Timeline of U.S. Funding of UNFPA

1969 - With the United States playing a leading role, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is created to support family planning and reproductive health services, including maternal and child health care, in developing countries.

1970s - The United States is the largest contributor to UNFPA, also matching all other contributions in the first several years of UNFPA's existence.

1973 - Congress approves the Helms Amendment, which bars U.S. funding for abortion services at home or abroad. UNFPA's work, which never included abortion assistance, is not affected.

1985 -- The Kemp-Kasten Amendment is approved, barring U.S. funding for any international organization that the president determines "supports or participates in the management of a program of coercive abortion or sterilization."

March 1985 - A review of UNFPA's work in China by the U.S. Agency for International Development finds that UNFPA is not in violation of Kemp-Kasten.

September 1985 - Nonetheless, President Reagan cuts UNFPA funding by $10 million (the amount it was spending in China), after unfounded allegations that the agency directly or indirectly supports coercion there.

October 1985 - Reagan administration decides that UNFPA is in violation of Kemp-Kasten because it is judged to be involved in the management of China's population program.

1986-1992 - As a result of that determination, no U.S. funds go to UNFPA.

1993 - Finding UNFPA to be in compliance with the Kemp-Kasten Amendment, President Clinton restores funding to UNFPA, and Congress appropriates $14.5 million for it.

1994 - Representatives from 179 nations meet at the U.N. Population and Development Conference in Cairo (ICPD) to develop a landmark plan linking economic and social development with women's reproductive rights. They set a goal of universal access to reproductive health services by 2015, with UNFPA as the lead agency, and pledge to invest $17 billion in population programs annually by 2000.

Fall 1994 - Congress appropriates $50 million for UNFPA but withholds $10 million, stipulating that no U.S. funds can be spent in China.

1995 – Congress appropriates $35 million for UNFPA. UNFPA does not renew its China program from 1995 through 1997 while negotiating with the government for a new target- and quota-free approach.

1996 - Congress appropriates $22.8 million to UNFPA but rescinds all but $7.6 million.

1997 - Congress provides $25 million for UNFPA but withholds $5 million.

1998 - China pledges to abandon coercive policies in 32 Chinese counties, so UNFPA renews its program in those counties. Congress appropriates $25 million, withholding $5 million.

1999 - Congress zeroes out UNFPA funding in protest over renewal of programs in China.

2000 -Congress appropriates $25 million for UNFPA in FY 2001, withholding $3.5 million.

Fall 2001 - The new Bush administration requests $25 million for UNFPA for FY 2002. Secretary of State Colin Powell praises the agency for its "invaluable" work.

October 2001 - The Bush administration gives $600,000 to UNFPA to provide emergency services to Afghan women refugees.

Fall 2001 - Congress on a bipartisan vote appropriates $34 million for UNFPA for FY 2002.

Fall 2001 - Conservative Extremeists invent allegations that UNFPA is complicit in forced abortions in China. UNFPA says charges are "totally false."

February 2002 - President Bush places a hold on the UNFPA appropriation. UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid says the $34 million represents 12.5 percent of UNFPA's $270 million core budget, and that the withheld sum would prevent 2 million unwanted pregnancies, nearly 800,000 induced abortions, 4,700 maternal deaths, nearly 60,000 cases of maternal illness or disability, and 77,000 infant and child deaths.

May 2002 - Hand-picked State Department fact-finding mission reports, "We find no evidence that UNFPA has knowingly supported or participated in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization in the People's Republic of China." It recommends release of the $34 million for FY 2002. (All in all, some 160 independent diplomatic and technical monitoring missions have visited UNFPA operations in China and found no involvement in any coercive activity.)

Early July 2002 - Senate Appropriations Committee votes to appropriate $50 million for UNFPA in FY 2003 and to require the president to release the funds.

July 2002 - Bush administration rescinds the $34 million FY 2002 appropriation for UNFPA, citing the Kemp-Kasten Amendment.

Summer 2002 - Lois Abraham and Jane Roberts create the 34 Million Friends of UNFPA Campaign in response to the funding cut, urging Americans to support the agency and the services it provides.

Summer 2002 - The Bush Administration indicates it wants to transfer the $34 million withheld from UNFPA to the U.S. Agency for International Development, which operates in about 80 countries, compared to the 150 countries where UNFPA supports programs.

February 2003 - Congress approves $34 million for UNFPA in FY 2003. The administration has not decided whether to forward the funds to UNFPA.

May 2003 - The 34 Million Friends Campaign announces it has raised its first $1 million and will expand the effort to Europe. Half the initial contributions will be used in developing countries to combat obstetric fistula, a debilitating condition caused by obstructed labor. The other half will provide services such as emergency obstetric care to women giving birth, ambulances, HIV/AIDS testing kits and modern contraceptives.

May 2003 – The Crowley Amendment to eliminate ambiguities in Kemp-Kasten Amendment is approved by the House International Relations Committee as part of the State Department authorization for
FY 2004-5.

July 2003 - In a close (216 to 211) vote, the House of Representatives voting for the Smith Amendment, decided to maintain the status quo on U.S. funding standards for UNFPA.

January 2004 – Congress approves $34 million in US funding for UNFPA for Fiscal Year 2004.  The bill, as signed into law by Presdient Bush, requires the Secretary of State to make a public determination as well as report to Congress on what steps the US Government and UNFPA have each taken to encourage the Chinese Government to lift the “one-child” policy and social compensation fee.

June 2004 – The $34 million in congressionally approved funds for FY04 was witheld by Secretary of State Powell citing the Kemp-Kasten Amendment.