Foreign Aid Bill Snags on Population Fund

Senate and House negotiators' compromise on the foreign aid bill is threatened by Republican representatives who say it gives too much money to the UN Population Fund, which they accuse of complicity in China's "one child per family" policy and forced abortions. The fund runs clinics and provides education and assistance for family planning, treating and preventing STDs, and gynecological care. US contributions have ranged from nothing (1986-1992) to a high of $40 million in 1994. This year the House version of the bill gave the fund $25 million, while the Senate version allocated $40 million. The compromise gave the fund $37.5 million and retained the "gag rule" that prohibits the United States from contributing to overseas groups that provide abortions or counsel women about them.

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