Siljander Amendment in United States

Siljander Amendment (1981) and Family Planning-Related Provisions

This section provides a general background of siljander amendment (1981) 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 1981, Representative Mark Siljander introduced an amendment to the FY1982 Foreign Assistance and Related Programs Appropriations Act specifying that no U.S. funds may be used to lobby for abortion [20]. Since the Siljander amendment was first introduced, Congress has modified the amendment to state that no funds may be used to “lobby for or against abortion” (emphasis added).

The Siljander amendment has been included in annual foreign operations appropriations acts [21] It applies to all programs and activities appropriated under such acts. Most recently, the FY2016 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Act states that “none of the funds made available under this Act may be used to lobby for or against abortion [22].”

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

20 Section 525 of the Foreign Assistance and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1982 (P.L. 97-121; 95 Stat. 1657), approved December 29, 1981. Representative Siljander’s proposed amendment, H.Amdt. 470 to H.R. 4559 [97th], the Foreign Assistance and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1982, also stated that no U.S. funds would be used to “recommend abortion or to train any individual to perform abortion.” This additional language was eliminated in the final bill.

21 The amendment did not appear in foreign operations appropriations acts for fiscal years 1994 and 1995.

22 129 Stat. 2717.

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