Republicans say the issue is U.S. funding for abortion.
That claim is categorically untrue. Use of U.S. aid to promote or perform abortions is already illegal. The funds at issue here would be used only for contraceptive education and services. Beyond the politics of today's vote lies a tragedy of huge dimensions. The death and suffering represented by those numbers can be reduced by a modest, timely U.S. commitment to international family planning- a commitment the Republicans refuse to make.