Statement from Peter H. Kostmayer, president, Population Connection on Bush AIDS funding issue

The Bush Administration on Friday appears to have deliberately confused, even falsely stated, new restrictions on AIDS funding.

Leading news reports carried the White House announcement that it was easing what is commonly referred to as the "Mexico City Policy" or "Global Gag Rule" to allow, under certain circumstances, groups providing AIDS treatment in foreign countries to receive funds if they offer counseling or referrals about abortion. This was portrayed by the Bush Administration as a softening of existing rules.

The facts say otherwise. What is being touted as an easing of rules is in fact an imposition of new restrictions. The Bush Administration knows it. In fact, a 2/11/2003 memorandum from a State Department official, Arthur E. Dewey, to Secretary of State Colin Powell clearly refers to impending White House plans to "extend" or "expand" the Global Gag Rule. (copy of memo available on request)

Furthermore, according to a Presidential directive published in the March 29, 2001 Federal Register, Global Gag Rule restrictions have previously only applied to the furnishing of funds for family planning. Never before has the Bush Gag Rule been imposed on other international health care programs such as those seeking to treat victims of the AIDS pandemic. Now they, too, will be subject to some Gag Rule conditions seemingly designed to make it even harder for public health professionals to carry out the incredibly difficult task before them.

This recent White House announcement has nothing to do with addressing a global public health crisis. It has everything to do with electioneering. Not for the first time, President Bush seems willing to sacrifice innocent lives to satisfy a mean political agenda.
First, the Bush Gag Rule targeted family planning organizations, causing needless pain and suffering in the poorest places on the planet by denying critically needed health services to women and couples. Now, an onerous version of these restrictions will be imposed on AIDS health care providers as well.
If the Bush Administration wants to be taken seriously in the international community on matters of public health, it must begin to put public health first and abandon its narrow-minded political crusade.

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