Posts Tagged ‘Global Gag Rule’

Yesterday, a somewhat amazing thing happened.  Senate committee members voted in favor of an addmendment to permanently repeal the Global Gag Rule.  

      The Global Gag Rule, which prohibits family planning funding to any international organization that provides, refers, or mentions abortion, was first instated via executive order by President Reagan.  The repeal essentially denied access to needed information and services to millions of women who desperately needed it.  The Global Gag Rule was rescinded by President Clinton and then reinstated by President Bush.  The Gag Rule was lifted again in 2009 by President Obama, but could be reinstated by a future president.  The only way to avoid this see saw policy change is legislatively.

Here’s a breakdown of the action in the committee yesterday by Population Action International

This afternoon, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) successfully offered an amendment to permanently repeal the Global Gag Rule during the Senate Appropriations Committee’s consideration of the bill that funds the State Department and U.S. foreign assistance programs.

The amendment prevailed 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.  The other ten Republicans on the committee opposed the Lautenberg amendment.  Joining Sen. Lautenberg in cosponsoring the anti-Gag Rule amendment were Sens. Collins, Diane Feinstein (D-CA), and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). 

The next step will be a vote on the bill by the full Senate.  This ammendment is not in the House version, so its future is not certain, but it sure is nice to see legislators showing a little courage and conviction on behalf of women and their health.