Overturn the 1984 ban on aid to overseas family planning agencies and organizations

Humanist, Sept-Oct, 2007 by Karen Ann Gajewski

On June 22, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 223 to 201 to overturn the 1984 ban on aid to overseas family planning agencies and organizations that include abortion among their services. Such a move would enable these groups to provide more and better contraceptive aid and help reduce unwanted pregnancies, although the prohibition on direct funding of abortions would remain. The White House reacted by warning that George W. Bush would veto any legislation that threatens to weaken current federal policies on abortion.

Karen Ann Gajewski is a freelance editor and an editorial consultant to the Humanist.