Shaheen, Rosen Lead Bicameral Legislation to Overturn Trump Administration’s Expanded Global Gag Rule

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced the "Protecting Human Rights and Public Health in Foreign Assistance Act," bicameral legislation to nullify the Trump Administration's sweeping expansion of the global gag rule, also known as the "Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance (PHFFA) Policy." The legislation would block implementation of the Administration's far-reaching restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance, which impose ideological conditions on global partners and threaten to cut off funding for critical health, humanitarian and development programs worldwide.

The legislation responds to the Trump Administration's unprecedented expansion of three global gag rules that apply to all non-security foreign assistance and to all partners, including American and foreign NGOs, multilateral organizations and foreign governments-even when using their own, non-U.S. funding. The policy is expected to disrupt hundreds of programs globally, including those providing HIV/AIDS prevention, maternal and child health care, gender-based violence services and humanitarian relief.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

"The Trump Administration gag rules demand that our partners abandon their work and their beliefs even when they are using their own money to provide life-saving health and humanitarian services to populations in need," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "This sweeping expansion of the global gag rule imperils funding for life-saving programs, particularly for women and girls who are already at greater risk because of the Trump's budget cuts to health, food, shelter and gender-based violence programs. The United States should lead with our values, not impose extreme ideological litmus tests that jeopardize global health and humanitarian efforts. This legislation makes clear that Congress will not stand by while this Administration dismantles effective foreign assistance and damages our credibility around the world."

"Instead of making sure foreign aid is effective and in the best interest of the American taxpayer, the Trump Administration is weaponizing it to impose their extreme agenda around the world," said Senator Rosen. "People will die because of Donald Trump's 'Human Flourishing Policy,' which is why I'm joining Senator Shaheen in introducing a bill to block this cruel policy's implementation."

The "Protecting Human Rights and Public Health in Foreign Assistance Act" is also sponsored by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Angus King (I-ME), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Representatives Grace Meng (D-NY), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA) and Gregory W Meeks (D-NY).

Specifically, the legislation would:

• Nullify the Administration's final rules related to "Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance," "Combating Gender Ideology in Foreign Assistance," and "Combating Discriminatory Equity Ideology in Foreign Assistance," ensuring they have no force or effect.

• Prohibit any federal agency from implementing, enforcing or advancing similar policies in the future.

• Apply retroactively to ensure the rules are treated as though they had never taken effect.

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