FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 26, 2019

CONTACT: Mallory Quigley

Mallory Quigley mquigley@sbalist.org | 202-223-8073

Washington, D.C. – This morning U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the State Department will strengthen its implementation of the Global Protect Life policy (formerly called the Mexico City Policy). At the beginning of his presidency, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Memorandum reinstating the Mexico City Policy which stops taxpayer funding of the abortion industry overseas.

Under the expanded policy, the State Department will not work with any foreign NGO engaged in the abortion business or fund foreign NGOs that funnel American taxpayer dollars to other foreign NGOs engaged in the international abortion industry.

The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) praised Secretary Pompeo’s announcement in a statement:

“We thank President Trump and Secretary Pompeo for their strong leadership in stopping the exportation of abortion around the world on American taxpayers’ dime,” said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “The American people have clearly and consistently voiced their opposition to taxpayer funding of the abortion industry, both at home and abroad. Upon taking office, President Trump acted immediately on their will by reinstating and expanding this important policy. Money is fungible and we are excited to see Secretary Pompeo taking additional steps to ensure that Americans’ hard-earned dollars are actually used for health assistance, not funneled to groups that push abortion.”

A recent Marist poll found that 75 percent of Americans oppose using taxpayer dollars to fund abortion abroad, including 80 percent of Independents, 56 percent of Democrats, and 64 percent of people who call themselves pro-choice.

SBA List is a network of more than 700,000 pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.

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