After Six Years, He Still Doesn't Get It

Washington, DC—Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, called President Bush's proposed fiscal year 2008 budget released today yet another missed opportunity to improve women's reproductive health.  Rather than investing in programs to prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the need for abortion, the president has yet again chosen to satisfy his right-wing base.

"The Bush budget is a combination of disappointments and missed opportunities.  It's clear that the president ignored the public's call for a focus on commonsense solutions to prevent unintended pregnancies," Keenan said.  "For the sixth year in a row he flatlines family-planning services—which are the only way millions of Americans see a doctor—yet proposes another huge increase, $28 million more, for unproven 'abstinence-only' programs that censor teachers from giving teens accurate information on topics like birth control.  As the budget process begins, pro-choice Americans will call on Congress to correct the president's mistakes by increasing funding for family planning and requiring medically accurate sex education for our teens."

Key components of President Bush's budget affecting reproductive health-care include:

• Funding for Title X family-planning services remains at an inadequate level for the sixth year in a row.  Had funding for this program only kept up with inflation in recent years, it would now be funded at more than double its current level.
• "Abstinence-only" programs receive an additional $28 million dollars.  These programs have received millions of additional dollars every year for the last six years, yet there is still no federal program for honest, realistic sex education.
• Several public-health programs, on which millions of Americans rely, are proposed for elimination or severe cuts.
• The president tells Congress to cut overseas family-planning aid drastically, from $436 million to $324 million.
• The president's budget also purports to include funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).  However, he is expected to cancel this funding later in the year as he has done annually for the past five years. 

Bush's budget coincides with today's planned House introduction of the Prevention First Act. The bill, authored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), is a package of services to help women and couples prevent unintended pregnancy – which would reduce the need for abortion.  It increases funds for family-planning services, assures contraceptive equity in health-insurance plans, and improves women's access to emergency contraception, among other things.

Contact:
Ted Miller, 202.973.3032