As young leaders committed to the belief that reproductive choices should be available for all people, we can transform our vision of a just world into a reality.

In today’s global environment, no country is an island and the policies of the United States invariably have an impact on the lives of women, children, our communities worldwide. Because of the United States' global position as an economic leader, we recognize that the decisions made at home are felt in every corner of the world, and are often felt the most in developing areas with politically and economically vulnerable communities.

Although we have the ability to positively affect the lives of millions across the globe, ideological differences, bureaucratic red-tape, and self-serving policy positions have sometimes greatly diserved our neighbors around the world.

• Harmful mandates that require international family planning programs to fund abstinence-only education exports radical conservative morals and denies millions of people life-saving information and medical care every day.
• Anti-immigrant policies in the United States have restricted access to family and reproductive health care services to millions of new residents living in the United States by blocking Medicaid to new immigrants, even when legally documented.

These are only a couple of examples of how US policies affect millions of people around the world every day. The people aren't strangers -- they're our families, friends, neighbors. They are us.