Pro-Choice Americans Go 2 for 2 in Senate

Washington, D.C. – Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, praised pro-choice senators for defeating yet another anti-choice amendment to the children's health bill by a vote of 59-39.

The failed amendment, offered by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), would have codified a controversial 2002 Bush administration regulation 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). This was the third time the Senate has voted against this amendment since 2007.

“It's outrageous that anti-choice senators are using a children's health bill to push their political agenda,” Keenan said. “This resounding victory over dishonest anti-choice tactics shows that a majority of senators understand that Americans are tired of the antagonistic politics of the past. We have witnessed time and again the lengths to which anti-choice politicians will go to pacify a right-wing base that’s angry at the loss of the White House and several seats in Congress. We are prepared to fight back against the use of choice as a political football.”

Today’s victory over the divisive Hatch amendment comes one day after the defeat of another amendment to the SCHIP reauthorization bill that would have reinstated the global gag rule and enshrined the anti-choice Bush policy into permanent law. This amendment failed by a vote of 37-60. 

Contact:
Ted Miller, 202.973.3032