Published November, 2007

Letter to State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Conference Committee Regarding the 2008 Budget for Bilateral Family Planning and Reproductive Health, Center for HIV Law & Policy et al. (2007)

Over 50 diverse non-profit organizations joined in submitting this letter to the members of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Conference Committee, asking that they maintain the Senate-approved $461 million funding level for bilateral family planning and reproductive health programs and urging them to also adopt the $40 million contribution for the United Nations Population Fund as recommended by the House of Representatives. The letter notes that the United States has fallen behind on its efforts to improve global health; when adjusted for inflation, current U.S. funding is 41% below the 1995 fiscal year, yet since that time the number of women of reproductive age in the developing world has increased by approximately 275 million. The letter discusses the vital services and benefits this funding goes toward, such as contraception to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, prenatal and pediatric care, and HIV prevention services and testing.