Bill Summary
This is a bill that seeks to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to allow the use of funds for comprehensive reproductive health care services, including abortion services. The bill also states that safe abortion should be made widely available and integrated with other types of health care. It acknowledges the social and economic benefits of allowing individuals to control their reproductive lives and cites statistics on the risks of unsafe abortions. The bill also recognizes the need for collaboration between governments and service providers to ensure access to safe abortion services. The bill would also repeal the Helms Amendment, which has restricted the use of US foreign assistance funding for safe abortion services since 1973. Overall, the bill aims to promote safe abortion services and make them a part of foreign assistance programs funded by the United States Government.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could affect individuals seeking safe and affordable abortion services, as it aims to make these services more widely available and integrated with other types of health care.
2. The legislation could also impact healthcare providers and organizations, as it provides funding and collaboration opportunities for training, equipment, and access to safe abortion services.
3. People living in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, could be positively impacted by this legislation, as it seeks to prevent unsafe abortions and reduce the risk of complications and death for those seeking to terminate their pregnancies.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7816 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7816
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the use of
funds for comprehensive reproductive health care services, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 29, 2020
Ms. Schakowsky (for herself, Mrs. Lowey, Ms. Lee of California, Ms.
Speier, Ms. Pressley, Ms. DeGette, and Mrs. Torres of California)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the use of
funds for comprehensive reproductive health care services, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Abortion is Health Care Everywhere
Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Abortion is a critical component of sexual and
reproductive health care and should be accessible and
affordable for all people.
(2) All people have the right to make their own choices
about their sexual and reproductive health, and to access
quality and affordable sexual and reproductive health care.
International agreements have recognized reproductive rights
for over 25 years, and the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals
reiterated the centrality of reproductive rights to gender
equality.
(3) Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that when people,
including young women and adolescent girls, gender non-
conforming individuals, and transgender men, are able to
control their reproductive lives, there are enormous social and
economic benefits--not just for the individual and their
family, but for entire communities. Countries that prioritize
reproductive health, rights, and justice and human rights are
more likely to have better overall health throughout.
(4) Health system cost is reduced when abortion is widely
available and integrated with other types of health care.
(5) Without access to safe abortion care, people risk their
lives to end their pregnancies. At least 24,100 people in low-
and middle-income countries die every year from complications
from unsafe abortion.
(6) Ninety-seven percent of unsafe abortions occur in
developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In
low- and middle-income countries, the annual cost of post-
abortion care for all who need it would be $4 billion. The
majority of this cost is attributed to treating complications
from abortions provided in unsafe conditions.
(7) Restricting abortion does not reduce either the need
for or number of abortions. Abortion rates are similar in
countries where it is highly restricted by law and where it is
broadly legal.
(8) When abortions are performed in accordance with World
Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and standards, there is
minimal risk of severe complications or death.
(9) As part of their commitment to prevent unsafe abortions
and preventable deaths and ensure all people have access to
comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care and can
exercise their right to full control over their sexuality and
reproduction, developing countries and donor governments must
work collaboratively to deploy funding, align policies, and
mobilize expertise to make safe abortion services available to
those seeking to terminate pregnancies.
(10) United States law restricting United States foreign
assistance funding from being used to provide safe abortion
services has the effect of harming people who seek to terminate
their pregnancies in several ways, including by blocking access
to services and erecting barriers to providers obtaining the
training and equipment needed to deliver care to those in need.
(11) Since section 104(f)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151b(f)(1)) (commonly referred to as the
``Helms amendment'') was enacted in 1973, dozens of governments
across the globe have liberalized abortion laws and policies.
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
The following shall be the policy of the United States Government:
(1) Safe abortion is a critical component of comprehensive
maternal and reproductive health care and should be included as
part of foreign assistance programs funded by the United States
Government.
(2) Safe abortion is to be made widely available and
integrated with other types of health care.
(3) The United States Government should work to end unsafe
abortion and promote safe abortion services by providing
funding and collaborating with affected governments and service
providers to provide training, commodities and equipment, and
access to safe abortion services.
SEC. 4. USE OF FUNDS FOR COMPREHENSIVE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
SERVICES.
Section 104 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151b)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (f)--
(A) by striking paragraph (1); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as
paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively;
(2) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
(3) by inserting after subsection (f), as amended, the
following:
``(g) Use of Funds for Comprehensive Reproductive Health Care
Services.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made
available to carry out this part may be used to provide comprehensive
reproductive health care services, including abortion services,
training, and equipment.''.
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