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"The Lantos bill would change PEPFAR into a massive $10 billion per year giveaway that will be tilted toward those who perform and promote abortion under the guise of 'family planning.' This ignores public opinion which overwhelmingly opposes forcing taxpayers to finances abortions either in this country or overseas.
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"The bill also strips out the pro-abstinence and pro-faithfulness values that have made the program successful, especially in Africa. In 2006, to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV, PEPFAR supported abstinence and faithfulness activities reaching over 40 million people. These programs help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDs by reducing multiple partners and encouraging individuals to abstain from risky behavior until marriage.
"In addition, the draft bill removes the current provision requiring recipients of PEPFAR funds to certify their opposition to sex-trafficking and prostitution, essentially giving the U.S. government's stamp of approval for prostitution.
"The bill fails to protect faith-based organizations from being discriminated against because they do not provide so-called 'family planning' services, which often includes provision of abortion. The bill increases funding for the Global Fund from $1 billion to $2 billion per year without any transparency requirements.
"We urge Congress to preserve the integrity of PEPFAR by supporting amendments that prevent taxpayer funding of abortion and protect the program's pro-abstinence and anti-prostitution requirements."
SOURCE Family Research Council
