Interim special
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives February 13 approved a request from President Bill Clinton allowing the expenditure of $385 million for international family planning programs, including abortion services.
The vote approving the funding was the first congressional test of the right to life issue since Clinton’s re-election in November.
American pro-lifers expressed immediate disappointment with the vote. Although it is illegal for American foreign aid dollars directly to finance abortion, pro-lifers, including Republican Chris Smith of New Jersey, believe the move will allow other funds to be freed up to pay for abortions in Third World countries.
The pro-life community took some consolation in the passage of Smith’s motion that would limit the use of foreign aid funding dollars to abortion-related services. That legislation however is not expected to survive a presidential veto.
Supporters of Clinton’s request argued that the funding will actually decrease the number of abortions in the Third World by providing greater education about contraceptive services. Critics, however, said the funding will serve to strengthen the abortion industry internationally.
The vote illustrated a long-running battle between Clinton and the House of Representatives. On taking office in 1992, Clinton reversed a Reagan-Bush policy that barred funding for groups that performed or promoted abortions in the Third World.
Known as the “Mexico City policy” because it was first advanced at a U.N. population conference there in 1984, the policy drew criticism from family planning supporters who have long argued that foreign aid should be linked to population control efforts.
Pro-life and pro-family groups countered that family planning efforts encourage promiscuity and casual sex and often lead to an increase in unplanned pregnancies.
