NARAL Pro-Choice America Statement on Final Budget Bill

Washington, D.C. – Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, today released the following statement on the FY‘08 omnibus appropriations bill.

"This legislation shows that elections truly do matter," Keenan said. "For the first time in recent memory, congressional leaders are making a clear investment in family planning, while finally putting the brakes on Bush's failed ‘abstinence-only' programs. I am pleased that the new leadership in Congress is putting Americans' best interests first, rather than responding to the president's political ideological agenda. As a former teacher and state superintendent of education, I applaud our pro-choice leaders in Congress for agreeing that it is unacceptable to funnel millions of dollars into programs that mislead our teens and jeopardize their health. We look forward to continuing our work to end funding for these dangerous and discredited programs."

Title X, the nation's family-planning program, received one of the largest increases in the program's history – $22 million. By contrast, for the last seven years under anti-choice control, Congress followed President Bush's lead and essentially level-funded this vital program. This bill also essentially level-funds "abstinence-only" programs, at $115 million – or $39 million less than what the president requested in his FY'08 budget. 

Unfortunately, the bill is missing a provision to repeal President Bush's global gag rule, which bans overseas health centers from receiving U.S. family-planning aid if they use their own funds to provide legal abortion care, give referrals, or even take a public pro-choice position. (U.S. funds do not pay for abortion-related services.) Earlier this year both the House and Senate took historic votes against the global gag rule policy, reversing seven years of anti-choice congressional inaction.

A Bush veto threat, backed up by a sufficient number of anti-choice lawmakers, forced Congress' hand on the global gag rule.

"I am dismayed by President Bush's defense of the global gag rule policy – which has been the cause of so much harm and misery among the world's poorest women. America can and should do better," Keenan said.  "Our members know that this bill reflects the electoral gains we made in 2006 – but there's more work to be done."

"This bill includes substantial improvements from those crafted by previous anti-choice congressional leaders," Keenan continued. "For that, special thanks are due to many lawmakers, beginning with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).  Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) proved yet again his strong commitment to the Title X program and had the courage to oppose ineffective and wasteful 'abstinence-only' programs; Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Reps. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Tom Lantos (D-CA) led the fight to repeal the global gag rule; and a dedicated group of House lawmakers - including Reps. John Dingell (D-MI), Jay Inslee (D-WA), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Jim Moran (D-VA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jane Harman (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Chris Shays (R-CT) - led the fight on taxpayers' behalf against disproven 'abstinence-only' programs. These members, among others, deserve pro-choice Americans' thanks - and will be key to our ongoing efforts in these areas next year." 
 

Contact:
Ted Miller, 202.973.3032