On April 26, after an intensive campaign by conservative groups, Health and Human Services (HHS) pulled partial funding for the Global Health Council’s 31st annual conference. Conservatives objected to some of the topics and speakers in the June conference and claimed that federal dollars given to fund the event was being used to lobby. To ensure the government and others that federal dollars were not being used for lobbying, the conference sponsors segregated its lobbying component in a separate “pre-conference” day. The fact that HHS would give in to political pressure is disturbing, especially since the accusations made were based on inaccurate and incomplete facts. The Global Health Council’s response said the $1 million, four day conference, which attracts about 2,000 health experts and advocates from around the world, will go on as planned in early June, despite withdrawal of $360,000 in federal funds. The political motivation for HHS’ action is highlighted by the weak facts supporting its stated reason for withdrawing funding- that the conference would use federal funds for lobbying. The conference “Advocacy Day,” which includes visits to Capitol Hill, takes place the day before the conference officially opens. The conference agenda does not include any further activity that could be viewed as lobbying. Bill Pierce of HHS told the press that the Council was “unable to delineate for us, breaking it out, how our money was going to be spent and not commingled with lobbying activity.” However, it appears at least a portion of the funds were to be spent to cover travel costs of 50 public health professionals from developing countries that are scheduled to present papers at the conference. Global Health Council’s president Nils Daulaire said they do not use federal funds for restricted activities, and are careful to have balance in viewpoints presented. The conservative groups objecting to federal assistance for the conference had noted that the agenda includes speakers from Planned Parenthood, but Daulaire said there are also speakers that support abstinence only and a representative from the President’s Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS. Daulaire said, “There are many things that the professional community has divergent views on, and we believe the best way to deal with this is to have a free and open exchange.” This free and open discussion of issues was enough to cause House Republican aides Sheila Maloney and John Casey to send an email alert to pro-life groups. The result was a campaign by the Traditional Values Coalition and others asking HHS to withhold the money. 12 members of Congress also wrote HHS objecting to the conference funding. An aide to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who will be presenting an award at the conference, said, “this was a manufactured issue, handled opportunistically by the White House to satisfy some of their political base.”