Chris Smith U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 4th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Chris Smith U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 4th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Congressman Chris Smith, who leads the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Security and Diplomacy Bureau, has announced plans for a congressional investigation. This follows reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allegedly violated the Helms Amendment by using U.S. taxpayer funds from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to finance abortions in Mozambique.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Smith. He had previously delayed PEPFAR’s reauthorization due to concerns over its integration with sexual and reproductive health initiatives under the Biden Administration, which he claims includes abortion services against U.S. policy.
Smith expressed skepticism about past denials of these activities, stating, “Frankly, it’s not a surprise to find that they are performing abortion with U.S. taxpayer dollars.” He accused entities involved of promoting abortion aggressively in collaboration with international providers.
He further criticized the CDC's actions as a violation of both law and intent: “The CDC’s actions are a direct violation of both the letter and spirit of the law. It is unacceptable for our government to use PEPFAR’s taxpayer dollars to promote or provide abortion, especially in a program meant to save lives from HIV/AIDS.”
Smith intends to conduct hearings investigating PEPFAR-funded countries' activities and hold accountable both the CDC and Global Health Security and Diplomacy Bureau.
“Regrettably, PEPFAR has been reimagined—hijacked—by the Biden Administration to empower pro-abortion efforts," Smith stated. He remains hopeful that with leadership akin to President Trump’s past administration, they can refocus on preventing diseases without involving abortion funding.
“The American people expect their government to act with transparency and accountability when it comes to the use of taxpayer dollars,” Smith continued. He pledged ongoing efforts to protect life sanctity and ensure foreign assistance supports life-saving initiatives.
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