Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart | Official U.S. House headshot
House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart, along with Chairman Tom Cole and Robert Aderholt, have raised concerns about the alleged misuse of taxpayer dollars within the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The lawmakers accuse the Biden Administration of using these funds to perform abortions, which they assert is against U.S. law.
In a joint statement, the lawmakers expressed their dissatisfaction: "American values and law dictate a zero-tolerance policy for the funding of abortions through federal taxpayer dollars. We are outraged to learn this standard has been violated under the non-watchful eye of the Biden Administration, only notifying Congress on their way out the door."
The PEPFAR program was established in 2003 to combat HIV/AIDS globally and has been credited with saving millions of lives. The recent allegations involve CDC-funded nurses in Mozambique who reportedly conducted abortions since 2021 using PEPFAR resources.
The legislators demand accountability and action from those responsible. They stated: "This disgraceful perversion of a successful and bipartisan initiative demands stringent accountability. We demand a thorough investigation and dismissal of any official found to have taken part in this egregious violation."
Under current U.S. law, federal funds cannot be used for abortion services. This incident marks what officials describe as the first documented breach under the Biden Administration's tenure.
Pro-life protections remain crucial for Republican appropriators. Language requiring enhanced oversight has been included in House reports for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to ensure compliance with existing laws.
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