US Election: a Serious setback for family planning

4 November 2010

Source: PAI

The recent US congressional election represents a considerable setback for family planning assistance worldwide, with a significant reduction in the level of political support for international family planning and reproductive health programs in US congress, according to analysis by Population Action International (PAI).

A loss in the House of Representatives

In the US House of Representatives, family planning lost a projected 44 votes, giving opponents a fairly solid working majority. Nearly 10 races remain undecided.

This headcount reflects diminished support for both funding and policy issues, such as a permanent legislative repeal of the Global Gag Rule and a robust contribution to UN Population Fund (UNFPA) without crippling restrictions.

The House vote breakdown ominously resembles the headcount when Republicans regained control of the House for the first time in 40 years after the 1994 election.  That time witnessed a relentless series of opposition attempts to legislate the Global Gag Rule and cut-off funding for UNFPA, which were largely beaten back in the Senate and by President Clinton.  This is likely to foreshadow similar battles over the next two years.

Declining support for family planning from Republicans

Particularly disheartening is the continuing decline in the number of solidly pro-family planning Republicans to single-digit levels and the defeat of a number of key "anti-abortion" Democrats, who joined family planning advocates in support of access to contraception as means to reduce unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion.

A narrow pro-family planning majority in the Senate

In the US Senate, a narrow pro-family planning majority remains-a projected 54 votes in favor, depending on the outcome of races in Alaska and Washington.

International implications

The switch in party control in the House from Democrats to Republicans will have significant impact on foreign assistance funding and policy, especially for family planning and reproductive health programs. All of the expected House Republican leadership will be hostile to reproductive health and rights and key Republican committee chairs will be far less supportive of family planning than their Democratic predecessors.

The election also has important short-term implications for international family planning and reproductive health funding and may result in reduced family planning spending levels for as soon as the 2011 fiscal year.

You can read the full article and future updates by PAI here.