S.334 - American Values Act (119th Congress)
Summary
The American Values Act (S.334) seeks to permanently enact restrictions on the use of U.S. funds for abortions and involuntary sterilizations within the context of foreign assistance and the Peace Corps. The bill amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Peace Corps Act to ensure that no funds authorized under these acts can be used for the performance of abortions, involuntary sterilizations, related biomedical research, or lobbying for or against abortion. It also targets organizations that support or participate in coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization programs.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be to codify existing restrictions on abortion and sterilization funding into permanent law. This would limit the flexibility of future administrations to allocate funds to organizations that provide or support these services internationally. It would also reinforce existing prohibitions, making them less susceptible to changes through executive action or annual appropriations processes.
Potential Benefits
- Reinforces existing prohibitions on the use of taxpayer dollars for abortions and involuntary sterilizations in foreign aid programs.
- Provides clarity and consistency in the application of these restrictions across different administrations.
- Potentially aligns U.S. foreign policy with the values of some segments of the American population regarding abortion and reproductive health.
- May reduce concerns among some groups about the potential for U.S. funding to be used for activities they find morally objectionable.
- Could lead to increased funding for alternative healthcare and family planning methods that do not involve abortion or sterilization.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- May limit access to reproductive healthcare services, including safe abortion, in developing countries.
- Could disproportionately affect women and girls in vulnerable populations who rely on U.S. assistance for healthcare.
- May strain relationships with international organizations and partner countries that support comprehensive reproductive healthcare.
- Potentially undermines efforts to address unintended pregnancies and reduce maternal mortality in developing countries.
- Could be viewed as an imposition of U.S. values on other cultures and societies.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutional alignment is complex. While there is no explicit constitutional provision addressing abortion or sterilization, arguments can be made regarding the government's power to allocate funds as it sees fit (Article I, Section 8). However, opponents might argue that restricting access to healthcare infringes upon individual liberties, though this argument is less direct in the context of foreign aid. The bill does not appear to violate any specific constitutional provision directly.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).