(CNSNews.com) – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Tuesday that he is expanding enforcement of the Mexico City policy, which ensures that federal funds are not used to support non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that perform or promote abortion.
He also announced the enforcement of federal law banning the use of U.S. taxpayer dollars, including foreign assistance, to foreign NGOs who lobby for or against abortion.
“Today I am making two announcements about the State Department’s ongoing efforts to make sure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are not used to subsidize or promote abortions. The first announcement concerns the so-called Mexico City policy. This Reagan-era directive ensures U.S. taxpayer dollars aren’t used to support foreign non-governmental organizations that perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning,” he said.
“President Trump boldly expanded the Mexico City policy in 2017. It now protects every human life impacted by the nearly $9 billion of foreign aid we spend on global health programs each year and in turn protects more unborn babies around the world than ever before. This is decent. This is right, and I’m proud to serve an administration that protects the least amongst us,” Pompeo said.
“Now, two years into our administration, the vast majority of our implementing partners have agreed to comply with the policy, and they continue to work with us. This administration has shown that we can continue to meet our critical global health goals, including providing health care for women while refusing to subsidize the killing of unborn babies,” he said.
Pompeo said he has directed his “team to take all appropriate action to implement this policy to the broadest extent possible.”
“Today I’m announcing further refinements to advance our efforts to protect the least amongst us. As before, we’ll continue to refuse to provide assistance to foreign NGOs who perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning,” he said.
The secretary also said he is cracking down on NGOs that try to do an end-run around the Mexico City policy by giving money to other foreign groups in the abortion industry.
“Now, as a result of my decision today, we are also making clear we will refuse to provide assistance to foreign NGOs that give financial support to other foreign groups in the global abortion industry. We will enforce a strict prohibition on back-door funding schemes and end-runs around our policy. American taxpayer dollars will not be used to underwrite abortions,” he said.
Secondly, Pompeo said the State Department is “fully enforcing federal law prohibiting the use of U.S. funds, including foreign assistance to lobby for or against abortion, otherwise known as the Siljander amendment.”
“In light of recent evidence of abortion-related advocacy by an organ of the Organization of American States, I directed my team to include a provision in foreign assistance agreements with the OAS that explicitly prohibits the use of funds to lobby or against abortion,” he said.
The secretary said instead of “advancing the pro-abortion cause,” the OAS “should be focused on addressing crises in Cuba, Nicaragua, and in Venezuela.
To reinforce this message, the U.S. plans to reduce its contributions to the OAS, Pompeo said.
“Our reduction equals the estimated U.S. share of possible OAS expenditures on these abortion-related activities. The American people should rest assured that this administration and this State Department and our USAID will do all we can to safeguard U.S. taxpayer dollars and protect and respect the sanctity of life for people all around the globe,” he said.
The pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List applauded the move.
“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 in a statement.
“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,” she added.