Washington, DC - Abortion advocates on Friday accused President Bush of giving in to pro-life lawmakers when he indicated he may lower the $34 million Congress has appropriated for the UNFPA.
The money for the United Nations Population Fund, also known as UNFPA, was included in a $15.4 billion foreign aid bill that Bush signed into law Thursday. The organization helps countries deal with reproductive and sexual health, family planning and population strategy but cannot use the money for abortions because of Bush's Mexico City Policy.
Bush made a point of noting in an accompanying statement that it gives him "additional discretion to determine the appropriate level of funding for the United Nations Population Fund."
The fund has always been a lightning rod for pro-life advocates. It often was not funded by the United States during the administrations of Bush's father and former President Reagan.
Bush last year initially proposed $25 million for the organization, an increase from the $21.5 million the fund got during the last year of the Clinton presidency. When key lawmakers last month agreed on $34 million for the agency, pro-life Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) asked Bush to delete the money.
Smith and other pro-life lawmakers complain that the U.N. agency sends millions of dollars each year to China, where forced abortions are practiced.
"By their words and actions, the UNFPA has chosen to partner with those who oppress women," Smith wrote in the Dec. 21 letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. "At best, UNFPA has been the willing 'enabler' of massive human rights violations."
"I am thankful that our country now has a president who will listen to the plight of persecuted women and children in China and other countries where the UNFPA operates," Smith wrote.
The U.N. agency says it doesn't support abortions but does provide support to hospitals to treat complications as a result of botched abortions.
Neither the White House nor Smith's office had immediate comment.
Abortion advocates expressed anger at Bush's statement. Pro-abortion Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) called it "absolutely wrong" and pro-abortion Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) said any funding cuts would "appease extremism on the backs of the poorest and most vulnerable women and children in the world."
Stirling Scruggs, a spokesman for the U.N. agency, said any loss of funds would have a "devastating effect."
Pro-Life Infonet
12. januar 2001