Nelson's Anti-Choice Amendment Defeated in Senate, 54-45: Rep. Diana DeGette Responds

Today, in debate on the Senate floor on the health-care reform bill, senators voted to table an amendment offered by Ben Nelson, D-Neb., that would have added anti-choice language to the bill, similar to that of the Stupak-Pitts amendment to the House health-care reform bill.

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., led the charge against Stupak in the House. Together with Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., she co-chairs the House Pro-Choice Caucus.  DeGette issued this statement on word of the Senate action:

"I am delighted the U.S. Senate has rejected an extreme amendment that would have turned back the clock on a woman’s right to choose. The underlying Senate bill already prohibits federal funding of abortion. The amendment the Senate rejected today was an attempt to use health care reform to restrict women's access to reproductive health services. Throughout the conference process, pro-choice Members will be working to ensure that health care reform legislation does not restrict abortion rights beyond current law. Over 40 Members of the House have vowed not to support a conference report that further restricts a woman's right to choose."

Click here to read the abortion provision included in the U.S. Senate's underlying bill.