Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.R. No. 34 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to request Congress to end the "Global Gag Rule" that prohibits nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) receiving U.S. funds from providing appropriate family planning services and information in their home countries.

The Commission on the Status of Women, Life of the Land, and Planned Parenthood of Hawaii testified in support of this resolution. The Roman Catholic Conference opposed this resolution.

Your Committee finds that the "Global Gag Rule" disproportionately harms poor women, by improperly depriving them of needed services because their only source of health care is foreign NGOs that agree to withhold information about family planning alternatives.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 34 and recommends its adoption.