Booker, Duckworth, Hirono, Smith, Blumenthal Introduce Legislation to Allow Use of U.S. Foreign Assistance for Abortion Care Overseas

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In recognition of International Safe Abortion Day, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) reintroduced the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act , which would repeal the 1973 Helms Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act and ensure that U.S. foreign assistance may be used to provide the full scope of comprehensive health care, including safe, and legal access to abortion services. U.S. Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7), Diana DeGette (D-CO-1), Norma Torres (D-CA-35), and Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Helms Amendment has prohibited any U.S. foreign assistance funds from being used for “the performance of abortion as a method of family planning” and has acted as a total ban on U.S. foreign aid being used for any abortion services. Due to the Helms Amendment, women are being denied abortion care, and even basic information and counseling. The Helms Amendment also forces providers to distinguish between abortion and all other health services and puts an essential health care service out of reach for too many. The bill also includes language clarifying that under U.S. government policy, safe abortion care is a critical component of comprehensive maternal and reproductive care. “For more than 50 years, the Helms Amendment has restricted the use of U.S. foreign assistance for abortion care, with real consequences for women around the world,” said Senator Booker. “Women are turned away from safe care and denied information and counseling about their options. Providers are forced to treat abortion differently from other essential health services. That is not a policy grounded in science, compassion, or dignity. The Abortion Is Health Care Everywhere Act would end these restrictions and make clear that U.S. global health assistance can support comprehensive reproductive health care, including safe abortion care.” “Reproductive health care is a basic human right,” said Senator Duckworth . “No one should ever die or have their lives endangered because they’re denied access to basic health care, but that’s the reality for too many women here at home and around the world. Our legislation would lift misguided restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance so it may be used to provide safe and legal access to reproductive health care.” “The Trump regime is not only attacking reproductive rights within our borders, they are preventing critical medications worth millions of dollars in foreign aid from reaching those who need it most,” said Senator Hirono. “By ending the prohibition on foreign aid being used for abortion care, the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act will help expand access to reproductive services in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. As we fight to restore reproductive freedom in the U.S., this legislation will help millions around the world access comprehensive reproductive health care services.” “With reproductive health care access under attack worldwide, our measure makes critical services available across countries—including in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. It guarantees a basic human right— quality reproductive health care. By increasing global access, it ultimately saves lives and resources for all nations,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Comprehensive abortion care is health care. That is not a political assertion, it is a public health reality,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President and CEO of PAI. “When safe abortion care is not available, abortions do not stop. They become more dangerous, contributing to preventable maternal death and morbidity. For more than 50 years, the Helms Amendment has restricted U.S. foreign assistance for this care, putting women’s health and lives at risk. U.S. global health policy should be grounded in evidence and focused on preventing needless maternal deaths and illness. It’s time for Congress to pass the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act and repeal Helms.” “For more than 50 years, the Helms Amendment has denied people around the world reproductive freedom. It undermines global health and human rights. It’s an archaic remnant of U.S. abortion politics that has always been completely divorced from the reality of the lives of the people it harms. It’s long past time to repeal this disgraceful law and we are grateful to Senator Booker and Congresswoman Schakowsky for introducing this important legislation. We look forward to its passage,” said Brian Dixon, Sr. Vice President, Population Connection Action Fund. “Everyone deserves to be able to get the healthcare they need when they need it. For over 50 years, the Helms Amendment has put safe abortion care out of reach for people around the world served by U.S. foreign assistance, including global health, gender-based violence, and humanitarian programs. As we continue to fight back against abortion bans and restrictions in the U.S., we must also work to expand access and eliminate barriers abroad. We’re thankful to Rep. Schakowsky, Sen. Booker, and their co-leads for their leadership in expanding access to essential healthcare," said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “With the Trump Administration undermining foreign aid for sexual and reproductive health care, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Repealing the Helms Amendment, which has long prohibited US support for abortion services around the world, is a critical step toward ensuring people everywhere can access safe abortion care. We thank Sen. Booker, Rep. Schakowsky and their co-leads for introducing the Abortion Is Health Care Everywhere Act. Guttmacher’s research makes the impact clear: ending Helms and supporting health care systems around the globe would avert 19 million unsafe abortions and 17,000 maternal deaths annually, ” said Kelly Baden, Vice President of US Policy & Communications, Guttmacher Institute . “Abortion is health care — full stop. For over 50 years, the racist Helms Amendment has robbed women in the Global South, including many Latinas, of their right to bodily autonomy and access to lifesaving abortion care. It's time to end this deadly amendment and pass the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act ! We are grateful to Sen. Booker and Rep. Schakowsky for taking the necessary steps to reaffirm abortion access and reproductive justice around the world,” said Katherine Olivera, director of government relations, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. The Abortion is Healthcare Everywhere Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). See the full list of endorsing organizations here. Read the full text of the bill here.