Democrats in Congress Pass Abortion Reduction Initiative

Press Release

Representatives Tim Ryan (OH - 17) and Rosa L. DeLauro (CT - 3) announced the inclusion of the "Reducing the Need for Abortions Initiative" in the Fiscal Year 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. The $647 million abortion reduction package includes many of the provisions in the Ryan - DeLauro legislation, the Reducing the Need for Abortions and Supporting Parents Act (H.R. 1074). As members of the Subcommittee, the two played a critical role in drafting the Subcommittee's abortion reduction initiative.

"By funding this initiative, we are offering policy solutions that promote life and support parents beyond the birth of their new child. We are affirming the need to prevent unintended pregnancies and to help women with the economic pressures that may lead them to choosing an abortion," said DeLauro. "And of all the important goals this initiative can help us reach, perhaps the most important is that it helps move us all forward on this issue - beyond the question of the legality of abortion and toward actually reducing the need for abortion and providing critical investments for families."

"It is our moral obligation to address those issues with which all sides agree. Whether you are pro-life like me or pro-choice like my friend Congresswoman DeLauro, the common ground we must build upon is our serious desire to reduce the rate of abortions," said Congressman Tim Ryan. "This package accomplishes that goal by increasing or creating funding streams for programs that have been shown to reduce both unintended pregnancies and abortions. I also want to thank Chairman Obey for his longstanding leadership on this important issue and his willingness to work with myself and Congresswoman DeLauro."

With $647 million in funding, the initiative will have the resources to make an impact on reducing the number of abortions in America. It is focused on the need to reduce abortion in our country, while also providing supports for new parents to strengthen their families.

Below are the programs funded in the Reducing the Need for Abortions Initiative in the FY'08 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill, which parallel initiatives found in the Ryan-DeLauro legislation.

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