Global HER Act to Permanently Repeal the Global Gag Rule
Statement of Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation (NAF), on the Introduction of the Global Health Empowerment and Rights (HER) Act to Permanently Repeal the Global Gag Rule:
We thank Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) for their leadership in introducing the Global HER Act and for taking bold action to permanently repeal this draconian policy and protect women’s health.
The Global HER Act was introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators just one day after President Trump’s reinstatement and harmful expansion of the Global Gag Rule, which bans federal funding for foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which provide abortion care or even provide information about abortion as part of comprehensive family planning services. The Gag Rule forces clinics to choose between providing limited reproductive health care while accepting U.S. foreign aid or providing inclusive family planning and reproductive health care with a limited budget. Under Trump, this ban would extend to other global health assistance programs, including anti-Zika efforts and HIV/AIDS relief organizations, doubling down on the burden placed on some of the most vulnerable communities and populations. The Global HER Act would once again ensure that foreign NGOs can provide accurate information and safe reproductive health care services.
When the Global Gag Rule has been in place in the past, we have seen an increase in maternal mortality rates as well as the number of unsafe abortions. This rolling back of reproductive rights is clearly not in line with the views of the majority of Americans, and it will not go unchallenged.
# # #
CONTACT:
Alissa Manzoeillo, National Abortion Federation
202.667.5881, ext 219; 202.595.4395 (after hours/cell)
[email protected]
The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers. Our members include individuals, private and non-profit clinics, Planned Parenthood affiliates, women’s health centers, physicians’ offices, and hospitals who together care for approximately half the women who choose abortion in the U.S. and Canada each year. Our members also include public hospitals and both public and private clinics in Mexico City and private clinics in Colombia. Our mission is to ensure safe, legal, and accessible abortion care, which promotes health and justice for women.