Permanent Repeal Of 'Global Gag' Rule Included In Sen. Appropriations Bill

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 02 Aug 2010 - 5:00 PDT


On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $213 billion fiscal year 2011 spending bill that includes an amendment to permanently repeal the so-called "global gag rule," which prohibits federal funding to international family planning organizations that provide abortion services and information with their own funds, CQ Today reports. The bill -- passed 18-12 along party lines -- would allocate funding to the State Department and other foreign affairs activities.

The amendment, introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), would permanently repeal the global gag rule and codify President Obama's administrative order that lifted the policy. The order was issued shortly after Obama took office. Lautenberg offered a similar amendment in 2009, which was adopted by the committee and later removed from the legislation when it reached the Senate floor.

Lautenberg said, "It's time that we permanently repeal the global gag rule," adding, "It's time to put aside the politics on women's lives. Let them make their decisions. Let them make their choices." However, the amendment is likely to be "highly divisive" in the Senate, according to Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), who said that he hopes it will be removed from the bill.

The overall bill would allocate $17.3 billion to the State Department and related agencies. The allocation is $1.4 billion more than in FY 2010 and $52 million more than the White House's request for FY 2011. According to CQ Today, the measure would provide $1.4 billion to USAID for operating expenses, which is $64 million less than Obama's request, but $24 million above the funding levels for FY 2010. The bill also would allocate $55 million to the U.N. Population Fund, matching Obama's request. A ban on funding for China's controversial family planning program would remain in effect under the legislation (Weyl, CQ Today, 7/29).

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