,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dfda ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bg1 #bjbb,mr4 ,booker 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 ,ms4 ,smith1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,heinrich1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,schatz1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 and ,mr4 ,leahy7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa to authorize the use of funds for comprehensive reproductive health care services1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,abortion is ,health ,care ,everywhere ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,findings2 sense of ,congress 7a7 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,international agreements have recognized reproductive rights for more than #be years1 and the #bjae ,united ,nations ,sustainable ,development ,goals reiterated the centrality of reproductive rights to gender equality4 7#b7 ,studies have repeatedly demonstrated that when people1 including young women and adolescent girls1 gender nonconforming individuals1 and transgender men1 are able to control their reproductive lives1 there are enormous social and economic benefits1 not just for the individual and their family1 but for entire communities4 7#c7 ,countries that prioritize reproductive health1 rights1 and justice and human rights are more likely to have better overall health throughout their countries4 7#d7 ,health system cost is reduced when abortion is widely available and integrated with other types of health care4 7#e7 ,without access to safe abortion care1 people risk their lives to end their pregnancies4 ,at least #bd1ajj people in low- and middle-income countries die every year from complications from unsafe abortions4 7#f7 ,ninety-seven percent of unsafe abortions occur in developing countries in ,africa1 ,asia1 and ,latin ,america4 ,in low- and middle-income countries1 the annual cost of post-abortion care for all who need is estimated to be #d1jjj1jjj1jjj4 ,the majority of this cost is attributed to treating complications from abortions provided in unsafe conditions4 7#g7 ,restricting abortion does not reduce either the need for or number of abortions4 ,abortion rates are similar in countries where it is highly restricted by law and where it is broadly legal4 7#h7 ,when abortions are performed in accordance with ,world ,health ,organization guidelines and standards1 there is minimal risk of severe complications or death4 7#i7 ,united ,states law restricting ,united ,states foreign assistance funding from being used to provide safe abortion services has the effect of harming people who seek to terminate their pregnancies in several ways1 including by blocking access to services and erecting barriers to providers obtaining the training and equipment needed to deliver care to those in need4 7#aj7 ,since the enactment of section #ajd7;f77#a7 of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baea;b7f77#a77 7commonly referred to as the ,helms amendment7 in #aigc1 dozens of governments across the globe have liberalized abortion laws and policies4 7#aa7 ,in countries where the ,united ,states supports family planning and reproductive health care and in which abortion is legal on1 at least some grounds1 support for safe abortion could avert more than #ai1jjj1jjj unsafe abortions and #ag1jjj maternal deaths each year4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 abortion is a critical component of sexual and reproductive health care and should be accessible and affordable for all people2 7#b7 all people have the right to make their own choices about their sexual and reproductive health1 and to access quality and affordable sexual and reproductive health care2 and 7#c7 as part of their commitment to prevent unsafe abortions and preventable deaths and to ensure that all people have access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care and can exercise their right to full control over their sexuality and reproduction1 developing countries and donor governments must work collaboratively to deploy funding1 align policies1 and mobilize expertise to make safe abortion services available to those seeking to terminate pregnancies4 #c4 ,statement of policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states ,government-- 7#a7 to recognize safe abortion as a critical component of comprehensive maternal and reproductive health care and include safe abortion services as part of foreign assistance programs funded by the ,united ,states ,government2 7#b7 to make safe abortion widely available and integrated with other types of health care2 and 7#c7 to work to end unsafe abortion and to promote safe abortion services by providing funding and collaborating with affected governments and service providers to provide training1 commodities and equipment1 and access to safe abortion services4 #d4 ,use of funds for comprehensive reproductive health care services ,section #ajd of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baea;b7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7f7-- 7,a7 by striking paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 as paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b71 respectively2 7#b7 by redesignating subsection 7g7 as subsection 7h72 and 7#c7 by inserting after subsection 7f71 as amended1 the following3 7g7 ,use of funds for comprehensive reproductive health care services ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 funds made available to carry out this part may be used to provide comprehensive reproductive health care services1 including abortion services1 training1 and equipment4 4