Vitter amendment to curb Title X
a step in the right direction

"The federal Title X population control program should be eliminated completely," said Ed Szymkowiak, national director of STOPP International, a project of American Life League. "Although the Vitter Amendment will not do that, it will STOPP from getting about $66 million of taxpayers' money. That's a big step in the right direction."

Rep. David Vitter (R-La.) is expected to offer an amendment which states, "None of the funds appropriated in this Act may be used to make any award of a grant or contract under Title X (ten) of the Public Health Service Act for fiscal year 2002 or any subsequent fiscal year to any private grantee, delegate, or clinic that provides a chemical or surgical abortion." Current appropriations for Title X are $253.9 million.

"The Vitter Amendment has been called a domestic version of the Mexico City Policy," said Szymkowiak. "That policy prevents taxpayer funding of abortion providers overseas. We should at least have a similar policy in the United States as well."

Release issued: 5 Oct 01