United Nations Population Fund

For the last several months, discussions around the state of the federal budget and lifting the debt ceiling have dominated the national rhetoric—and the latest news is grim. It is an understatement to say that we are facing fiscal austerity and increasing cutbacks, and all programs and national priorities are going to take a hit. But before breaking for recess, the House Appropriations Committee released a FY2012 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill that disproportionately targets global poverty fighting programs and will negatively impact the health of millions of women and their families around the world. Despite the need for fiscal discipline, this bill goes too far and will have negative repercussions on millions of women around the world.