Bill Summary
This resolution expresses the opinion of the Senate that the "Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance" policy, which prohibits the use of foreign assistance funds for abortion as a method of family planning, should be permanently established. It references various laws and presidential actions, such as the Helms amendment and the Mexico City Policy, that have implemented this policy in the past. The resolution urges Congress to make this policy a permanent part of legislation.
Possible Impacts
1. The resolution expressed in this legislation could affect women living in countries that receive foreign aid, as they may no longer have access to safe and legal abortion services.
2. This legislation could also affect the work and funding of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide reproductive health services, as they may be forced to choose between receiving funding and providing comprehensive care to their patients.
3. The passage of this legislation could also have a global impact, as it may contribute to the increase in unsafe abortions and maternal mortality rates in countries that are heavily reliant on foreign aid for their healthcare systems.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 20 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 20
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Protecting Life in Global
Health Assistance policy should be permanently established.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 17, 2019
Mr. Lee (for himself, Mr. Braun, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Wicker,
Mr. Roberts, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Rounds, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Blunt, Ms.
Ernst, Mr. Daines, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Hawley, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Cornyn,
Mr. Sasse, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Risch, Mr. Thune, Mr. Barrasso, Mrs.
Blackburn, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr.
Moran, Mr. Lankford, Mrs. Fischer, and Mr. Enzi) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Protecting Life in Global
Health Assistance policy should be permanently established.
Whereas section 104(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2151b(f)) (commonly referred to as the ``Helms amendment'') states that
no foreign assistance funds may be used to pay for the performance of
abortion as a method of family planning or to motivate or coerce any
person to practice abortions;
Whereas section 518 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related
Programs Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-102; 119 Stat. 2202)
(commonly referred to as the ``Siljander Amendment'') states that no
foreign assistance funds may be used to lobby for or against abortion;
Whereas, in 1984, President Ronald Reagan established the ``Mexico City
Policy,'' which prohibits foreign aid for family planning purposes from
being given to foreign nongovernmental organizations that perform
abortions or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning,
regardless of the source of funding;
Whereas, upon assuming office on January 20, 1989, President George H.W. Bush
continued to enforce the Mexico City Policy as established by President
Reagan;
Whereas the Mexico City Policy was reestablished on January 22, 2001, by
President George W. Bush;
Whereas, on January 23, 2009, President Barack Obama rescinded the Mexico City
Policy;
Whereas, on January 23, 2017, President Donald J. Trump reestablished the Mexico
City Policy and directed the Secretary of State to apply the policy to
all Federal global health assistance; and
Whereas the Department of State modernized the Mexico City Policy on May 15,
2017, renamed ``Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance,'' to cover
all health assistance provided abroad by a Federal agency, including the
United States Agency for International Development, the Department of
State, and the Department of Defense: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that Congress should
expeditiously consider statutory changes that permanently codify the
Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy.
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