Alan Simpson: “I strongly oppose the pending amendment. I believe Senator Hatfield and the Appropriations Committee have recommended a…”

“I strongly oppose the pending amendment. I believe Senator Hatfield and the Appropriations Committee have recommended a very prudent policy with respect to international family planning assistance. To strike the language as they have proposed--as the pending amendment would do--I think would be a very serious mistake. If these restrictions remain in place, I too, fear that abortions will come to be regarded as the only form of birth control in many desperately poor developing nations. As family planning services become less accessible, more unwanted pregnancies and more abortions will be the inevitable result. The language in the bill before us simply stipulates that the restrictions on family planning assistance will be lifted if it is determined that they will result in a significant increase in abortions and a greater unmet need for family planning services. It surely seems to me that those who are eternally concerned about the practice of abortion--and we all should be--would be eager to embrace this or any other policy that helps to reduce the number of abortions that are actually performed.”