Bipartisan Bill To Fund UNFPA Will Reduce Abortion Rates, Maternal Death Rates, And Infectious Diseases;

3/13/2002

From: Sean C. Prichard of the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, 202-466-3825 Web: www.arhp.org

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The following was released today by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals:

-- National Health Association Applauds Effort to Restore Proper Funding to UNFPA

The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), an education association representing leading health care providers, researchers, and educators in the field, commends the bipartisan legislation, "Saving Women's Lives Act of 2002," (HR 3916) that will guarantee the $34 million already appropriated for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the fiscal year 2002 and will appropriate an additional $50 million for UNFPA in fiscal year 2003.

"UNFPA is a leader in improving the lives of women in developing countries by increasing access to much needed reproductive health care services," says Dr. Felicia Stewart, ARHP board chair and director of the Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy at the University of California San Francisco. "To withhold these funds is mean-spirited and dangerous to women, children, and families all over the world. This legislation is the appropriate response to unfair withholding of UNFPA funds already appropriated by the administration."

The "Saving Women's Lives Act of 2002" was introduced on March 7, 2002 by Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Jim Greenwood (R-PA), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Doug Ose (R-CA), and John Dingell (D-MI). HR 3916 has been referred to the House Committee on International Relations.

ARHP is multidisciplinary association composed of professionals who provide reproductive health services or education, conduct reproductive health research, or influence reproductive health policy. ARHP, founded in 1963, has a mission to educate health care professionals, public policy makers, and the public. The organization fosters research and advocacy to promote reproductive health.