The Hill: Helms 45 years later: It’s time for Congress to repeal it
Kiefer Buckingham, senior policy advocate on public health issues at the Open Society Policy Center

“…Led by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), opponents [of abortion] wanted to include a provision in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1973 that would prohibit the use of U.S. foreign assistance for abortion ‘as a method of family planning.’ Helms’ amendment, which eventually became law, was antithetical to [the] notion of sovereignty, not to mention reproductive rights. And it still is. … Fast forward 45 years with Democrats having just won 40 seats — including electing a record number of women — in the 2018 midterms, House Democrats have the chance to introduce legislation to repeal the Helms and Hyde amendments to improve access to health care for women around the world…” (12/13).