For Immediate Release:	July 16, 2004
For More Information:	Julie Edwards, Office of U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, 202-225-6506
Sponsor Organization:	Office of Congresswoman Nita Lowey
"Once again, nonsense has won out over common sense in the Administration's foreign aid policy."
WASHINGTON, DC - Secretary of State Colin L. Powell today communicated to Congress that the Administration would not release the $34 million earmarked for the United National Population Fund (UNFPA) in Fiscal Year 2004. Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) issued the following statement on that decision: "Once again, nonsense has won out over common sense in the Administration's foreign aid policy. I deplore today's announcement that, for the third year in a row, the U.S. will withhold support for the life-saving programs of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The Administration's justification for this denial simply doesn't pass the laugh test; UNFPA is being punished for working in China - to change coercive policies we all agree are wrong. "While not surprising, this latest announcement makes clear that the Bust Administration does not intend to ever seriously consider funding UNFPA. Nothing short of a change in leadership at the White House will be needed to restore the U.S. investment in this critical agency. "The Administration has made the shortsighted decision to withhold assistance to all of UNFPA's 136 country programs unless UNFPA's withdraws from China or, unbelievably, unless China changes its national laws. This decision will not help change Chinese law - it will only hurt the poorest women and children around the world. "Today's announcement has coincided with a renewed White House focus on trafficking in persons, and I understand that the President plans to divert money intended for UNFPA to his global anti-trafficking initiative. While I believe this is a worthy program, I urge him to request adequate funding for this priority instead of redirecting money that should have gone to UNFPA. During full House consideration of the Fiscal Year 2005 Foreign Operations bill yesterday, both Subcommittee Chairman Jim Kolbe and I expressed our intention that, if these funds cannot be granted to UNFPA, they should go exclusively to bilateral family planning programs carried out by the United States Agency for International Development. "No matter what decision is made about UNFPA, our government should show its compassion by improving health care for women and children around the world. We need to build strong ties to the people of the world - funding family planning initiatives will help us do that, one family at a time." # # #