Global Democracy Promotion Act, H.R. 2738/S. 119

This post Global Democracy Promotion Act, H.R. 2738/S. 119 originally appeared on Truth About Bills

The Bill: H.R. 2738/S. 119, the Global Democracy Promotion Act

Annualized Cost: “No Cost” — Regulatory

Number of Cosponsors: 114 Congressmen and 13 Senators

In 1961, the U.S. Congress passed the Foreign Assistance Act to reorganize and consolidate existing foreign aid programs, as well as establish the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to oversee non-military assistance programs. A major function of the law was to establish guidelines that determine whether a foreign country is eligible to receive non-military aid.

An Executive Order originally signed by President Reagan prohibited foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from receiving United States funding unless they agreed not to promote or assist in the provision of information about obtaining abortions, even if the procedure was legal in that organization’s country. The policy was overturned by the Clinton administration then reinstated by President George W. Bush. Early in his first term, President Obama again reversed the policy.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) introduced the Global Democracy Promotion Act to make the repeal permanent. In a statement, Rep Lowey said “[p]ermanent repeal of the [provision] would … create a more predictable policy climate for organizations that provide family planning and reproductive health services in the developing world.” Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced similar legislation in the Senate earlier this year.

The Act has 114 Democratic cosponsors in the House. Twelve Democrats and one Republican have cosponsored the Senate version.

This article originally appeared in the National Taxpayers Union Foundation’s Taxpayer’s Tab weekly newsletter, The Taxpayer’s Tab, on July 25, 2013. The Foundation’s BillTally project scores the potential spending of every introduced bill in Congress.

This post Global Democracy Promotion Act, H.R. 2738/S. 119 originally appeared on Truth About Bills