Dear Honorable (either Darlene Hooley, Ron Wyden, or Gordon Smith)

As a supporter of NARAL, I write to urge your strong support for the Global Democracy Promotion Act of 2001, which is being introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer and Representative Nita Lowey. The bill would overturn the discriminatory global "gag" rule on international family planning programs, which was re-imposed by President Bush on his first workday in office last month.

The U.S. supports voluntary family planning services in more than 60 countries throughout the developing world. Voluntary family planning can prevent maternal and child deaths, unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. The global "gag" rule forces these programs to choose between vital U.S. support and their right to advocate and provide for the reproductive health care of some of the world's poorest women. Such a restriction would be illegal and unconstitutional if applied domestically in the United States.

The Global Democracy Promotion Act makes clear that U.S. funds may not be denied to overseas groups based on the medical services they provide; and that U.S. funds may not be used to impose restrictions on free speech that would be illegal if applied in the United States.

Please stand firm in defense of democracy abroad and support this vital legislation. American anti-choice politics should not be allowed to devastate vital health care services in the developing world.

Sincerely,


(at the end of the letters members wrote personal notes to the legislators)


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