PHA-Exchange> U.S. Senate Delivers Victories For Women's Health Worldwide!

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Vern Weitzel vern.weitzel at gmail.com

Last night, the U.S. Senate delivered a victory for
women and girls across the world.

The State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill
("Foreign Ops bill"), H.R. 2764 passed the full
Senate by a margin of 81-12 votes with key
provisions that will promote and protect the sexual
and reproductive health of women and girls in
developing countries:

The amendment offered by Senator Boxer (D-CA) and
Senator Snowe (R-ME) to repeal the Mexico City
Policy (Global Gag Rule) passed by a margin of 53-41
votes.  As you know, this restrictive policy bars
U.S. family planning aid, including contraceptives,
to any foreign organization that uses its own funds
or funds from other donors to provide information,
make referrals, or counsel women on abortion;
advocate for the liberalization of abortion
policies; or perform legal abortion services.  To
see how your Senators voted on this amendment,
please click here:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00319
.
  An "aye" vote means they voted for the amendment
(and for repealing the Global Gag Rule), and a "nay"
vote means they voted against the amendment (and for
keeping the Global Gag Rule in place).

A provision that grants the President authority to
waive the restriction under PEPFAR that 1/3 of all
U.S. global HIV prevention funding be used for
abstinence-until-marriage programs passed.

An increase in funding for international family
planning and reproductive health programs in fiscal
year 2008 ($461.1 million) also passed.
Thank you to all who contacted their Senators about
these critical provisions?your efforts paid off!  We
encourage you to keep the momentum going and follow
up with your Senators about the Foreign Ops bill.
If your Senators voted in favor the Boxer-Snowe
amendment, we recommend contacting them via e-mail
or phone (www.senate.gov) to thank them for their
support of the health and well-being of women,
girls, and families worldwide by voting to repeal
the Global Gag Rule.  In the meantime, CHANGE will
keep you posted about other ways you can take action
as the Senate Foreign Ops bill heads to conference
committee.

What do these developments in the Foreign Ops bill
mean for the PATHWAY Act and the HIV Prevention Act?


Although the Senate has joined the House in passing
the 1/3 abstinence-until-marriage earmark waiver for
fiscal year 2008, we cannot relent in our efforts to
permanently remove the earmark.  Moreover, we must
continue advocating for a global HIV prevention
framework that adequately and realistically
addresses the needs of women and girls in developing
nations?especially as PEPFAR reauthorization
approaches.
Please email your Representatives today and urge
them to co-sponsor the PATHWAY Act.  Additionally,
we encourage you to participate in a National
Call-In Week (Sept. 24th-30th) to urge Senators to
co-sponsor the HIV Prevention Act.  If you are
interested in participating or organizing your own
event, please contact Kim Whipkey at
kwhipkey at genderhealth.org or 301.270.1182.
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