Dear John,
It feels like our country is sometimes spinning out of control. The waiting game on the decision by the Supreme Court to most likely overturn Roe has everyone on-edge and understandably upset.
We must codify Roe and we must also do everything possible to ensure a woman’s right to choose - which is why it was so disappointing to see Congresswoman Cori Bush vote against HR 4373, which funded the State Department and foreign operations.
This bill increased funding by 12 percent, including more than $18M for the State Department and $1.8 billion for the US Agency for International Development. This bill also reversed a Trump administration policy and did not include a ban on foreign aid supporting abortion providers.
It was another disappointing example of the Congresswoman’s unwillingness to support Democratic policies unless she gets everything she wants, even if it means hurting the people she represents.
The “Helms Amendment” was included in the budget bills during the Trump administration. The law that, since 1973, prohibits the use of any US foreign assistance funds for ‘abortions as a method of family planning.’
Shannon Kowalski, Director of Advocacy and Policy at the International Women’s Health Coalition, said in a statement:
“For more than 47 years, the Helms amendment, a racist and colonial relic, has denied pregnant people abroad their right to make decisions about their own health and lives. It has intentionally and unfairly limited access to safe and legal abortion services, costing some their lives.”
Congresswoman Bush had an opportunity to vote for foreign aid that would remove the Helms Amendment, but once again, she decided to vote against the Democratic Party, against President Biden, and instead focused on getting as much time in front of the cameras, as she was one of only 3 Democrats to vote NO.
John, Cori Bush puts her agenda above what’s best for our community, nation, and worldwide interests. She has shared her abortion story, which is extremely brave and commendable, but when it comes time to do the job and make the vote, she has failed.
Time and again, Cori Bush fails us in her job as a US House of Representatives member.
Our campaign has momentum, and we are gaining ground every single day, but we need your support to meet our end-of-the-month fundraising goal. Rushing $3 to our campaign tonight will put us over the top!
~ Team Steve
