House Passes Ban on Partial-Birth Abortion
Measure backed by Bush, faces uncertain fate in Senate

July 25, 2002

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday easily approved a ban on a controversial abortion method, hoping to see the legislation finally enacted now that Republican President Bush is in the White House.

The vote was 274-151 after a graphic debate in which foes of the procedure called it "gruesome" and "barbaric" and likened it to "infanticide."

A similar ban passed the House and Senate by large margins several times. Former President Bill Clinton vetoed it twice, however, saying it went too far because it did not allow exceptions to protect the health of the woman.

Bush backs the "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002," the White House said in a statement this week.

The fate of the bill is uncertain in the Senate, which last passed it in 1999 when Republicans controlled the chamber.

http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=topnews&StoryID=1247001