For Immediate Release:	July 23, 2002
For More Information:	Chris McCannell, Office of U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley, chris.mccannell@mail.house.gov, (202) 225-3965
Sponsor Organization:	Congressman Joseph Crowley
"Mind bending---that's what the New York Time's called the decision by the Bush Administration to withhold $34 million in Congressionally Appropriated funds for the United Nations Population Fund. Mind narrowing is what I call it."
In yet another example of the Bush Administration's attitude that the US will engage with international groups on our terms and our terms only, UNFPA has joined the ICC as another international-group Non-Grata on Karl Rove's political hit list. While pronouncements and posturing may make great headlines in the US for right wing voters, what this announcement means to the women and children of the developing world is chilling. The Administration talks about making this decision based on UNFPA's work in China. None of us in this Congress, Democrat or Republican support the horrible family planning practices of the People's Republic of China. But neither does UNFPA. The Administration's own report says that there is no coercion between the UNFPA and forced abortions in China. But instead of letting the facts speak for themselves, the bv Bush Administration says that any contribution, be it technical, educational or administrative is an endorsement of the PRC's family planning policies. That's funny because these are the same people who are saying we must do more trade with China. I hate to inform the people down at the White House, but the women who work for General Motors in Shanghai are subject to those same family planning policies. But it's ok for Motorola to build a factory in China and employ women and through their factory health clinic share lists with the Family Planning Authorities on who is or who isn't having a baby. But it's not ok for UNFPA to work to educate women on their rights and eradicate coercion in family planning programs? While the White House wants to make this debate about everyone's favorite boogey-man, China, what this really is about is the Administration's commitment to women in the developing world and secondary to the United Nations. While the President has done some very good things, including improving healthcare and educational opportunities for women in Afghanistan, by withholding our contribution to UNFPA we send a strong message to women in the developing world that we choose not to help. Think about it, for a woman in Burma, in Bangladesh or in Somalia and any of the other 150 something countries UNFPA is engaged in, the message is loud and clear, when it comes to improving the lives of women through UNFPA the United States does not put its money where its mouth is." END