that was adopted in committee would reverse the Bush-Mexico City policy. As a matter of historical record, I have been offering the pro-life language since 1984. We have never won, not once, in the Committee on International Relations; but this House in every instance has overturned what the committee had done in every instance as well. So I think that is important to point out, that at the end of the process, the House votes to uphold the Mexico City Policy. It is simply inaccurate, to say we do not pay for abortions, when we fund abortion organizations overseas. It is a bookkeeping ploy to fund organizations that fund abortions. We are not fooled. The issue comes down to this: how important are the unborn children? Are they important or are they not? If we are talking about discrimination or some other issue, we would say that we want to have conditions that would not give money to the organization if it discriminates, even if the nongovernmental organization did something that was laudable, like feeding the hungry. If they practiced discrimination as well, we would simply say thanks, but no thanks; we will find another nongovernmental organization.”