On the recordFebruary 24, 1997
The Helms amendment has been permanent law since 1973, the year after I came to the Senate. It is a narrow restriction on how funds provided by the American taxpayers can be used. It is not a restriction on the actions of private groups--for example, International Planned Parenthood Federation--that receive funding provided by the taxpayers of this country. A group may use Federal funds for administrative expenses, distributions of condoms, or to pay for, if you can believe it, family planning radio soap operas and gender analysis tool kits, whatever they are. Simultaneously, funds available to these same groups from other sources can and often do pay for abortion or pro-abortion lobbying efforts. It goes without saying when the U.S. Government pays for administrative and other expenses of these groups, funds from other sources are freed up for activities that otherwise would be a violation of U.S. law.
Source
govinfo.gov
