Colin Powell
Secretary, United States State Department
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
August 27, 2003

Dear Secretary Powell,

I am disturbed by your agency's decision to invoke Kemp Kasten on the Reproductive Health for Refugees Consortium's critical AIDS program in Africa due to the involvement of Marie Stopes International. Press reports today indicate that your department made the decision based on Marie Stopes's partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Despite reports that your agency has no evidence of Marie Stopes supporting coercive abortions, it has been reported that your department made its decision without an investigation.

I would ask you to answer the following questions:

Why did your department choose not to investigate its claims against Marie Stopes? Was it concerned that a new investigation would corroborate the Administration's investigative team that said funding should be restored to UNFPA?

A New York Times report ("U.S. Cuts Off Funding for AIDS Program, Provoking Furor," August 27, 2003) quoted a State Department official as saying "This wasn't an ideological decision; it was a legal decision." Could you provide the legal memorandum that supports this decision, particularly because there was no investigation or evidence of Marie Stopes being involved in forced abortions?

If press reports are true, at the very least, your agency should have conducted full investigations before making its decision. I hope that you answer why there was no investigation in this case that affects millions of AIDS-stricken Africans. I hope that you will reconsider the decision to de-fund the AIDS program in Africa, particularly with no investigation or evidence to support it.

I thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

CAROLYN B. MALONEY

Member of Congress