For Immediate Release:	September 5, 2003
For More Information:	Kirsten Sherk, Ipas, sherkk@ipas.org, +1 (919) 960-5612
Sponsor Organization:	Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Where is the compassion in de-funding a program that saves the lives of refugee women and children?
This afternoon the Senate Appropriations Committee will take up the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill. The committee is expected to approve additional language that would block implementation of the expansion of the global gag rule, which was announced by President Bush at the start of the Labor Day weekend. Taking advantage of the summer lull that peaks on the Friday afternoon before Labor Day weekend, President Bush issued a memorandum that extended the global gag rule to family planning funds administered by the U.S. Department of State. Planned Parenthood Federation of America applauds the committee’s move. The Senate has already spoken on this issue this summer when it voted to repeal the global gag rule by adopting the Global Democracy Promotion Act authored by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), in a vote of 53-43, as an amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act. The Appropriations Committee’s action today sends a message: real leaders are willing to put good policy before bad politics. Where is the compassion in de-funding a program that saves the lives of refugee women and children? Bush’s move is yet another example of his actions belying his words: he is clearly willing to risk the lives of the most vulnerable people for the sake of his ultra-conservative base. # # # Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the nation’s largest and most trusted voluntary reproductive health care organization. Planned Parenthood affiliates serve nearly five million women, men and teenagers every year.