January 15, 2002

Office of the President

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

I am writing on behalf of the nation-wide membership of the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition to urge you to support full funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

As you know, UNFPA works in developing countries to save women’s lives through better reproductive health care, including the voluntary use of family planning. UNFPA helps countries find an equitable balance between population factors and development goals. The loss of U.S. funding will have a debilitating impact on the programs UNFPA supports to save women’s lives and prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS.

As was indicated by the inclusion of $25 million in your budget request to Congress, UNFPA is a vital program that can literally mean life or death for millions of women around the world.  

Congress followed your lead in recognizing the importance of this program.  For weeks, the Conference Committee worked on the Foreign Operations bill considering UNFPA Funding.  The Committee negotiated in good faith with the Administration and House and Senate leadership to reach consensus in favor of providing $34 million to UNFPA.  Ultimately, the bill was passed on a bi-partisan 3-to-1 basis in the House and unanimously in the Senate.

We are all Republicans who care about the lives and well being of women and families around the world.  Please do the right thing and maintain the $34 million in funding for UNFPA.

Thank you,

Lynn Grefe

National Director

Republican Pro-Choice Coalition