US Senate Passes State Department Spending Bill with Veto-Pending Abortion Provision

Strategic Insights -

The U.S. Senate voted 51-49 to pass a State Department spending bill that includes nearly $1-billion in back payments to the United Nations, but contains a provision that denies aid to international family-planning groups that support abortion, prompting President Bill Clinton to vow a veto. The bill also denies the President's requested $18-billion for the International Monetary Fund to help ease Asia's economic crisis. White House officials argue that the inclusion of the family-planning provision leaves them no choice but to veto the bill.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Senate passed a State Department spending bill with a provision that denies aid to international family-planning groups that support abortion, prompting President Bill Clinton to vow a veto.
  • The bill includes nearly $1-billion in back payments to the United Nations and denies the President's requested $18-billion for the International Monetary Fund.
  • White House officials argue that the inclusion of the family-planning provision leaves them no choice but to veto the bill, despite Republican leaders urging President Clinton to accept the spending measure.
  • UN officials have warned that the United States could risk losing its voting rights in the world body unless it pays its delinquent dues and other obligations, which have accumulated over the past 10 years.
  • The Senate version of the bill includes language similar to the House version, which prohibits any U.S. foreign aid from being used by the UN for family-planning groups that support abortion rights.
  • President Clinton has urged lawmakers not to link passage of funding for the United Nations and IMF to the abortion issue, arguing that it should be settled on its own merits.

Statistics:

  • $1-billion: the amount of back payments to the United Nations included in the State Department spending bill.
  • $18-billion: the amount of funding for the International Monetary Fund denied by the Senate bill.
  • 41 years: the length of time since the United States has not paid its dues to the United Nations, according to UN officials.
  • 51-49: the Senate vote to pass the State Department spending bill, which includes the abortion provision.
  • 10 years: the time period during which the United States has accumulated $1-billion in delinquent dues to the United Nations.

Sources:

  • [The Houston Chronicle, "Senate Passes Bill with Abortion Provision", (undated)]
  • [UPI News Service, "Clinton to Veto $1 Billion UN Funding Bill", (March 25, 1998)]