,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #eefe ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bd1 #bjbf,mr4 ,booker 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,smith1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mr4 ,schatz1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,ms4 ,rosen1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,heinrich1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 ,ms4 ,blunt ,rochester1 ,mr4 ,schiff1 and ,mr4 ,lujn7 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 ,federal foreign assistance 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 #bjbf4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,abortion is a critical component of sexual and reproductive health care and should be accessible and affordable for all people4 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 care1 including family planning and abortion care4 ,international agreements have recognized reproductive rights for over #cj years4 7#c7 ,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 ,countries that prioritize reproductive health rights1 justice1 and human rights are more likely to have better overall health among their population4 7#d7 ,abortion is safe1 but without accessible and legal care1 people risk their lives to end their pregnancies4 ,at least #bj1jjj people in low- and middle-income countries die every year as a result of complications from unsafe abortions1 which in a global context refers to abortion care not delivered by a trained provider or using a ,world ,health ,organization-recommended method4 7#e7 ,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 it would be #b1cjj1jjj1jjj4 ,the majority of this cost is attributed to treating complications from abortions provided in unsafe conditions4 7#f7 ,restricting abortion does not reduce either the need for1 or number of1 abortions4 ,abortion rates are similar in countries where it is highly restricted by law and where it is broadly legal4 7#g7 ,as part of their commitment to prevent unsafe abortions and preventable deaths and ensure 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 7#h7 ,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#i7 ,since 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 was enacted in #aigc1 dozens of governments across the globe have liberalized abortion laws and policies4 7#aj7 ,in #bjai1 in countries where the ,united ,states supported family planning and reproductive health care and in which abortion was legal on at least some grounds1 support for safe abortion could have averted over #ai1jjj1jjj unsafe abortions and #ag1jjj maternal deaths each year4 7#aa7 ,united ,states investment in international family planning1 when uninterrupted1 prevents #e1bjj1jjj unsafe abortions and averts #cd1jjj maternal deaths annually4 7#ab7 ,the ,dobbs v4 ,jackson ,women's ,health ,organization 7#adb ,s4 ,ct4 #bbbh 7#bjbb77 decision went against the global trend toward expanding access to sexual and reproductive health and rights1 including abortion1 and continues to negatively impact abortion access across the ,united ,states and globally4 ,the decision has emboldened anti-abortion rights actors1 increased abortion stigma1 and created new challenges for countries that have relied on the ,roe v4 ,wade 7#daj ,u4,s4 #aac 7#aigc77 decision in the liberalization of their own laws4 7#ac7 ,the ,trump ,administration has cut international family planning funding and global health programs1 reinstated and expanded the global gag rule1 and threatened to destroy contraceptives1 which will lead to more unintended pregnancies1 unsafe abortions1 and maternal deaths4 #c4 ,statement of policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states ,government-- 7#a7 to recognize that access to safe abortion is a critical component of comprehensive maternal and reproductive health care and should be included as part of foreign assistance programs funded by the ,united ,states ,government2 7#b7 to make reproductive health care1 including family planning1 and safe abortion widely available and integrated with other types of health care2 and 7#c7 to work to end unsafe abortion and promote safe abortion services by providing funding and collaborating with affected governments and service providers to provide training1 commodities1 equipment1 and access to safe abortion services4 #d4 ,authorizing the use of ,federal foreign assistance 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 regulation1 or policy1 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