Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland), the Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, tonight praised House passage of legislation she introduced to reduce abortion and unintended pregnancies and combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic worldwide. 

 

“The House voted twice today in favor of common-sense family planning to prevent abortions, curb unintended pregnancies, save the lives of mothers, and fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” said Lowey. “I look forward to working with the Senate to send this life-saving provision in the state/foreign operations appropriations bill to the President.”

 

The House tonight approved an amendment introduced by Congresswoman Lowey that allows international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who do not comply with the Mexico City Policy to receive donated contraceptives for millions of men and women who desperately need them. Filling the unmet need for contraceptives could prevent 52 million unwanted pregnancies; an estimated 29 million abortions; 142,000 pregnancy-related deaths; and 505,000 children from losing their mothers in just one year.

 

The House also soundly defeated an amendment introduced by Congressmen Chris Smith and Bart Stupak to strip the Lowey provision from the bill.

 

Lowey addressed the Administration’s opposition to her amendment, stating, “I urge President Bush to work with Congress in a bipartisan manner to preserve this provision to give the poorest of the poor around the world access to life-saving contraceptives. Anything less is an extreme, anti-family planning position that’s out of line with mainstream Americans’ support for preventing unintended pregnancies and abortions.”

 

“By working together, we have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of millions of families around the world for generations to come,” Lowey closed.