Focus on Family Health Worldwide Act (H.R. 1225)
Introduced by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)

What it is
Why you should support it
Bill status
Take action
For more information

What it is>>
Recognizing that voluntary family planning services—including contraception—are basic health services that should be available to all who want it, the Focus on Family Health Worldwide Act would extend U.S. support for these services to the poorest families in the poorest countries by doubling the current level of funding. The United States has been providing assistance to developing countries since 1965, helping all family members lead healthier lives. But there are still 350 million couples worldwide in need of effective family planning methods so they can space their children or limit the size of their families. This bipartisan legislation will help expand the services available to those seeking them, taking a step toward meeting the internationally agreed goal of making reproductive health services available to all individuals of appropriate age by the year 2015.

Why you should support it>>

• Expanding reproductive health services is critical to preventing HIV/AIDS among women and girls. Approximately 7,000 women are infected with HIV every single day, and in every region of the globe, infection rates among women—young women in particular—are climbing. HIV transmission to women and girls can be slowed if reproductive health services are expanded. After their own infancy, the first time many girls and young women come into contact with the health sector is when they are seeking reproductive health care, sometimes when they are already pregnant. This is a critical time to raise awareness and understanding about HIV prevention. Girls and women may not think of themselves as susceptible to HIV transmission, especially from their husbands, and their increased knowledge and action will be critical to stemming the tide of HIV.

• Reduce unintended pregnancies and save lives. In the developing world, the use of modern contraception reduces unintended pregnancies and the probability that a woman will have an abortion by 85 percent. Reducing unintended pregnancies therefore also reduces the likelihood that women who live in countries where abortion is against the law will resort-in desperation-to unsafe abortion.

• Access to contraception is good for children's health, and women's health. Children born three years after their older sibling have the lowest mortality risk for infants and children under five years of age. Each year 8 million women deal with serious health complications from pregnancy and childbirth. These numbers could be reduced—and lives impacted—if they had access to services to delay and space the time between pregnancies.

Bill status>>
The Focus on Family Health Worldwide Act (H.R. 1225) was introduced in the House on March 1, 2007. 

Take action>>
Help build support for this vital legislation. Make a phone call today:

• Contact your Representative and ask him or her to co-sponsor the Focus on Family Health Worldwide Act. Click here to find your Representative and his or her contact information.

For more information>>
About women's disproportionate vulnerability to HIV/AIDS:
IWHC Overview on women's vulnerability
IWHC Issue Brief: Women and HIV/AIDS
IWHC Issue Brief: Child Marriage: Girls 14 And Younger At Risk
Human Rights Watch on Women and AIDS

About USAID's Family Planning Program:
USAID's Family Planning Assistance Program: Overview and Accomplishments

About Environmentalist Support for Family Planning:
Sierra Club: Why Environmentalists Care About Family Planning Worldwide
National Wildlife Federation – International Family Planning