LWVUS Urges USAID and the State Department to Demonstrate Their Commitment to Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice

The League signed onto a letter urging the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US Department of State to take immediate action to demonstrate their commitment to reproductive health, rights, and justice. It encourages them to authorize reproductive health funding to the full extent of the law—for abortion services in cases of rape, incest, and life endangerment. It also asks that they issue clarifying guidance to grantees so they don’t limit their own permitted actions, and amend the USAID Family Planning and Abortion Requirements Compliance Training for greater clarity. 

The Honorable Antony Blinken
Secretary
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20520

The Honorable Samantha Power
Administrator
U.S. Agency for International Development
Ronald Reagan Building
Washington, D.C. 20523
 

August 10, 2022

Dear Secretary Blinken and Administrator Power,

As organizations dedicated to protecting and expanding global reproductive health, rights, andjustice, including abortion access, we are heartened to hear that you maintain an unwaveringcommitment to sexual and reproductive health care.The recentDobbs v. Jackson Women’sHealth OrganizationSupreme Court decision is a publichealth emergency that has and willcontinue to threaten the health and lives of people seeking essential health care services, not justfor those in the U.S. but also for people globally. We are glad to see those in USAID and theState Department recognizing and calling out the devastation that this decision will bringworldwide and reaffirming your commitment to protect and care for those you serve.

We look forward to working alongside you in this critical endeavor towards reproductivefreedom, bodily autonomy, and dignity for people worldwide. We encourage you to start meetingthis commitmenttodayby authorizing USAID reproductivehealth funding to thefull extent ofthe law. Under current law, U.S. foreign assistancemay not be used for abortion services as ameans of family planning. This requirement, however,still allows USAID and the StateDepartment to provide funding for abortion services in cases of rape, incest, and lifeendangerment. It also allows for abortion serviceinformation and counseling. However,USAID and the State Departmentdo notandhave neverfunded abortion services in thesecircumstances - even though they can do so without breaching any congressionally imposedlimits on abortion funding.

Additionally, many organizations receiving U.S. assistance lack proper guidance from USAIDand the State Department on the scope of the law and unduly limit the care they provide in fearof falling afoul of U.S. funding restrictions. Specificially they are afraid that if they offerabortion information or counseling, or provide abortion care in cases of rape, incest, and lifeendangerment, they will lose all their U.S. funding. In practice, this means that people arefrequently denied often life-saving health information and that many victims of sexual assaultand incest in medical emergencies are deprived of legal and necessary health care.

For too long, the U.S. government has restricted the reproductive healthcare offered to people incountries receiving foreign assistance, regardless of the legality of abortion care in thosecountries. Domestically, women and other people capable of pregnancy have been stripped of afundamental right and you have rightly expressed your disappointment at this rollback. USAIDand the State Department can take tangible steps to mitigate the harmful global impacts of theSupreme Court ruling,immediately,by clarifying theexceptions to U.S. restrictions on abortionfunding.

For too long, the U.S. government has restricted the reproductive healthcare offered to people incountries receiving foreign assistance, regardless of the legality of abortion care in thosecountries. Domestically, women and other people capable of pregnancy have been stripped of afundamental right and you have rightly expressed your disappointment at this rollback. USAIDand the State Department can take tangible steps to mitigate the harmful global impacts of theSupreme Court ruling,immediately,by clarifying theexceptions to U.S. restrictions on abortionfunding.

1. Issue clarifying guidance to grantees on what is permissible under the law: that U.S.foreign assistance can be used to provide information and counseling on abortionconsistent with local law and abortion services in cases of rape, incest and lifeendangerment.
2. Revise the Standard Provision on the Helms and Leahy Amendments using affirmativelanguage to make clear what is permissible, not only what is prohibited.
3. Amend the USAID Family Planning and Abortion Requirements ComplianceTraining for greater clarity and participant comprehension.

We look forward to seeing bold action to support and protect global reproductive health andrights, including abortion access, and working with you towards a future where we all have thefreedom to control our own bodies, safely care for our families, and live with dignity.

Sincerely,

See Attached Letter for All Signatories