2005-2006 Regular Session 1st House HR 4188

Summary: This bill would extend voluntary family planning services to the poorest families in the poorest countries by doubling availabile resources between 2007 and 2011. Priority will go to countries with high fertility rates and acute unmet family planning needs. It will also strengthen systems to ensure an uninterrupted supply of modern contraceptives in developing countries, and promote health system capacity building, health worker training, community education, private sector partnerships and coordination with HIV/AIDS programs.

What You Should Know: Currently, US support for international family planning programs – providing contraception, prenatal care and HIV/AIDS prevention – serve 20 million couples in 50 of the world’s poorest nations. However there are still at least 120 million couples in developing countries that want, but do not have, access to modern contraception. Family planning programs are cost effective and integral to health and development goals. For many women, these health programs are the critical point of entry into the health system to provide them with access to other critical health services, as well as enabling them to decide if, when and how many children to have.

Primary Sponsor(s): Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)

Introduction Date: 11/1/2005

Last Major Action:

11/1/2005. Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.