Political Quotes

“I have dedicated my efforts in Congress to the promotion of more livable communities, communities that are safe, healthy and economically secure, here and abroad. Our contribution to international family planning efforts is an example of our partnership on an international level to promote more livable communities. Poverty-stricken nations face significant obstacles to providing for the health, safety, and economic security of their families. The 'Global Gage rule' put into effect by the Bush Administration earlier this year placed an additional burden on these struggling countries. I commend Congresswoman Lee for her successful effort in Committee to overturn the Mexico City restrictions and restore funding to family planning clinics across the world. U.S. aid for international family planning is used to provide health education, family planning, contraception, and women's health services to women across the globe. Since 1983, by law these funds cannot be used to perform abortions; instead they provide resources critical to combating mother and infant mortality and diseases like HIV/AIDS which cripple development efforts in third world nations. Without these funds, non-governmental agencies in 52 developing nations will be forced to lose or severely reduce their efforts to reduce unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.”