Statement: House Passes Spending Bill Without Helms Amendment
07.29.2021
Statement by Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights:
We applaud the House of Representatives on the historic passage of an appropriations bill that will significantly advance sexual and reproductive health and rights globally. The bill is not only free from the Helms amendment, but it also includes a repeal of the Global Gag Rule, increased funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and it removes Hyde restrictions on abortion access for Peace Corps volunteers. This historic moment would not have been possible without the leadership and perseverance of House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro and State, Foreign, Operations Subcommittee Chairwoman Barbara Lee. For nearly 50 years the Helms Amendment has denied people, especially those struggling to make ends meet, access to necessary abortion care and abortion referrals. With this historic bill, Congress has moved one step closer to eliminating this harmful policy. We urge Congress to finally put an end to the Helms Amendment by passing the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act.