Nita Lowey: “I am shocked that my colleague would propose an amendment that would strike all funding for bilateral family planning.…”

“I am shocked that my colleague would propose an amendment that would strike all funding for bilateral family planning. These services prevent unintended pregnancies, maternal deaths, and abortions; reduce rates of infant and child mortality; empower women to stay in school and join the workforce; create stronger and healthier families; and improve economies. Aren't these bipartisan policy outcomes that both sides of the aisle should be supporting? Family planning does exactly what it says: It helps women plan when to have a family. But, as we sit here today, more than 200 million women around the world still lack access to modern contraceptives. If we want to build the self-reliance of countries, one of the most cost-effective measures is to increase access to the family planning services that women so desperately seek. Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to oppose this amendment. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee.”