Bush Signs Presidential Memorandum on 'Mexico City Policy'

"Without fanfare or public notice," President Bush yesterday signed a presidential memorandum to reinstate the "Mexico City policy," which prevents USAID funding from going to international family planning organizations that use their own funds to promote or provide abortion services, the Los Angeles Times reports (Los Angeles Times, 3/29). A group of senators last week introduced a resolution (SJ Res. 9) to revoke the president's earlier action using the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to repeal regulations promulgated by the executive branch within 60 days of their issuance (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 3/21). By law, a presidential memorandum is not subject to Congressional review and therefore will prevent Congress from using the act to stop the President's action on the international family planning policy (Reuters, 3/29).

Bush to Issue New Memorandum on ‘Mexico City Policy’ to Avoid Congressional Review

To prevent Congress from overturning President Bush’s reimplementation of the “Mexico City” policy, which prohibits USAID funding from going to international family planning programs that use their own funds to offer or promote abortion services, the Bush administration announced Friday that it intends to issue a new “presidential memorandum” on the issue, the Washington Post reports.  Last week, a bipartisan coalition of senators introduced a resolution (SJ Res. 9) to revoke the president’s order using the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to repeal regulations promulgated by the executive branch within 60 days of their issuance (Allen, Washington Post, 3/24).  White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said, “The president has determined the most effective way to have his Mexico City policy carried out is through the issuance of a presidential memorandum, as opposed to rule-making at a government agency.  It gets the same thing done.  The substance is exactly the same” (AP/New York Times, 3/25).  The president sent a letter to USAID Friday night “halt[ing] his original action,” and will issue the new memorandum this week.  Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), one of the sponsors of the Senate resolution seeking to overturn the “global gag rule,” said that despite the president’s new tactic, she would continue her opposition.  “No matter how he executes his policy, it doesn’t change the fact that denying of family-planning assistance will lead to an increase in the number of deaths due to unsafe abortions.  I will continue to do what I can to bring this before Congress and reverse this intolerable action” (Washington Post, 3/24).

UNFPA Funding Act of 2001 Introduced in House, Pushes for Increased U.S. Funding for Agency

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday introduced the "United Nations Population Fund Funding Act of 2001" (HR 1117) to show the "renewed commitment of the world community to the formulation of government policies that contribute to global population stabilization and to improvements in the status of women."  The bill authorizes a U.S. voluntary contribution to UNFPA of $35 million for FY 2002 and $50 million for FY 2003 ("UNFPA Funding Act of 2001" text, 3/23).  According to a Malony spokesperson, this would represent an increase of $13.5 million and $28.5 million, respectively, above the FY 2000 and FY 2001 funding level of $21.5 million (Laura Menge, Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 3/23).