Action Alert

The coming weeks will be a critical period in which to make our voices heard as the U.S. Congress considers support for international family planning and reproductive health. Together with a coalition of international population and reproductive health advocates, EngenderHealth is asking Congress to double its current funding, to $1 billion in 2009. This funding is vitally needed to alleviate the unmet need for contraceptives among more than 200 million women in the developing world. We need you to act now.

U.S. investments in voluntary family planning and reproductive health programs represent one of most reliable and cost-effective ways to help countries to improve maternal and child health, reduce unintended pregnancies and abortions, protect the global environment, and provide hope and live-saving assistance to families throughout the world.

We ask you to contact Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations, to urge them to increase international family planning and reproductive health program funding in the 2009 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Act. This appropriation of $1 billion will reverse a decade of inadequate funding and will be a vital and indispensable investment in the health and well-being of women, children, families, communities, and nations around the world.

Act now.