DeConcini Amendment in United States

DeConcini Amendment (1985) and Family Planning-Related Provisions

This section provides a general background of deconcini amendment (1985) in the framework of the abortion and family planning-related provisions in U.S. foreign assistance and, in special, in relation to Restrictions or Requirements in Legislation.In 1985, Congress enacted a provision to the FY1986 Foreign Assistance and Related Programs Appropriations Act specifying that the United States would only fund family planning projects that offer a range of family planning methods and services, either directly or through referral.23 The measure was enacted to counter a Reagan Administration policy that would provide U.S. funding to overseas groups that advocate only “natural” family planning methods and services, such as abstinence [24]. The amendment, introduced by Senator Dennis DeConcini, states:

That in order to reduce reliance on abortion in developing nations, funds shall be available only to family planning projects which offer, either directly or through referral to, or information about access to, a broad range of family planning methods and services [25]…

The provision has been included in annual foreign operations appropriations legislation since 1985, and it is most recently included in the FY2016 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Act [26]. It is applied to family planning assistance funded through all accounts under that act.

Note: Based on the Abortion and Family Planning-Related Provisions in U.S. Foreign Assistance Law and Policy Report.

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Notes and References

23 Section 541 of the Foreign Assistance and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1986 (Section 101 (i) of H.J.Res. 465; P.L. 99-190; 99 Stat. 1295), approved December 19, 1985.

24 John Felton, “Budget Cuts Leave Mark on Foreign Arms Aid,” Congressional Quarterly (CQ) Weekly, December 21, 1985. Then-USAID Administrator M. Peter McPherson reportedly agreed to provide $40 million over five years to organizations that provide advice such natural methods.

25 FY2016 State-Foreign Operations Appropriation Act (129 Stat. 2717).

26 Ibid.

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