The newly reinstated Mexico City policy is being expanded to include many more U.S. agencies and a greater pool of funds.

One of the firsts actions President Trump took after taking office in January was to reinstate the Mexico City policy. This policy says that funds given to organizations for international health care efforts cannot be used to promote or perform abortions. These nongovernment organizations must agree not to promote or perform abortion or support coercive and forced sterilization efforts in the countries they provide health care aid.

The policy was in effect through George W Bush’s entire presidency but was revoked for the entire 8 years of President Obama’s presidency. Considering that President Obama was American’s most pro-abortion president in history, it’s not surprising that he would support abortion efforts on foreign soil using taxpayers money.

Many pro-life voters were energized by the reinstatement of the Mexico City policy, seeing it as a sign of good things to come from President Trump’s administration; an administration that vowed to be pro-life. The latest announcement by the Trump administration is sure to further fuel the energy of pro-life voters.

A recent article reports “the Trump Administration will significantly expand the pro-life Mexico City Policy by drastically increasing the amount of global health assistance funds and government programs that will be covered under the policy.”

The new policy, called the “Protecting life in Global Health Assistance” policy will cover such government agencies as the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, and the Department of Defense. In essence, President Trump is expanding the Mexico City policy to a far greater degree than ever before.

The article explains:

“The Mexico City Policy requires non-governmental organizations to agree not to “perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations.” President Trump reinstated the policy in January after eight years of it lapsing under President Obama. The order also directs Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to come up with a plan on how to apply the policy to all departments or agencies. The exact language is as follows:

“I direct the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to the extent allowable by law, to implement a plan to extend the requirements of the reinstated Memorandum to global health assistance furnished by all departments or agencies.

“I further direct the Secretary of State to take all necessary actions, to the extent permitted by law, to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars do not fund organizations or programs that support or participate in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization.”

This expansion will cover nearly $9 billion in foreign aid money, significantly increasing the previous $400 million in covered funds.

Pro-life voters are sure to be excited by this expansion of the Mexico City policy. However, this is a decision that could easily be considered bi-partisan as many Americans from both sides of the aisle agree that tax dollars should not be used to fund abortion. Regardless of one’s opinion on the issue of abortion it is easy to agree that tax dollars should not be used to promote or perform abortion.

I’m thankful President Trump has made this decision and hope he continues to be a pro-life president. We need a president that values life and is willing to stand up to a culture that values death.