Rep. Jayapal Blasts President Trump for Reinstating the Global Gag Rule

WASHINGTON DC – Today, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal blasted President Trump for reinstating the Global Gag Rule, blocking the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from granting funds to any overseas organization providing family planning services, health care and other critical services to women in some of the poorest regions of the world.

“President Trump is already implementing his extreme agenda to punish women, deny their freedoms and restrict their right to make decisions about their own bodies,” said Rep. Jayapal. “By reinstating the Global Gag Rule, the Trump administration is reversing progress on reproductive, maternal and child health care, leaving millions of women in some of the poorest nations without access to life-saving services.”

The Global Gag Rule, first introduced in 1984 by Ronald Reagan, prohibits aid to any non-governmental organizations that use private, non-U.S. funding to provide or advocate for abortion services in developing nations. In January 2009, President Obama revoked the policy, allowing U.S. aid to go to birth control providers, HIV/AIDS clinics, and organizations that provide family planning counseling across the world.

“In addition to the short-term consequences on real lives, this action does not lead us in the direction of progress. Research and experience shows that when you provide women with these essential services, care improves, unintended pregnancies decrease and overall futures for women improve,” added Jayapal. “Instead of imposing an ideological agenda to marginalize women, we need to stand up for our values, and make sure all women everywhere have access to vital life-saving services.”

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Issues: Environment, Health Care