WASHINGTON – “I want to thank my distinguished colleagues, Carolyn Maloney and Joe Crowley, for their leadership on this issue, and recognize the important contributions of Planned Parenthood, Population Connection, and Population Action International to this extraordinary effort. The ‘A Mother’s Promise the World Must Keep’ coalition has done excellent work to get the word out on the commitments the U.S. has made to mothers and families around the world. Today is an important day for raising awareness on Capitol Hill, and I am proud to join you.
“In 1994, the world stated unequivocally its commitment to the health of women and families and the security of our natural resources. As we all know, however, actions speak louder than words. And the actions of the United States have spoken volumes.
“Instead of massive increases in our bilateral family planning programs, we have cut our investments by nearly $150 million since 1995. Instead of redoubling our support for UNFPA’s work, we have seen this funding repeatedly blocked as politics has trumped common sense. Instead of fulfilling our commitment to the world’s poorest families, we have turned those who need help the most into beggars, knocking at our door to collect the help they were promised by the community of nations.
“Our actions have been irresponsible and inhumane.
“As we know all too well, this is about more than just the money. This is about the insidious global gag rule, which prevents NGOs from exercising the right to free speech in their own countries. This is about ‘Kemp-Kasten,’ a policy which has been manipulated and misinterpreted to block the yearly U.S. contribution to UNFPA since 2002. And this is about the policies we push among our allies – just last week we had to be pulled kicking and screaming into agreeing to reaffirm Cairo at the Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) summit in Puerto Rico.
“Let me assure you – supporters of family planning in Congress are working hard to change these policies. Tomorrow, we have another opportunity, as I will offer an amendment to the foreign aid bill which could open the door to U.S. support for UNFPA for the first time since 2001. The message of my amendment is simple, and it is something we all understand: family planning assistance is an integral part of our foreign aid program, and an important component of our national security strategy. It is my hope that my fellow committee members will put common sense over nonsense and support my amendment.
“Friends, as I have said many times before, we are on the right side of this issue. And, even though it may take a while to achieve, I truly believe that the right side will always come out on top. We are on the side of compassion, of pragmatism, and of reason. And with your continued help and enthusiasm, we will not fail.”
