Washington D.C., Dec 16, 2009 / 05:47 am
On Sunday the U.S. Senate approved a $447 billion omnibus bill with an altered Dornan Amendment, a ban that previously restricted funding for most abortions in the District of Columbia, the nation’s capital. Some pro-life commentators said the action contradicted past pledges to work to reduce the need for abortion.
The spending bill contained funding for dozens of federal agencies and the District of Columbia. It passed by a 57 to 35 margin after securing 60 votes to end a Republican filibuster.
A provision known as the Dornan Amendment had previously barred federal funding of abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or threat to the life of the mother.
According to Cardinal Justin Rigali, the former chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, chaired by Rep José E. Serrano (D-N.Y.), didn’t totally eliminate the Dornan Amendment, but successfully gutted it.