House Passes Supplemental Appropriations Bill Without UNFPA Amendments
Early Friday morning, the House of Representatives, passed HR 4775, a $29 billion supplemental appropriations bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2002. Voted 280 to 138, the bill removed both the Lowey-Kolbe and Tiahrt provisions on the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The Senate is now set to consider its version of the bill – which includes language introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) requiring the President to release $34 million to the UNFPA by July 10 – following the Memorial Day recess.
President Bush has refused to release the UNFPA funds because of UNFPA’s alleged role – unsubstantiated to date – in forced abortions in China. UNFPA has vehemently denied the allegations. An investigative report by the US State Department is expected in June. The Leahy provision in the Senate bill specifies, "The Committee intends these funds to be obligated and disbursed expeditiously, absent proof that the UNFPA knowingly supports or participates in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization."
6/19/2013 House Passes 20 Week Abortion Ban - Yesterday, the House of Representatives approved a nationwide abortion ban after 20 weeks gestation in a vote of 228 to 196. . . .
6/18/2013 Supreme Court Strikes Down Proof of Citizenship Voter Requirements - On Monday, the United States Supreme Court struck down an Arizona law requiring voters to provide proof of citizenship before being allowed register to vote.
In an opinion written [PDF] by Justice Antonin Scalia, the Court ruled that the Arizona statute violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA, also known as the "Motor Voter Law") of 1993, which created a federal form that individuals can mail in to register to vote in federal elections. . . .
