Download Locations

• Open CRS (User submitted)
• U.S. Department of State

Summary

Since 1965, United States policy has supported international population planning based on principles of volunteerism and informed choice that gives participants access to information on all methods of birth control. This policy, however, has generated contentious debate for over two decades, resulting in frequent clarification and modification of U.S. international family planning programs. In 1984, controversy arose over U.S. population aid policy when the Reagan Administration introduced restrictions, which became known as the "Mexico City policy." (Opponents of the policy also refer to it as the "Global Gag Rule.") The Mexico City policy denied U.S. funds to foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that perform or promote abortion as a method of family planning, regardless of whether the money came from the U.S. government. Presidents Reagan and Bush also banned grants to the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) because of its program in China, where coercive practices have been used. President Clinton resumed UNFPA funding and repealed the Mexico City policy in 1993. President George W. Bush, however, re-applied the Mexico City restrictions. Following a State Department investigation of family planning programs in China, the Administration suspended U.S. contributions to UNFPA on July 22, 2002, citing violations of the "Kemp-Kasten" amendment. This provision bans U.S. assistance to organizations that support or participate in the management of coercive family planning programs. For FY2005, Congress earmarked in Division D of P.L. 108-447 (Consolidated Appropriations Act) $441 million for bilateral family planning programs and $34 million for UNFPA. On September 17, 2005, the State Department announced that UNFPA would not receive the FY2005 U.S. contribution because the organization was in violation of the Kemp-Kasten restrictions. This is the fourth consecutive year that UNFPA has been declared ineligible for U.S. support, resulting in a loss of $127 million in appropriated funds. The funds have been reprogrammed for other health related programs. In his FY2006 Foreign Operations budget request, the President proposed $425 million for family planning programs, which included $25 million for UNFPA should the organization be eligible under the Kemp-Kasten provision. The final conference text (H.R. 3057/P.L. 109-102) adopted the House-passed funding levels of $432 million for bilateral family planning programs and $34 million for UNFPA. It dropped Senate modifications to Kemp-Kasten and the Mexico City policy and retained current restrictions. In related legislation, on S. 600, an omnibus State Department/Foreign Aid authorization measure, the Senate adopted an amendment by Senator Boxer that would effectively overturn the Mexico City policy. The bill has not received a final vote in the Senate. The House version, H.R. 2601, made no similar changes. This report will be updated.

Related Legislation:
• H.R.3057
• S.600
• H.R.2601

XML