Hi Friend,

For nearly 50 years, the Helms Amendment has put safe abortion out of reach for some of the most vulnerable people in the world. Passed as a response to the Roe v. Wade decision, it restricts the use of U.S. foreign assistance funding for abortion services “as a method of family planning,” but has been imposed as a total ban for the entirety of its existence. According to the Guttmacher Institute, its repeal would prevent an estimated 19 million unsafe abortions and thousands of deaths annually.

The Helms Amendment is bad public health policy. It’s bad foreign policy. And it endangers the lives of millions. It’s long past time for it to be repealed. That’s why we’re excited that Senators Cory Booker, Tammy Duckworth, Tina Smith, and Mazie Hirono introduced the Abortion Is Heath Care Everywhere Act S. 4641, in the Senate. This bill repeals the Helms Amendment and replaces it with language that explicitly authorizes U.S. foreign assistance to be used for comprehensive reproductive care — including abortion.

Please tell your senators to co-sponsor the Abortion Is Health Care Everywhere Act. Everyone should have the right to make personal health care decisions that impact their lives, health, and futures.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Brian Dixon

Sr. Vice President for Government and Political Affairs