Fiscal Year 2010: Senate Rejects D.C. Abortion Funding Ban and Deletes Restriction on FEHB Program Abortion Coverage
D.C. Abortion Funding Ban: On July 9, 2009, during its markup of the Fiscal Year 2010 Financial Services Appropriations Bill (S. 1432), the Senate Appropriations Committee voted down an amendment offered by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) to restore the D.C. abortion funding ban. The amendment was rejected, 13-yes, 15-no, 1-present. The roll call on the vote is not yet available, but it is reported that Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Mark Pryor (D-AR) voted for the amendment. Senate floor action on S. 1432 is not yet scheduled.
FEHB Program Abortion Coverage: As reported from committee, with no fanfare or notice, S. 1432 deleted the longstanding restriction on abortion coverage in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations law currently in effect reads: “Sec. 613. No funds appropriated by this Act shall be available to pay for an abortion, or the administrative expenses in connection with any health plan under the Federal employees health benefits program which provides any benefits or coverage for abortions. Sec. 614. The provisions of section 613 shall not apply where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.” The House-passed Fiscal Year 2010 Financial Services Appropriations Bill (H.R. 3170) contains this same language. For background information on abortion funding restrictions in the FEHB program, see: nchla.org/issues.asp?ID=26.
Senate floor action on S. 1432 is not yet scheduled. | |
