The Global Gag Rule also known as the Mexico-City Policy is an international policy which denies women and families and Non-Government Organizations the right to receive US Aid if they choose to provide information about abortion or perform abortion as a method of family planning. This is in essence a way to gag foreign countries from their right to speak about alternative methods of family planning other than abstinence by cutting off much needed funding for family planning if they do so. This is a violation of the United States democratic way. Citizen's rights in the United States include Freedom of Speech. That freedom of speech is silenced in foreign countries. Preventing the knowledge of alternative methods of family planning in these countries has detrimental effects on women's health. The World Health Organization estimates over half a million women are dying each year from preventable maternal deaths and back alley, illegal abortions because of lack of funding for international family planning and harmful restrictions like the Global Gag Rule. I urge you to release the authorized funds for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), lift the Global Gag Rule and fully fund our international family planning commitments to help women and their families with lifesaving services such as contraception, prenatal care, protection from HIV/AIDS and other reproductive health care services.