Senate Appropriations Committee Passes Bill Allowing Contraceptive Donations To International Groups Barred From Funding

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a fiscal year 2008 foreign aid spending bill that would allow the federal government to give contraceptives but not money to international groups barred from receiving U.S. aid because of their abortion policies, Reuters reports (Reuters, 6/28).

The so-called "Mexico City" policy bars U.S. funding from going to international groups that support abortion, even with their own money, through direct services, counseling or lobbying activities. The policy was originally implemented by former President Reagan at a population conference in Mexico City in 1984, removed by former President Clinton and reinstated by President Bush during the first days of his presidency. Bush in September 2003 issued an executive order that prevents the State Department from giving family planning grants to international groups that provide abortion-related counseling.

The House last week voted 241-178 to approve a FY 2008 foreign aid spending bill that also includes the provision allowing the government to give contraceptives to barred groups. Bush last month in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he will veto any legislation that would weaken federal policies or laws on abortion, including measures that would "allow taxpayer dollars to be used for the destruction of human life" (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 6/22).

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, said, "I think it is likely the president would veto the bill if that language remains in it." The $34.2 billion spending bill now goes to the Senate floor (Reuters, 6/28).

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