James Norton: “the Smith amendment would work irreparable harm for women and children throughout the developing world. Gilman- Pelosi…”

“the Smith amendment would work irreparable harm for women and children throughout the developing world. Gilman- Pelosi is a literal direct response to the concerns of antiabortion advocates. It is almost impossible to sustain a principled position against abortion, without supporting voluntary family planning as it appears in Gilman-Pelosi. Mr. Chairman, we must have one standard for family planning throughout the world. I would want the same standard there as I would want for myself and my constituents. Family planning is one of the great success stories in economic development. It is not in agriculture; it is not in trade. It is family planning which has been the essential key to economic development itself in the developing world. Denying family planning is like denying food to children, because that is exactly what happens when families in the developing world have more children than they can support. Gilman-Pelosi is the rational response that is consistent with the values of the American people who strongly support family planning.”