I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7816 
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the use of 
funds for comprehensive reproductive health care services, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 29, 2020 
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY (for herself, Mrs. LOWEY, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. 
SPEIER, Ms. PRESSLEY, Ms. DEGETTE, and Mrs. TORRES of California) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize 
the use of funds for comprehensive reproductive health 
care services, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Abortion is Health 
Care Everywhere Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
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(1) Abortion is a critical component of sexual 
and reproductive health care and should be acces-
sible and affordable for all people. 
(2) All people have the right to make their own 
choices about their sexual and reproductive health, 
and to access quality and affordable sexual and re-
productive health care. International agreements 
have recognized reproductive rights for over 25 
years, and the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals 
reiterated the centrality of reproductive rights to 
gender equality. 
(3) Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that 
when people, including young women and adolescent 
girls, 
gender 
non-conforming 
individuals, 
and 
transgender men, are able to control their reproduc-
tive lives, there are enormous social and economic 
benefits—not just for the individual and their fam-
ily, but for entire communities. Countries that 
prioritize reproductive health, rights, and justice and 
human rights are more likely to have better overall 
health throughout. 
(4) Health system cost is reduced when abor-
tion is widely available and integrated with other 
types of health care. 
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(5) Without access to safe abortion care, people 
risk their lives to end their pregnancies. At least 
24,100 people in low- and middle-income countries 
die every year from complications from unsafe abor-
tion. 
(6) Ninety-seven percent of unsafe abortions 
occur in developing countries in Africa, Asia, and 
Latin America. In low- and middle-income countries, 
the annual cost of post-abortion care for all who 
need it would be $4 billion. The majority of this cost 
is attributed to treating complications from abor-
tions provided in unsafe conditions. 
(7) Restricting abortion does not reduce either 
the need for or number of abortions. Abortion rates 
are similar in countries where it is highly restricted 
by law and where it is broadly legal. 
(8) When abortions are performed in accord-
ance with World Health Organization (WHO) guide-
lines and standards, there is minimal risk of severe 
complications or death. 
(9) As part of their commitment to prevent un-
safe abortions and preventable deaths and ensure all 
people have access to comprehensive sexual and re-
productive health care and can exercise their right to 
full control over their sexuality and reproduction, de-
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veloping countries and donor governments must 
work collaboratively to deploy funding, align policies, 
and mobilize expertise to make safe abortion services 
available to those seeking to terminate pregnancies. 
(10) United States law restricting United 
States foreign assistance funding from being used to 
provide safe abortion services has the effect of harm-
ing people who seek to terminate their pregnancies 
in several ways, including by blocking access to serv-
ices and erecting barriers to providers obtaining the 
training and equipment needed to deliver care to 
those in need. 
(11) Since section 104(f)(1) of the Foreign As-
sistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151b(f)(1)) (com-
monly referred to as the ‘‘Helms amendment’’) was 
enacted in 1973, dozens of governments across the 
globe have liberalized abortion laws and policies. 
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
The following shall be the policy of the United States 
Government: 
(1) Safe abortion is a critical component of 
comprehensive maternal and reproductive health 
care and should be included as part of foreign assist-
ance programs funded by the United States Govern-
ment. 
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(2) Safe abortion is to be made widely available 
and integrated with other types of health care. 
(3) The United States Government should work 
to end unsafe abortion and promote safe abortion 
services by providing funding and collaborating with 
affected governments and service providers to pro-
vide training, commodities and equipment, and ac-
cess to safe abortion services. 
SEC. 4. USE OF FUNDS FOR COMPREHENSIVE REPRODUC-
TIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES. 
Section 104 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
(22 U.S.C. 2151b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (f)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1); and 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and 
(3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (g) as sub-
section (h); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (f), as amend-
ed, the following: 
‘‘(g) USE OF FUNDS FOR COMPREHENSIVE REPRO-
DUCTIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, funds made available to carry 
out this part may be used to provide comprehensive repro-
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ductive health care services, including abortion services, 
training, and equipment.’’. 
Æ 
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