Sen. Boxer Decides Against Push for Removal of Abortion-Related Language Included in FY 2005 Omnibus Spending Measure

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 24 Apr 2005 - 15:00 PDT

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USA - Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif) on Thursday decided against holding a vote on a bill that would repeal abortion-related language included in the fiscal year 2005 omnibus spending measure, which President Bush signed in December 2004, the... AP/Kansas City Star reports (Espo, AP/Kansas City Star, 4/22). The abortion-related language prohibits federal, state or local agencies from requiring doctors, hospitals, health plans and other health care entities to provide abortion services or referrals to a provider. The language extends to nearly all providers of health care a "conscience protection" given to medical students who do not want to undergo abortion training (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 11/22/04). Boxer last year had threatened to filibuster the entire spending bill because of the inclusion of the abortion-related language (Curtius, Los Angeles Times, 4/22). In order to prevent the filibuster, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) agreed to schedule a vote in this congressional session on legislation sponsored by Boxer that would repeal the abortion-related language (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 11/22/04). Frist on Thursday told Boxer that she could bring her bill to the floor, but Boxer declined for "several reasons," including her concern that the bill would fail, the Times reports (Los Angeles Times, 4/22). In a statement, Boxer noted that the abortion-related provision expires on Sept. 30 and said she believes two lawsuits challenging the abortion-related language likely will be successful, CongressDaily reports. Boxer also said she and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) plan to work to keep similar language out of the FY 2006 appropriations bills (Rovner, CongressDaily, 4/22).

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