Taxpayers ask: ‘Who received our $137 million in population control funds?’ WASHINGTON, May 28, 2002 (LSN.ca) – “The United States Agency for International Development cannot determine to whom it gave $137 million for population control in fiscal year 2000,” said Ed Szymkowiak, national director of STOPP International, a division of American Life League. “That’s our tax money. Any private company that had such pathetic accounting practices would be out of business.” The USAID report, “Overview of USAID Population Assistance FY 2000,” states that of its $353 million in population expenditures that year, USAID could only determine the host institution for $216 million. USAID cites current data collection methods as the reason. Host institutions include governments, private organizations and International Planned Parenthood Federation affiliates. The report is available online at: https://ppd.phnip.com A May 2000 Government Accounting Office audit of IPPF, initiated by Senator Jesse Helms, caught IPPF illegally funneling $700,000 of USAID funds to groups that engage in abortion related activities. “How can USAID be sure that this $137 million wasn’t used illegally as well if it doesn’t even know to whom it was given?” Szymkowiak has reported the matter to Senator Helms’ office. “Of course, the best response would be for USAID to eliminate this population control program entirely,” said Szymkowiak. “The program provides contraceptive pills, implants, injections and IUDs that sometimes kill human embryos by preventing implantation. American taxpayers should not be forced to fund such killings.”