International Family Planning: The "Mexico City" Policy

Publication Date: April 2001

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Population and demographics

Type:

Coverage: Mexico

Abstract:

At an August 1984 International Conference on Population held in Mexico City, Reagan Administration officials announced a new U.S. family planning policy requiring all nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) receiving population aid from the United States to agree that they would not perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other countries. The policy continued through early 1993 when President Clinton removed it.

On January 22, 2001, President George W. Bush issued a Memorandum directing the USAID Administrator "to reinstate in full all of the requirements of the Mexico City Policy in effect on January 19, 1993." Subsequently, USAID issued contract guidelines for restoring the Mexico City policy. Congressional opponents of the policy are attempting to force an early vote to overturn the policy (S.J.Res. 9) using expedited procedures under the Congressional Review Act regarding agency rules. In order to try to head off this effort, President Bush re-issued his Memorandum, including full contract guidelines, on March 28.