Frank Lautenberg: “I oppose efforts to undermine the provision Senator Hatfield included in this bill, which is intended to reduce the need…”

“I oppose efforts to undermine the provision Senator Hatfield included in this bill, which is intended to reduce the need for abortion. In the continuing resolution approved by the Congress in January, funding for voluntary international family planning programs was capped at 65 percent of the level provided in fiscal year 1995. This represented a steep reduction below the President's budget request for international family planning programs in fiscal year 1996. Even more, the continuing resolution prevented the Agency for International Development from spending any of those funds until July 1, 1996. These draconian cuts and restrictions will hamstring the voluntary population program, result in an increase in abortions, and undermine the United States development efforts in the long run. Unfortunately, the Senate was not given much opportunity to debate this or any other provision in the last continuing resolution, which was required immediately to keep the Government functioning.”