International Population Assistance and Family Planning Programs: Issues for Congress

Luisa Blanchfield
Specialist in International Relations

Since 1965, the U.S. government has supported international population planning based on principles of volunteerism and informed choice that gives participants access to information on all methods of birth control. This policy has generated contentious debate for over three decades, resulting in frequent clarification and modification of U.S. international family planning programs. Given the divisive nature of this debate, U.S. funding of these programs will likely remain a point of contention during the second session of the 111th Congress.

In 1984, controversy arose over U.S. population aid policy when the Ronald Reagan Administration introduced restrictions that became known as the "Mexico City policy." The Mexico City policy denied U.S. funds to foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that performed or promoted abortion as a method of family planning—even if the activities were undertaken with non-U.S. funds. Presidents Reagan and George H. W. Bush also banned grants to the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) due to evidence of coercive family planning practices in China, citing violations of the "Kemp-Kasten" amendment, which bans U.S. assistance to organizations that, as determined by the President, support or participate in the management of coercive family planning programs.

President Bill Clinton resumed UNFPA funding and reversed the Mexico City policy in 1993. In 2001, however, President George W. Bush re-applied the Mexico City restrictions. The Bush Administration also suspended U.S. contributions to UNFPA from FY2002 through FY2008 following a State Department investigation of family planning programs in China. On January 23, 2009, President Obama issued a presidential memorandum revoking the Mexico City policy. The President also stated that the United States would resume U.S. contributions to UNFPA.

For FY2011, the Obama Administration requested a total of $715.74 million for bilateral and multilateral international family planning and reproductive health activities. This included $50 million for U.S. voluntary contributions to UNFPA.

In December 2009, President Obama signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111- 117). Division F of that bill, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2010, directs that not less than $648.457 million should be made available for international family planning and reproductive health activities. Of this amount, $55 million shall be made available for UNFPA under the International Organizations and Programs (IO&P) account.


Date of Report: July 8, 2010
Number of Pages: 18
Order Number: RL33250
Price: $29.95

Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.