Family Planning Advocates heralds Senate vote on Nelson-Hatch Abortion Ban Amendment

ALBANY, NY (12/08/2009)(readMedia)-- Family Planning Advocates of New York State this evening is heralding the U.S.Senate's vote today to keep abortion ban language out of the Senate's health care reform bill. The Nelson-Hatch Amendement, named for Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), failed to pass the Senate in a 54-45 vote. The proposed amendment was taylored after the House of Representatives' Stupak Amendment that would eliminate the ability for women to purchase health insurance that includes coverage for abortion care even with their own money.

"While many senators hoped to condemn women to lesser health care by supporting the Nelson-Hatch Amendment, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer stood up for the women of New York and the nation and lead the fight to defeat the bill," said FPA President and CEO M. Tracey Brooks.

"When FPA and hundreds of advocates from New York State met with Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer in Washington, D.C. last week, these pro-choice Senators assured us they would fight as hard as possible to defeat the Nelson-Hatch Amendment," Brooks recounted. "They kept their word, they fought against it, voted against it and defeated it. New York State is very fortunate to have two Senators who believe in letting women and families make the health care choices that are best for them."