Political Quotes

“the foreign operations conference report, which was signed into law on February 12, categorically prohibits the use of any funds for abortion. It also prohibits the use of any funds in China. But that legislation contains a provision that was inserted by the House at the behest of the right-to-life lobby, which will cut funding for voluntary, international family programs by one-third. Those family planning programs have one purpose--to give couples in developing countries the means to avoid unwanted pregnancies and reduce the number of abortions. The funds are used to purchase and distribute contraceptives, to improve the quality and safety of contraceptives, to educate couples about spacing the births of their children, and maternal and child health. Why anyone would be against that is a mystery to me, but that is what the House did. And because they recessed immediately afterward, the Senate had no opportunity to amend it. We were presented with the choice of closing down the Government again, or accepting the House provision word for word. Anyone who wants to see fewer abortions, and fewer women die from botched abortions, should deplore what the House did, and support the Hatfield language in this bill. The House provision would prohibit the obligation of any family planning funds before July 1 unless they are specifically authorized.…”