White House Threatens Veto Over UNFPA Funding

June 6, 2002 - On June 4th, the White House Office of Management and Budget notified the US Senate of the Administration’s intention to veto S. 2551, a bill making emergency supplemental appropriations for fiscal 2002 (including for post-September 11th recovery and response) if Congress reaffirms the bipartisan agreement reached late last year to provide the UN Population Fund with $34 million in funding. Click here for the full “Statement of Administration Policy” (SAP).

Contrary to the SAP’s assertion, the Senate provision in the supplemental appropriations bill would not compromise in any way the President’s flexibility in making a determination under the Kemp-Kasten amendment. Rather, if the Administration determines that UNFPA is in compliance with Kemp-Kasten (as has been determined for most of the past decade, including last year by the Bush Administration), then the Senate language simply would require the Administration to allocate the funds approved by Congress late last year – as agreed in late December negotiations with the White House

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