Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006
SCIENCE, STATE, JUSTICE, COMMERCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006 -- (House of Representatives - June 16, 2005)
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Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Moran amendment.
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AMENDMENT NO. 6 OFFERED BY MRS. MALONEY
Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
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Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes.
Mr. Chairman, this limiting amendment simply prevents the State Department from spending taxpayer dollars to restrict funding for the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA. The effect of this amendment would be to release much-needed funds to help women, children, and men in nearly 150 countries around the world.
For 3 years, the Bush administration has withheld $34 million annually from UNFPA that passed both the House and Senate. UNFPA is the only multilateral agency devoted to helping developing countries combat female genital mutilation and obstetric fistula, to helping countries advance access to family planning and quality reproductive health care, to promoting HIV-AIDS prevention, improved education and health care. These are the jobs of UNFPA. They are the world's leader in this task.
In this world in which we live, while I have been speaking, one woman has died from pregnancy-related causes, nine people have contracted HIV, and 6 have died from AIDS. All of this tragedy occurs in just one minute, and all of it can be prevented if UNFPA is funded and allowed to do its work.
This is not the way it has to be. The U.S. annual $34 million contribution could prevent 2 million unintended pregnancies, 800,000 induced abortions, 4,700 maternal deaths, and 77,000 infant deaths around the world. This is why we need UNFPA. We should not stand in their way, especially when women and girls are dying.
We are a government that champions tolerance, equal opportunity, life and hope. I urge my colleagues to allow the United States to join 169 countries that are already funding and supporting UNFPA. We are standing alone. We should join the world community and support this important work.
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Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I would say to the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman WOLF), who worked so hard on human rights, to punish an organization working to promote human rights absolutely makes no sense. I have great respect for the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman WOLF), and I agree with the gentleman that the stories about China are absolutely appalling. That is why we need UNFPA. The only thing that not releasing the money does is ensure the Chinese women have absolutely no place to turn. UNFPA is rights-based. It is fighting the Chinese Government's oppressive policies.
Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).
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Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to say that we may have a disagreement in some ways, but UNFPA is a world leader.
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