Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), a key pro-life leader in the U.S.
House of Representatives, is vowing to lead a renewed effort during the
next few months to curb the Clinton Administration's promotion of abortion
through the U.S. foreign aid program.
Rep. Smith is the chairman of the Subcommittee on International Operations
and Human Rights of the House International Relations Committee, and also
co-chairman of the House Pro-Life Caucus. Last fall, he led a group of pro-life
House members who told the White House that they would oppose several high-priority
legislative requests from the White House (involving presidential "fast
track" trade authority, U.S. funding of the U.N., and billions of dollars
in credit to the International Monetary Fund) unless the White House accepted
language to curb funding of overseas groups that promote the legalization
of abortion.
The White House refused to budge, so the Congress adjourned in November
without enactment of either the pro-life Smith language or the White House
requests. [For more details, see "Congress Wraps Up for 1997,"
November 18, 1997, NRL News, page 8.]
During the next few months, Congress will again consider White House requests
for funding of several international programs, including the International
Monetary Fund (IMF). Smith and other key pro-life House members say that
they will again refuse to support the White House's requests unless the
President agrees to language that would curb its support for promotion of
abortion overseas.
ACTION REQUESTS
Write a letter to your U.S. House member. Your basic message should be:
"I urge you to vote to support the efforts of Congressman Chris Smith
and other House pro-life leaders to curb the Clinton Administration's promotion
of abortion through the U.S. foreign aid program. I do not want my tax dollars
given to organizations that work to legalize abortion in Latin America,
Africa, or elsewhere."
The address for all House members:
The Honorable ______________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Send similar messages to your two U.S. Senators. Urge them to support all
measures to curb the Clinton Administration's promotion of abortion through
the U.S. foreign aid program. Tell them that you do not want your tax dollars
given to organizations that work to legalize abortion in Latin America,
Africa, or elsewhere.
The address for all Senators:
Senator _________________
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Please send a copy of any response received from a member of Congress to:
NRLC, Federal Legislative Office, 419-Seventh Street, N.W., Suite 500, Washington,
D.C. 20004. Fax: (202) 347-3668.