Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, 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.”