Senate Committee Votes for Permanent Repeal of the Global "Gag Rule"
On July 29, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved an amendment by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) to permanently repeal the Global Gag Rule. The amendment, which was adopted during consideration of the FY 2011 State Department and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, would make it more far more difficult for a future administration to re-impose the restriction, which was used by Presidents George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan to bar international family planning providers that provide or promote abortion services from receiving support from USAID.
The amendment passed on a vote of 19 to 11 with all committee Democrats, except Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), and two Republican women—Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)—supporting the amendment. It’s not clear yet whether the full Senate or the House of Representatives will support adoption of the Lautenberg Amendment.
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- Boost for International Family Planning Assistance Advances
- Senate Committee Votes for Permanent Repeal of the Global "Gag Rule"
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