Senator Shaheen Re-introduces the Global HER Act to Permanently Repeal the Global Gag Rule

CONCORD – On Thursday, U.S. Congress re-introduced legislation championed by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and co-sponsored by New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to permanently repeal the global gag rule. The global gag rule is cruel policy that undermines public health globally by stripping health care providers of the ability to engage openly with their patients.  

Earlier in the day, President Biden signed executive orders that repealed the global gag rule and directed the Department of Health and Human Services to immediately take action on the domestic gag rule. The Global HER Act would provide further protection against the global gag rule by enshrining its repeal into federal law. 

Statement from Kayla Montgomery, Senior Director of Public Affairs, PPNHAF:

“Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund is celebrating the re-introduction of Senator Shaheen’s Global HER Act. As the only woman on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Shaheen has led efforts to permanently repeal the global gag rule and to expand sexual and reproductive health care access abroad. For too long, the global gag rule has blocked critical funding for global health organizations that provide the information and essential health care services that women, men, and families overseas rely on. We are thankful that President Biden signed an executive order today -- now it’s time to permanently repeal this cruel policy once and for all with the Global HER Act.”

Background on the global gag rule:

The global gag rule prevents foreign organizations receiving U.S. global health assistance from providing information, referrals, or services for safe, legal abortion or advocating for access to abortion services in their country -- even with their own money.

The global gag rule, which was originally instated by the Reagan administration, has consistently been repealed by Democratic presidential administrations and then reinstated by Republican administrations. Under the Trump administration, the global gag rule was dramatically expanded to apply to all U.S. global health assistance. In the last four years alone the, global gag rule has affected health care programs in at least 64 countries, forcing some health centers to shut down entirely, and blocking millions of people from critical health care, including contraception and abortion. 

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Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (PPNHAF) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in New Hampshire. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy