Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) today accused the Republican majority of denying women around the world access to basic family planning and health information. "Here we are on our second day back from the August recess and the GOP leadership wants to turn back the clock on women," Pelosi said. Over twenty Democratic Women of the House joined Rep. Pelosi at a press conference to condemn today's action by the Republican majority.
The House voted down the Gilman-Pelosi Amendment which was designed as a bi-partisan substitute to the more restrictive Smith Amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. "If you want to reduce the number of abortions worldwide, then you must support international family planning," Pelosi said.
Around the world, as many as 585,000 women die each year from pregnancy-related causes, including 70,000 from unsafe abortions. "The best way to save lives and reduce the number of abortions worldwide is to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. Voluntary family planning safeguards the lives and health of mothers and gives their children a better chance of survival," Pelosi said.
In addition to Reps. Pelosi and Gilman, Reps. Campbell, Lowey, Greenwood, Delauro and Slaughter joined as co-sponsors. The Foreign Operations Appropriations bill must still be reconciled with the Senate version of the legislation. If the Smith Amendment survives the conference committee, President Clinton is expected to veto the bill.
