Republican slams $575M funding for family planning to protect biodiversity in omnibus
Abigail Adcox
Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) slammed what he called a “sinister” provision within the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill that sets aside $575 million for family planning, including in areas where “population growth threatens biodiversity.”
The provision directs $575 million “to support access to voluntary family planning services and other related health care” as part of a larger funding package for global health programs.
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The amount allocated for family planning is consistent with what was given in previous years, the Appropriations Committee noted in a summary.
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“Not less than $575,000,000 should be made available for family planning/reproductive health, including in areas where population growth threatens biodiversity or endangered species,” a draft of the omnibus reads.
It’s unclear why the provision expressly notes it should go toward areas where population growth threatens biodiversity or what type of family planning services would be provided with the funding.
Several Republican figures criticized that particular item in the 4,200-page bill as an example of wasteful government spending.
“This is profoundly disturbing. Kudos to whoever found it,” tweeted David Ditch, a policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation.
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The omnibus bill also includes $900 million to support global health security programs to help countries detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks, a total of $6.7 billion to combat HIV/AIDS, and $385 million to support biodiversity conservation programs, among other items.
Congress has until midnight Friday to pass the spending bill or a stop-gap measure to avoid a government shutdown.