International family planning groups cut off from aid because of their position on abortion could gain access to U.S.-donated contraceptives under legislation approved by a House panel Tuesday.Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee overseeing the State Department and foreign aid, said the contraceptive provision left intact the Reagan-era policy of banning aid to groups that provide or promote abortions.
Republicans disagreed and cited a letter to Democratic leaders from President Bush last month warning that he would veto any legislation that weakens current policy and laws on abortion. If the measure reaches the White House, said Rep. Frank Wolf of Virginia, top Republican on the panel, "they will veto the bill."
The bill, in another swipe at a favorite administration program, gives Bush and future presidents the right to waive current law that requires that one-third of U.S. aid for HIV/AIDS prevention be spent on abstinence programs.
Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., who helped draft the original abstinence language, said he was confident that the current administration would continue to promote it. But he warned that the country will get a new president in 2009 who could overturn the program...
Click on the title of this post for the rest of this Jim Abrams/Associated Press report.
