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[DOCID: f:hc70ih.txt]






107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 70

  Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should 
  develop, promote, and implement policies to slow global population 
                       growth by voluntary means.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 20, 2001

   Mr. Sawyer (for himself, Mrs. Morella, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mrs. 
 Maloney of New York, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Hinchey, Ms. Pelosi, Mrs. Mink 
 of Hawaii, Mr. Luther, Mr. McDermott, Ms. Slaughter, Ms. Lofgren, Ms. 
Baldwin, Mr. Lantos, Mrs. Meek of Florida, Mr. Inslee, Mr. Sanders, Mr. 
    Wynn, Mr. Thompson of California, Mrs. Tauscher, and Mr. Frost) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee 
on International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined 
 by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as 
        fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should 
  develop, promote, and implement policies to slow global population 
                       growth by voluntary means.

Whereas rapid population growth and factors associated with such growth, 
        including increased population density and movement and high rates of 
        resource consumption and pollution, create serious social, 
        environmental, economic, and health problems in the United States and 
        abroad;
Whereas the people of the United States envision a world with a healthy 
        environment, clean air and water, uncluttered land, ample open space, 
        natural beauty, wilderness, and abundant wildlife, in which the dignity 
        of human life is enhanced;
Whereas rapid population growth and factors associated with such growth degrade 
        the Earth's ecosystems on which all life depends;
Whereas rapid population growth increasingly depletes irreplaceable natural 
        resources, including energy resources, and amplifies the contribution of 
        rising energy consumption levels to the buildup of greenhouse gases in 
        the atmosphere;
Whereas wild habitats that shelter endangered plants and animals are giving way 
        to excessive human activities and needs, resulting in an extensive loss 
        of biological diversity;
Whereas reducing population growth rates helps developed and developing nations 
        to provide for their people, allowing the poorest of nations to develop 
        economically and participate in world trade;
Whereas slowing population growth would ease the strain on limited farmland 
        caused by the need to feed the increasing number of malnourished people 
        worldwide;
Whereas the right of families to choose both the number of children they hope to 
        have and the timing of the births of those children is a fundamental 
        human right;
Whereas at least 150 million couples worldwide who want access to reproductive 
        health care services do not have such access;
Whereas each year approximately 600,000 women die of causes related to 
        childbirth and pregnancy;
Whereas high quality, voluntary family planning prevents the need for abortions;
Whereas, although effective voluntary family planning programs at home and 
        abroad have succeeded in slowing the rate of population growth, the 
        world's population continues to grow;
Whereas because of a continuing unmet need for voluntary family planning 
        programs, unintended pregnancy remains a critical challenge;
Whereas the United States has the highest rates of unintended pregnancy, teenage 
        pregnancy, and teenage childbirth in the industrialized world;
Whereas the world's population currently exceeds 6,000,000,000 and is expected 
        to rise by 1,000,000,000 in the next 12 years, a rate that cannot be 
        sustained economically or environmentally;
Whereas the largest youth generation in history is entering the prime 
        reproductive age group; and
Whereas rapid population growth significantly increases the difficulty and cost 
        of solving social, economic, and political problems in the United States 
        and around the globe and contributes directly and indirectly to the 
        pollution and degradation of the environment: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that the United States should 
develop, promote, and implement, at the earliest possible time, 
domestic and international policies necessary--
            (1) to create a balance between the world's human 
        population and the natural environment that is sustainable over 
        the long term; and
            (2) to slow rapid global population growth by voluntary 
        means consistent with human rights and individual conscience, 
        thereby promoting the future well-being of the people of this 
        Nation and of the world.
                                 <all>

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