The United States Commitment to International Family Planning and Population Programs

Abstract

The United States Government has moved in a decade and a half from a policy of sharp repudiation of birth control to broad federal support for family planning at home and overseas. Private organizations and members of Congress were influential in urging government agencies to act. Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon gave high level support. Throughout the country, the concept that nations and families could help to improve their economic position and the quality of life by avoiding unwanted children was widely accepted. For a number of reasons, Congressional support of family planning is strong even though other economic pressures may reduce foreign aid and domestic health and welfare expenditures. Since family planning is an important element in development programs, successes in this field could encourage continuing U.S. support for overseas assistance in general.