U.S. Tax Dollars Should Not Fund International Abortions (Rep. Mary Fallin)

The House debated yesterday whether to weaken the Mexico City Policy, which forbids U.S. assistance to foreign organizations that practice or promote abortion as a means of family planning. I spoke against this particular provision of the bill. I did so because I feel very strongly that United States citizens do not want their tax dollars used to export abortion throughout the world. Many of my colleagues — on both sides of the aisle — have called abortion a “tragedy.” I agree with them wholeheartedly, and I do not think that U.S. money should be used to enable that tragedy in other nations.

I fully support federal funding for family planning initiatives and HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Abortion, however, is not a method of “family planning” and should not be viewed as such. It is my hope that Congress can pass a State / Foreign Ops spending bill that respects the sanctity of life and the rights of the unborn.