Alan Simpson: “Finally, a comment on family planning funding. I want to express my serious concerns about the severe restrictions this…”

“Finally, a comment on family planning funding. I want to express my serious concerns about the severe restrictions this Congress has imposed on U.S. funding for international family planning assistance. My colleagues will recall that the Senate successfully avoided a partial Government shutdown on January 26 by passing H.R. 2880 on a bipartisan vote of 82-8. At the time we faced a midnight deadline for passing legislation to avoid yet another Government shutdown. Because no one in this Chamber wanted another shutdown to occur, we passed this measure in the exact form it came to us from the House without amending or striking any provisions which we considered to be objectionable. We had no choice in the matter. It was a frustrating and vexing experience for many of us. I was and continue to be deeply troubled by a provision of H.R. 2880 that prohibits funding for international family planning assistance programs until July 1 unless a foreign aid reauthorization bill is enacted prior to that date. After July 1, funds will be provided at only 65 percent of the fiscal year 1995 level, with a requirement they be spent in equal amounts over the following 15 months. I believe that policy to be very shortsighted. It is preventing the U.S. Agency for International Development [AID] from increasing access to family planning services for millions of citizens in the developing countries around the world.”