America has "officially ceased exporting abortion to foreign nations": Trump expands Mexico City Policy
President Trump signs the order reinstating the Mexico City Policy
The US State Department yesterday released details of a plan to vastly increase the scope of the Mexico City Policy, which prevents foreign aid money being awarded to organisations that perform or provide information about abortions.
Blog: President Trump restores the Mexico City Policy- what does this mean?
In January, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum reinstating the "Mexico City Policy," and directing the Secretary of State to implement a plan to extend it to "global health assistance furnished by all departments or agencies." Under previous Republican administrations, the policy had only applied to family planning funding streams.
Secretary Tillerson has now approved a plan, called "Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance," which expands the policy's provisions to funding for HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, malaria and other health programs.
Overseas abortion providers to lose hundreds of millions
The new terms of the ban will apply to $8.8bn in existing foreign aid provided by the state department, USAid, and the Department of Defense - dwarfing the $60m in programming that fell under the ban during previous administrations.
It is estimated that the International Planned Parenthood Foundation (IPPF), which has previously said it will not abide by the terms of the policy, stands to lose $100 million in annual funding.
The State Department said that the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance plan will not reduce the amount of global health assistance the U.S. Government makes available.
No more undermining pro-life countries
Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List, welcomed the move, saying: "Votes in America have international consequences...With the implementation of Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance, we have officially ceased exporting abortion to foreign nations. No longer will we undermine the pro-life laws and cultural commitments of other countries by funding organisations like Marie Stopes International that obsessively promote and perform abortion.
"By modernizing this important policy and expanding it to include $8.8 billion in foreign aid, President Trump is continuing Ronald Reagan's pro-life legacy. This executive order does not cut a single penny from U.S. aid, rather it simply ensures our hard-earned tax dollars are used by other health care entities that act consistently to save lives, rather than promoting and performing abortion. Abortion is not health care."
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