Pro-Choice Senators Defeat Anti-Choice Attempt to Politicize Children’s Health Program

Washington, D.C. – Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, praised pro-choice senators for defeating an anti-choice amendment to the children's health bill by a vote of 50 – 49. The failed amendment, offered by Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO), would have codified a controversial Bush administration regulation, put in place in 2002, which allows states to make an embryo or a fetus – but not a pregnant woman – eligible for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

"It's outrageous that anti-choice senators tried to use a children's health program to push their political agenda," Keenan said. "This amendment had absolutely no place in this bill and revealed anti-choice legislators' true intent – to undermine a woman's right to choose, even if it means derailing a bill that would provide health care for children and working families."

A coalition of pro-choice and anti-choice senators staved off this underhanded attack, but Keenan said the close vote is a reminder that we must elect even more lawmakers who will stand up to these divisive and politically motivated attacks.

"Pro-choice Americans made tremendous gains in last year's elections and restored pro-choice leadership to the Senate," Keenan said. "But anti-choice members still outnumber pro-choice lawmakers – and legislative attacks like the Allard amendment underscore our need to continue to change the composition of Congress. Until we have the numbers, we will continue to see dangerous and divisive assaults on our right to choose."

Contact:
Ted Miller, 202.973.3032