According to an Appropriations Committee press release, the legislation is expected to be considered in the House on January 3, 2019.
Section 7071(a): The bill repeals Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance (PLGHA) (expanded Mexico City Policy) (pg. 1021-1022)
PLGHA requires foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to agree, as a condition of their receipt of global health assistance grant money, not to perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning.
Reinstated and modernized by President Trump, the policy now applies to all global health programs (nearly $9 billion). If NGOs choose to stop doing abortions, they can remain eligible for federal grant money. The choice has been up to the NGO – either change business practices or forego funding from the United States.
Section 7071(b): The bill appropriates not less than $37.5 million for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (pg. 1022-1023)
This represents a $5 million funding increase for UNFPA (from $32.5 million in current law to a minimum of $37.5 million).
Members have opposed funding UNFPA because of its involvement in China’s birth limitation policy, which relies on forced or coerced abortion.
Section 7058(a): the bill appropriates not less than $595 million for family planning/reproductive health programs (pg. 986)
This represents an increase of $20 million (from $575 million in current law to a minimum of $595 million)
Even if the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance remains in place, this funding stream can support domestically-based NGOs that support the global abortion industry. By setting a minimum funding level of $595 million, the bill would effectively allow unlimited spending in this area.
Other longstanding pro-life appropriations riders were retained in the bill.
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