Support UNFPA Funding Act

Bill Number

H.R. 2439

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2025-10-22T08:05:33Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "Support UNFPA Funding Act" (H.R. 2439) aims to authorize U.S. financial contributions to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN agency focused on sexual and reproductive health. It seeks to restore and support UNFPA's work in promoting global health, gender equality, and stability by funding programs that address maternal deaths, family planning, and gender-based violence, while ensuring compliance with U.S. laws prohibiting support for abortion or coercion.

Key Provisions

• Findings (Section 2): Congress outlines UNFPA's role in over 150 countries, including ending preventable maternal deaths, unmet contraceptive needs, gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, and child marriage. It highlights UNFPA's effectiveness (based on a 2025 independent evaluation), compliance with U.S. restrictions (e.g., no funding for abortion), alignment with the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development principles, and the risks of funding cuts, such as endangering 800 daily maternal deaths and 226 million women lacking modern contraception.
• Statement of Policy (Section 3): Affirms U.S. priorities in elevating women's status worldwide for stability and growth; supports voluntary family planning and reproductive health as human rights and development tools; and positions UNFPA as a key partner in voluntary, rights-based programs that advance U.S. security and humanitarian interests.
• Authorization of Appropriations (Section 4): Authorizes at least $50 million for fiscal year 2026 and $55 million for fiscal year 2027 to the President for UNFPA's core programs, including:
• Reducing maternal deaths.
• Addressing unmet contraceptive needs through voluntary family planning.
• Combating gender-based violence and harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation.
• Supporting health services in humanitarian crises (e.g., conflicts, disasters).

Funds remain available until spent.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces new authorizations for UNFPA funding, countering recent terminations that limited the agency's operations (as noted in findings). It builds on prior U.S. support by mandating minimum funding levels and emphasizing UNFPA's segregated U.S. funds and adherence to anti-abortion/coercion rules, potentially reversing restrictions from executive actions or past appropriations that withheld contributions.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of State and other foreign aid entities (under the President's direction) would manage increased funding, enhancing multilateral diplomacy and humanitarian response capabilities.
• Citizens: Indirectly benefits U.S. citizens by advancing global stability and health, reducing poverty abroad, and aligning with domestic support for women's rights (e.g., thousands of Americans from all states endorsed UNFPA in 2025).
• International Relations: Strengthens U.S. ties with the UN and 179 countries adhering to 1994 population principles; supports aid in fragile regions, potentially improving U.S. soft power and security interests by addressing crises in over 150 countries.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• UNFPA and UN Partners: Gains direct funding to sustain programs in developing and crisis-hit countries.
• Women and Girls in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Primary beneficiaries, with improved access to reproductive health, contraception, and protection from violence and harmful practices.
• U.S. Policymakers and Taxpayers: Bipartisan congressional supporters (over 40 representatives) and the public funding these efforts; affected by debates on foreign aid allocation.
• Humanitarian Organizations: Enhanced collaboration in emergencies, amplifying reach for groups addressing maternal health and gender issues.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces U.S. compliance with international agreements (e.g., 1994 Cairo principles on voluntary reproductive rights) while upholding domestic laws like the Helms Amendment (barring abortion funding). Funds must remain segregated, ensuring accountability.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power of the purse (Article I) to authorize appropriations for foreign affairs, promoting foreign policy goals without infringing on executive implementation.
• Political: Demonstrates bipartisan backing for global women's health amid polarized U.S. debates on reproductive issues and foreign aid; could face opposition from anti-abortion groups despite UNFPA's non-involvement assurances, potentially influencing future appropriations or executive orders on multilateral funding.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

Cosponsors (49)

Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2025-03-27: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-27: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Support UNFPA Funding Act — issued 2025-03-27 — PDF (7 pages)