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Global Democracy Promotion Act

Our Position: support
Bill Number: HR 4465
Sponsor: Rep Nita M. Lowey
Legislative Session: 2006

The Global Democracy Promotion Act is an attempt to overturn the Global Gag Rule, a policy decision that disqualifies overseas family planning organizations from receiving U.S. family planning funds if they, with their own money, lobby to change abortion laws or provide legal abortion services in their countries. If passed, the Global Democracy Promotion Act would help ensure that women and families around the world have access to crucial family planning education and services that enable them to choose the size and spacing of their families, ultimately leading to healthier and smaller families and reducing stress on the planet's natural resources.

Status

The Global Democracy Promotion Act was introduced in the House on December 7, 2005. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced the act as an amendment to the Foreign Affairs Authorization Act on April 5, 2005. The Senate accepted the amendment by a vote of 52-46, but the Senate failed to finalize the underlying bill, leaving it an open question in the Senate.
For more information, including the full text of the bill and a complete list of co-sponsoring Representatives, click here.

Action Needed

We must build strong bipartisan support for this legislation in the House to ensure that the United States supports true democracy, including basic freedoms of speech.

·          Contact your Representative today and ask him or her to co-sponsor the Global Democracy Promotion Act (H.R. 4465).

o         Click here to find your Representative and his or her contact information.

o         Click here for a list of current co-sponsoring Representatives. If your Representative is already a co-sponsor, write or call to thank them for their leadership on this issue!

·          Help mobilize grassroots support for this legislation by getting involved with the Global Gag Rule Impact Project today!

Contact

Sarah Fairchild

Global Population and Environment Program Director

sarah.fairchild@sierraclub.org

202-675-2396 

Background

The Global Democracy Promotion Act is a legislative response to overturn the Global Gag Rule, a policy decision that is undemocratic and un-American. Only two days after his inauguration in 2001, President Bush signed an executive order to reinstate the global gag rule - limiting US support for overseas family planning programs. The Global Democracy Promotion Act would ensure that the United States cannot impose standards on organizations outside its borders that it would not stand for imposing within its borders. The legislation would allow funding for organizations that provide services that are legal in their own country and also legal in ours. The bill will end the punishment of health care providers that observe the same standards of medical ethics and seek the same freedom of speech that apply in the United States. Passage of the Global Democracy Promotion Act would help ensure that women and families around the world have access to crucial family planning education and services that enable them to choose the size and spacing of their families, ultimately leading to healthier and smaller families and reducing stress on the planet's natural resources.