Senate Passes Amendment Banning Abortion Funding in Indian Health Program

The Senate approved an amendment offered by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) to prevent Indian Health Service funds from being used to pay for abortions. The measure passed by a vote of 52-42, according to an organization which supports the amendment.

"I applaud the Senate for voting to prevent Indian Health Service funds from being used to pay for abortions. The majority of the Senate has now shown they agree with most Americans that government funding of abortion is morally wrong," says Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council.

Current Indian health law prevents funding of abortion by referencing the Hyde provision which is contained in the annual Health and Human Services spending bill," Perkins says. "However, Senator Vitter's amendment is essential to prevent future funding of abortion, because the Hyde provision, as a part of the annual appropriation process, could be removed. Senator Vitter's common sense amendment simply codifies the long-standing policy in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act against funding abortion."

Perkins calls on the Democratically controlled House to include the Vitter provision when considering the Indian Health Service bill.

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