Re-cap of 2010

International Family Planning — a Mixed Bag

GBCS’s Healthy Families, Healthy Planet project began in 2010 with the goal of educating United Methodists about the importance of family planning and maternal health. A primary advocacy goal was to secure increased funding for international family planning. 2010 brought mixed results. In his FY 2011 budget request, President Obama included $715.7 million for international family planning, an increase of over $65 million from funds allocated in the FY 2010 omnibus spending bill. Despite significant cuts to the President’s overall foreign affairs budget, both the House and Senate State and Foreign Operations subcommittees passed significant increases for international family planning, $700 million and $735 million respectively. In the fall, the House approved an omnibus spending bill that would have allocated $710 million for international family planning, but unfortunately the bill failed in the Senate. On December 21, Congress voted on a temporary spending measure that will keep family planning spending at FY 2010 levels, $648.5 million, until an appropriation bill is passed.

Child Marriage Legislation Fails to be Adopted in U.S.

Thank you for your advocacy on the "International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act" (S. 987). Despite unanimous approval by the United States Senate, the House of Representatives on Dec. 16 blocked the bill in a 241-166 vote. To pass, the bill needed to be endorsed by two-thirds of those present; it fell short by 31 votes.

GBCS has been a strong supporter of this bill over the past several years and regrets its failure to be adopted. The key sponsors of this bill were Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) as well as Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN). Please see Senator Durbin’s statement on the bill.

Good news for Family Violence Prevention & Prevention of Child Abuse!

The Family Violence Prevention & Services Act (FVPSA) provides federal assistance to domestic violence victims and their children and was re-authorized by the US Congress which is good news for local community violence shelters and violence prevention programs. FVPSA was part of the “Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Act” (CAPTA) (S.#3817), re-authorized by unanimous consent until 2015. CAPTA is the key federal legislation addressing child abuse and neglect and provides grants to states and nonprofit organizations that work to prevent child abuse. In addition, CAPTA reauthorizes related legislation that facilitates placement of needy children into adoptive homes.

The FVPSA legislation authorizes $184.5 million annually from fiscal years 2011-2015.

Grants will be dispersed by the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services for establishing national resource centers to help address domestic violence. There will also be grants for state domestic violence coalitions and the creation of a national domestic violence hotline.

U.S. HIV & AIDS Funding Flat-lined — domestic and international

The U.S. Congress did not approved a budget for 2011 but rather affirmed a Continuing Resolution (CR) which enables all government agencies to continue spending based on the 2010 levels. This means $5.359 Billion for global AIDS in 2011. Additionally, $1.5 billion will be allocated to the multi-lateral Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria. Unless more money is approved, this flat level of funding will have negative repercussions for people living with HIV and AIDS around the globe. Additional treatment money will not be available at least from the US government. The Ryan White Act, which is US funding for AIDS in the United States, faces the same situation. No additional funding will be expended unless more is approved in 2011 which is highly unlikely given the budget deficit. The total to be expended in 2011 unless additional funds are approved is $2.55 billion.

International Violence Against Women’s Act (I-VAWA)

Thanks to all of you who worked to seek passage of this very vital bill. Unfortunately, it was not approved. The bill was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but did not make it for a vote of the full Senate. It appears that Senator Leahy (D-VT) will be re-introducing in 2011. We’ll keep you posted and will ask for your support.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repealed

As a part of our work on human sexuality and the denomination’s commitment to eradicate homophobia and heterosexism, GBCS encouraged the repeal of the military policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” This policy, which was repealed by the U.S. Congress in December and signed by President Obama, overturned a 17-year policy of discrimination that required troops to hide their sexual identity or risk being expelled from the services. Read the United Methodist statement on this topic.

U.N. Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW or the Women’s Treaty)

In spite of strong support from many faith and secular organizations, the US Senate failed to ratify the Women’s Treaty in 2010. The Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law sponsored a hearing on this treaty – the first hearing in eight years. Only the US Senate can ratify international treaties, and no doubt, this will continue to be on their docket in 2011. 

Global Resources & Opportunities for Women to Thrive (GROWTH) Act — a bill for women and self-sufficiency

Regrettably, no passage of this bill occurred in 2010. Investing in women's economic opportunity is the best way to end world hunger and end the global economic crisis. The GROWTH Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate (S.1425) by Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R.5191) by Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). Action was held up by, in part, reform of the Foreign Assistance Act which never was completed