Congressman Tim Ryan Blasts House Republicans for Slashing Women's International Health Care Funding

Press Release

Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) introduced an amendment to the FY 19 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill to provide $575,000,000 for international family planning and reproductive health programs during today's full committee markup. By a 22-29 vote, Congressional Republicans rejected Congressman Ryan's amendment.

"It is shortsighted and irresponsible to claim America supports global health and then slashes funding for family planning programs. I am disappointed that Republicans voted down my amendment, which would have restored this essential funding. An estimated 214 million women in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy currently have an unmet need for modern contraception," said Congressman Ryan. "Supporting family planning and reproductive health services is a critical investment in the health, lives, and futures of women, girls, and families around the world. We cannot expect to be a global leader for health care and women's rights when we are stripping funding and the most basic health care rights from the world's most vulnerable."

The base bill caps funding for international family planning programs at $461 million, a $114 million dollar cut to current funding levels. The consequences of this cut would be drastic, resulting in nearly:

4.7 million fewer women and couples would receive contraceptive services and supplies;
1.4 million more unintended pregnancies, including 615,600 more unplanned births, would occur;
604,200 more abortions would take place (of which more would be unsafe); and
Over 2,700 more maternal deaths would occur.

Source